Frankfurt Hotels for the Savvy Business Traveller
Heading to Frankfurt on business? These hotels are our top picks. By Michelle Margherita.
Boutique
Roomers Frankfurt
It looks like a repurposed office block from the outside but every element of this slick hotel in the hip Bahnhofsviertel district radiates cool, from the Roberto Cavalli “Swan” chairs in the lobby to the Marshall speakers in your room. Crisp white bedding, deep-purple walls and freestanding bathtubs are a cut above – as is the casually attentive service. If you’re seeking a buzzy hotel within walking distance of the banking district and the Altstadt, you’ve found it.
Business facilities Next to the Sky Lounge are three conference rooms with glorious views.
Wi-fi Complimentary and super fast – a rarity in Germany.
Food and drink On the chic side of casual, Roomers Restaurant offers a simple yet on-point menu; the Black Angus burger is a standout. Chandeliers, velvet booths, DJs and great mixologists make Roomers Bar (where smoking is permitted) one of the coolest venues in town.
Fitness and wellbeing Work out with views of the skyline in the small but well-equipped gym then wind down in the steam bath and sauna.
Run route For a 5.5-kilometre loop, turn left at the Main River, follow it to Obermainanlage, cross the bridge, turn right, follow the river to Friedensbrücke then cross over.
Coffee nearby It’s a 15-minute walk to Café Opitz (Am Salzhaus 1, Goethehaus; +49 69 478 649 66) for a neat flat white or strong espresso.
Gutleutstraße 85, Frankfurt
Historic
Schlosshotel Kronberg
Straight out of a fairytale, this 1893 castle was the home of Empress Frederick and is now an opulent five-star hotel. Half of the 62 rooms and suites were refurbished in 2014, while the remainder – including suites where the last Russian tsar and General Eisenhower stayed – feature original furnishings. In this relatively young castle everything from the silverware to the chandeliers is authentic. A 22-minute train ride from the Hauptbahnhof, the hotel is equal parts business and pleasure.
Business facilities The ornate salons can be booked for meetings.
Wi-fi Complimentary and reasonably fast.
Food and drink In the regal Castle Restaurant, with its stained-glass windows and gilded portraits, liveried waitstaff remove silver cloches to reveal your meal. Jimmy’s Bar is a timber and leather snug.
Fitness and wellbeing There’s an 18-hole golf course (open April to October) and spa on the grounds. The hotel is affiliated with three sport centres and swimming pools, to which guests are chauffeur-driven free of charge.
Run route For a 3.5-kilometre loop, turn right out of the property, run the periphery of Viktoriapark then back to the hotel.
Hainstraße 25, Kronberg im Taunus
Luxury
Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy
Built in 1901 as a family home, this plush hotel on the leafy south bank of the Main River was renamed to honour American president John F. Kennedy, who visited Frankfurt in 1963 just months before he was assassinated. Surrounding a pretty courtyard are three luxurious newer wings, where the 163 elegant rooms and suites feature neutral colour palettes and luxe soft furnishings. You’ll find the service is attentive and helpful but unimposing. This perfect business retreat is a 10-minute cab ride from the airport and a 25-minute walk into the Altstadt.
Business facilities The small business centre is next to five interconnecting meeting rooms in a new wing.
Wi-fi The basic option is complimentary but you can upgrade to fast wi-fi for €20 (about $31) per day.
Food and drink Gusto is a casual Italian fine-diner that serves classics such as vitello tonnato and saltimbocca alla Romana. Next door, the elegant JFK Bar has a laid-back-lounge vibe and a brilliant drinks menu tracing the life and times of JFK in cocktails – worth a read.
Fitness and wellbeing There’s a gym and yoga room but it’s the super-deluxe spa – spanning four floors and including a spectacular 15-metre pool and a garden – that’s most impressive.
Run route For a 4.5-kilometre return run, head south on Kennedyallee, turn left at Richard-Strauss-Allee then right at Mörfelder Landstraße and loop Park Louisa.
Kennedyallee 70, Frankfurt
New
Sofitel Frankfurt Opera
Barely 18 months old, Frankfurt’s newest five-star property has the largest standard rooms in the city. Part of the Sofitel group, the hotel is modelled on a traditional Parisian mansion and feels more boutique than you’d expect. The eclectic lobby, with its grand staircase and gold velvet furnishings, is one of the most beautiful in Frankfurt. The guestrooms are modern yet sumptuous and have sizeable marble bathrooms. Selected suites come with butler service.
Business facilities The entire mezzanine floor houses meeting rooms and a boardroom, plus there’s a sunny business corner on the ground floor overlooking the park.
Wi-fi Complimentary, although high-speed internet is €9 (about $14) per day.
Food and drink At Restaurant Schönemann – an opulent space that’s all chartreuse velvet and Art Deco booths – you can enjoy a breakfast buffet with French sparkling wine and Gallic-style fine dining at lunch and dinner; the duck rillettes are delicious. Lili’s Bar is an elegant nook with a cosy fireplace and more than 50 gins on the menu, plus live soul and jazz music on Thursday nights in winter.
Fitness and wellbeing On site is a small, high-tech gym and a spa with a steam room and sauna. Guests also have access to the 25-metre pool at Fitness First opposite the hotel.
Run route For a five-kilometre loop, follow the “park ring” green belt (just outside the hotel) that circles the Altstadt, run along the Main River then continue to your starting point.
Coffee nearby Good coffee is hard to find in Frankfurt but walk 10 minutes up Leerbachstraße to Wacker’s Kaffee (Grüneburgweg 29; +49 69 977 899 00) for a fresh-roasted brew.
Opernplatz 16, Frankfurt
Top image: Sofitel Frankfurt Opera
SEE ALSO: The Culture Lover's Guide to Frankfurt
