Frankfurt is home to the largest stock exchange in Germany, the Federal Bank of Germany, the European Central Bank and some of the largest European corporations. It is one of the few European cities with a skyline dominated by skyscrapers and modern architecture, but also has some parts that give it a sense of “Old World Germany”.
Since I was planning a business trip to Frankfurt, I could not find a single guide where to stay and what to do, so I thought that I would give some insight into my experience in Frankfurt.
As for hotels, I am very “point oriented”, so I usually stay in a hotel that allows me to earn or use points, but at the same time I like hotels in general, especially luxury hotels, so I also like to check from some other Great hotels in the city, where points may not be an option. Below you will find my recommendations of hotels, as well as some recommendations on where to eat and drink.
The three key things I’m looking for in a hotel are the quality of the hotel itself, its amenities and location. As for location, there are three things you want to be close to in Frankfurt:
1. Shopping on Goethestraße (Goethe Street, Frankfurt 5th Avenue)
2. Römerberg (AKA Römerberg is the most beautiful square in Frankfurt, especially in December with the Christmas market) and
3. Sachsenhausen (one of the most historic streets of Frankfurt with wooden buildings, restaurants, bars and nightclubs)
Hotels for those who want to earn or use Points:
1. Westin Grand Frankfurt
Konrad-Adenauer-Straße 7, 60313
The Westin Grand Hotel Frankfurt is located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of the historic center, the shopping district and the financial district. In my opinion, this is the best place for point earnning hotels in Frankfurt. The hotel has 371 guest rooms, including 18 suites, all of which have the Westin and Heavenly Beds trademarks, as well as marble bathrooms.
As for restaurants and amenities, the Westin Grand Frankfurt offers two Asian restaurants. San San Restaurant offers Chinese cuisine, and Sushimoto offers Japanese cuisine and sushi. A buffet breakfast is served at Motions Restaurant. The hotel has a lobby bar / bar called Arabella bar & lounge, serving coffee, cakes, cocktails and a business lunch.
The Emotion Spa offers an indoor pool overlooking the rooftops of old Frankfurt, a Finnish steam room, a sauna and a spa. Westin Workout equipment is state-of-the-art with treadmills, free weights and LifeFitness weighting equipment. Overall, this is a very pleasant Westin hotel with an excellent location.
Points: Westin Grand Frankfurt is an SPG category 4 hotel with a free night, which requires 10,000 points per day.
2. Marriott Frankfurt
Hamburg Allee 2
Marriott Frankfurt is located opposite the Frankfurt Convention Center (Messe Frankfurt), which is great for trade shows, but not for traveling around the city. However, it offers some great amenities and services. I stayed in this hotel for about 3 nights and was very impressed with what he could offer. There was a nice small cafe-bar and a cafe Espressivo Cafe & Bar, which was prepared a large espresso and cappuccino. In addition, their cereals, yogurts and sandwiches were fantastic (think fresh crisp bread with fine prosciutto or salami, rather than the 3-day pre-packaged sandwiches that you get in most Starbucks that are located in the North American Marriott). There was also a Sports Sports bar and a brasserie ici French brasserie.
Like Marriott Platinum, I stay in a lot of Marriott and will have to evaluate the concierge lounge and fitness center in this place right at the top of all Marriott. The lounge had a fairly basic buffet for breakfast and dinner. The fitness center was very large, with treadmills, free weights, cardiovascular equipment, and even had a juice bar that made protein drinks.
Points: Marriott Frankfurt is a category 5 hotel with free nights, requiring 25,000 Marriott reward points per night (or 20,000 if you can get it as PointSaver)
3. Frankfurt
Hochstrasse 4
The Hilton Frankfurt is located next to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This is a modern 12-storey hotel located in a lush green park. They offer 342 standard, executive and luxurious rooms, including 14 suites, each of which has a modern, bright and spacious look.
The hotel has 2 restaurants (Gekkos and Pacific Colors), as well as a café / bar / lounge (Vista Bar and Lounge), as well as an executive lounge and a fitness center with steam bath and sauna.
Points: Hilton Frankfurt is Hilton HHonors Reward Category 6 HHonors Points per night.
4. Intercontinental Frankfurt
Wilhelm-Leuschner Strasse 43
The InterContinental Frankfurt is located on the main river, not far from the city center and within walking distance of many local attractions, including the Römerberg square, Frankfurt Cathedral and St. Paul’s Church. One of the best things about the location of this hotel is the ability to exit the hotel, cross the street and go for a walk (or walk) along the path along the main river.
This hotel actually consists of two separate buildings located across the road from each other, a total of 770 rooms. The hotel has two restaurants and a bar - the Italian restaurant LEONS, the restaurant Signatures Veranda and the basketball DAXs Mainhatten, as well as the 24-hour health and fitness center. I would not consider this one of the best Intercontinental Hotels, but if you usually remain in the possession of IHG, this will be your best choice.
Points: A free night in Intercontinental Frankfurt will require 30,000 points of the priority club (Intercontinental Hotels Range from 30,000 to 40,000 points)
5. Le Meridien ParkHotel
Wiesenhuettenplatz 28-38
Located very close to Frankfurt’s main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) and one of the two Starwood hotels in the city center, this was one of the most unusual hotels I've come across. Half of the hotel - the Old City Charming City hotel, and the other half (addition to the 70s, I would suggest) is a modern business hotel. This was true not only in terms of external architecture, but also according to 297 numbers. I stayed in one of the rooms from the old section, which was really very pleasant with traditional furniture, a bit small. The rooms on the modern side are much larger and more modern, oriented more towards the business traveler.
Overall, I was not too impressed with this hotel - it did not have any amenities that I would expect from a Starwood hotel at the top end. There was a decent restaurant LeParc, but the bar, Casablanca, was very dark and dated. The hotel’s gym has good steam, a sauna and a jogging track, but it was very light on the scales. I would stay at this hotel as a private SPG member, if Westin Grand Frankfurt is either sold, has a much higher daily rate, or I needed to be close to the train station.
Points: Le Meridien Parkhotel is an SPG category 4 hotel with a free night requiring 10,000 points per day. (This is the same amount of points per night at Westin Grand Frankfurt, I would recommend Westin anyway, but definitely if you use glasses)
Hotels for those who want a luxury hotel and are not "Point Oriented":
1. Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof
Am Kaiserplatz, 60311
For the old European greatness in a famous place you can do no better than the five-star Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof. With more than 130 years of history, this hotel has the best address in the city, just a few steps from the financial district and the best shopping and cultural centers of Frankfurt.
The hotel has 261 rooms and 42 suites, decorated in different styles, all of which will be classified as more traditional and elegant than some of the more modern hotels in the city.
Note: the hotel will update its rooms and will undergo this extensive renovation until around December 2012, so keep in mind that you will stay at this time.
The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof has four restaurants, including the Restaurant Français, which was awarded a Michelin star. Others include the Oscar, the Hofgarten restaurant, an outdoor summer terrace and the IROHA restaurant, a Japanese restaurant. There is also a cigar bar Cigarrum and Autorenbar, which serves cocktails and Royal High Tea. The hotel also has a fitness center and a wellness center with a gym, sauna, steam bath and spa.
Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof is a member of the visa Luxury Collection of Hotels. Visa Signature cardholders receive some very nice benefits, such as room upgrade, free breakfast, etc., so make sure that you check the possibility of booking a stay at this hotel through Visa to get any nice extra benefits. They also have the best speed guarantee, so the nightly rate should be good.
2. Hotel Villa Kennedy (Rocco Forte)
Kennedyallee 70, 60596
Hotel Villa Kennedy is a five-star hotel located near the southern bank of the River Main on Kennedale, which does not look at all and does not look like a city hotel. Situated in intensive gardens with a neo-gothic façade, the century-old Villa Speyer has been completely adapted to a luxurious hotel, surrounded by a beautiful courtyard with mature trees and outdoor dining. As for architecture and tranquility, this was my favorite hotel in Frankfurt.
The location is slightly different from other hotels advertised here, as it is on the south side of the main river, in Sachsenhausen, and just a few minutes away or by taxi from Frankfurt’s other shopping, financial and cultural attractions.
Villa Kennedy has 163 rooms, 28 of which are suites, with what they call a minimalist design with neutral and gray tones. Bathrooms are beautifully decorated with marble and mosaics, underfloor heating, bath and separate shower.
The hotel also has a Villa Spa with a 15-meter indoor pool, gym, sauna, steam room and 8 treatments offering a wide range of health and beauty treatments.
Villa Kennedy is a member of the leading hotels in the world, so in fact it has the opportunity to earn points through the Leaders Club (you can earn money for free at any LHW room after five weeks completed per year). However, you will have to pay $ 100 or $ 1,200 to become a member of the club of leaders, so I really do not classify him in the same category as other hotel loyalty programs.
3. Yumeira Frankfurt
Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz 2
Located in the heart of the center of Frankfurt, The Jumeirah Frankfurt Hotel is located in the financial district, just a few minutes walk from the best shops of Frankfurt, including the luxury boutiques of Goetheshtrasse and the most popular shopping center myZeil, Germany.
Jumeirah Frankfurt is a great new addition to the modern skyline of Frankfurt. The hotel has 157 rooms and 61 suites. The hotel is located on the 25 floors of a new building in Frankfurt. All rooms are decorated in a contemporary style and are considered the largest rooms in Frankfurt.
As for dinners and nightlife, there are two restaurants and a bar. Max on One Hotel serves authentic German and Australian cuisine. Le Petit Palais is more casual and offers lighter meals and desserts. The Ember Hall is their bar / nightclub and is much more active than most hotel bars.
4. Numbers
Gutleutstr 85, 60329
The hotel is located very close to the Frankfurt train station. This hotel is for those who like sharper, trendy and lively boutique hotels such as those found in properties related to W Hotels, Morgans Hotel Group and Thompson Hotels.
What once was an office building has become a luxurious boutique hotel with 116 rooms, 11 suites and a very lively restaurant and bar. Indulge the hipster zatu crowd, this is the hotel to stay if you're in the nightlife.
Roomers is a member of the Kiwi hotels collection. It belongs to the hospitality group in Frankfurt, which also owns The Pure, another hotel that you can check out if you like Roomers.
Where to eat and drink in Frankfurt:
Here are just a few recommendations for lunch, dinner and drinks based on my experience in Frankfurt.
1. Club Ivory - Taunusanlage 15, 60325
Modern colonial cuisine (i.e., upscale and elegant Indian cuisine) located in the financial district. They also have a large selection of perfumes, which is rare in Germany. I was very happy to see my favorite spirit, the Bulldog Jean, which I cannot get in my home state of Michigan and should be in any restaurant that wants to provide an excellent martini.
2. Zenzakan - Taunusanlage 15, 60325
Pan-Asian cuisine (sister restaurant Ivory Club) - a great atmosphere, creative Asian cuisine, located in the financial district.
3. Adolf Wagner - Schweizer Straße 71
Frankfurt’s typical Apfelwein tavern is located in Sachsenhausen. Very lively style benches, common places to relax. Great food, but no beer. If you are looking for traditional German food and Apple Wine, this is the place to go.
4. Zum Storch am Dom - Saalgasse 5 60311
One of the oldest restaurants in Frankfurt with excellent German cuisine and excellent service, located near the Römerberg square.
5. Frankfurter Kleinmarkthalle - Hasengasse 7
If you like to go to local food markets to get a feel for the local cuisine, this is the place that you enjoy. This is a closed market, located near the Römerberg square, with more than 60 kiosks offering the most delicious after the delicacies of the region - fresh meat, fish, sausage, cheese, wine, etc. ... to add it to your itinerary.
6. Wacker - Kaffee - Kornmarkt 9
Wacker Kaffee is the most popular coffee house in Frankfurt and should be on the list of coffee lovers. They serve and sell almost all types of coffee and pastries. There will almost always be a line at the door, but don't let that scare you away; this is probably the most efficient cafe I've ever been to in terms of making espresso, cappuccino and latte. It is also located near the Römerberg square.
