Residence Inn Munich Stay Summary
Residence Inn in Munich is a strong choice for travelers who want a hotel near München Ostbahnhof with large rooms, an in-room kitchen, and a very good breakfast. The hotel is about a 5 to 10-minute walk from Munich East Station, so the airport, city center, Messe München, and Oktoberfest areas are easy to reach by public transport. The studios and family rooms are spacious for Munich, and many rooms come with a fridge, microwave, dishwasher, sink, and basic kitchenware. Breakfast is one of the best parts of the stay, with bread, coffee, eggs, cheese, cold cuts, fruit, yogurt, and hot items. The weaker points are inconsistent housekeeping, some bathrooms with mold or leaks, showers that can spill water onto the floor, uneven heating and air conditioning, and confusing parking and deposit policies.
Residence Inn Check-in, Payment, and Check-out
Check-in Experience
Check-in at Residence Inn is usually from 3:00 p.m. When the room is ready, the process is simple: passport check, reservation confirmation, breakfast information, parking details, and room key. On one early arrival around 2:00 p.m., the room was not ready, and the mobile key notification came much later in the evening. On another arrival, early check-in was possible, which was very helpful after a tiring trip. During busy times, the check-in line took about 20 minutes. The Residence Inn front desk is not always staffed around the clock, but the connected Courtyard front desk is available 24 hours. That helps late arrivals, although it can be confusing the first time if the Residence Inn entrance is closed and guests have to wait outside after ringing the bell.
Room Price and Payment
For a studio with breakfast included, I paid about €113 per night. A two-night stay under the same rate came to about €226. For Munich, that is good value when the room includes a kitchen and breakfast. During trade fairs and Oktoberfest season, prices rise sharply; under €250 per night is the point where this hotel still makes sense to me. I booked online and paid by card at the hotel. A deposit was also held on the card at check-in. One stay involved a €30 deposit, with an explanation that it would be returned after about two days. The most frustrating payment issue involved multiple rooms where the same room type was charged different security deposits ranging from €350 to €500. After one stay, an unexplained charge of 800 dirhams also appeared. For this hotel, I recommend checking the deposit amount at check-in and reviewing card transactions after check-out.
Check-out and Extra Charges
Check-out was usually quick. I returned the key and checked whether any additional costs had been added. With breakfast-included bookings, breakfast did not appear as a separate charge. Parking is the item that needs attention. The underground garage costs €20 per day. If you leave the garage and come back later, another €20 charge can apply. On a check-out day when I wanted to keep the car parked until around 5 or 6 p.m., staff members gave different answers. One mentioned an additional day, while another extended the parking ticket. Anyone arriving by car should confirm parking time, re-entry rules, and charges at check-in.
Residence Inn Room Review by Type
Studio Room with Kitchen
The studio at Residence Inn is large by Munich hotel standards. It has enough space for two people and still works well for a small family or a third guest. The kitchenette is the main advantage: fridge, microwave, sink, dishes, cutlery, and dishwasher are all useful during a longer stay. The room also has a desk, shelves, a safe, iron, ironing board, kettle, tea, and coffee. The workspace is good enough for a business trip. Power outlets are European-style, so travelers from outside Europe should bring an adapter. Wi-Fi was fast on most stays, although one stay had only average internet.
Family Room and Sofa-Bed Room
The family rooms are spacious and practical. A double bed with a sofa bed works well for families, especially when eating out every night is not ideal. The kitchenette makes it easy to store snacks, fruit, milk, or simple meals for children. One weak point was an old extra bed without a blanket, so families should check the bedding as soon as they enter the room. Some rooms have a terrace or outdoor space, which makes the stay more comfortable. Connecting rooms are also helpful for larger families.
Apartment-Style Room
The apartment-style room is better for longer stays than a standard hotel room. The bed is comfortable, the kitchen is well equipped, and the desk is useful for working. Compared with some Residence Inn properties in North America, the rooms may feel smaller, but they are still practical and roomy for Munich. The TV was not always reliable. The smart TV instructions were visible, but the phone connection did not work, and some English channels were scrambled. Guests who rely on in-room entertainment should not expect the smart TV features to work perfectly.
Bed and Bedding
The beds were usually comfortable and wide enough. In the better rooms, the sheets were clean, dry, and pleasant to sleep in. Pillows were less consistent; some were too low or too soft. One room had a bed that was too firm, and another winter stay had a thin duvet that was not warm enough. The worst bedding experience included stains on the sheets and small clippings left on the floor. That is unacceptable for a hotel in this category. At Residence Inn, I check the bed, floor, and bathroom immediately after arrival.
Cleanliness and Room Smell
When the room is prepared well, Residence Inn feels clean, quiet, and comfortable. The kitchen, bathroom, and bed can be spotless. But the difference between rooms is real. One room had a used towel left near the TV. Another had dirt under the sofa from previous guests. One room smelled of smoke and food, while another had a musty smell from a water leak. Some hallway carpets also smelled unpleasant. Housekeeping is usually not daily and often comes every three days, so guests who need towels, trash removal, or floor cleaning should request it directly.
Windows, Noise, and Temperature
The windows open fully, which is a major advantage. It makes the room easier to air out. Rooms facing the courtyard are quiet and better for sleep. Rooms facing the street or rail side are much noisier when the window is open, with traffic, trams, and trains clearly audible. A room next to the housekeeping area also had frequent door-slamming noise. Heating and air conditioning were inconsistent. Some rooms were warm and comfortable, while others were hard to regulate. In winter, one room stayed cold even with the heating on maximum, and the unit only seemed to circulate air.
Residence Inn Bathroom and Amenities
Shower, Sink, and Hot Water
The better bathrooms at Residence Inn are spacious and modern. A large shower, hairdryer, and enough sink space make the bathroom easy to use. In some rooms, water pressure was strong and hot water arrived quickly. In others, shower pressure and temperature were unstable. A few showers leaked water onto the bathroom floor, making it hard to shower without flooding the space. Older bathrooms had mold in the grout, and one room had a high bathtub edge with a loose shower bar, which did not feel safe. The bathroom is one of the first things to inspect after check-in.
Towels and Amenities
Towels were often clean, but the quantity was not always right. For family stays, extra towels were sometimes missing, and requests were not always handled properly. One time, the body wash dispenser was empty. The room amenities are otherwise useful: kettle, tea, coffee, safe, iron, ironing board, fridge, microwave, and kitchen equipment. The lobby has complimentary water, coffee, tea, and sometimes hot chocolate. Drinks and snacks are also available for purchase. The water station in the lobby is especially useful during longer stays because guests can refill the in-room carafe instead of relying on bottled water.
Kitchen and Long-Stay Items
The in-room kitchen is one of the strongest reasons to book Residence Inn. A fridge, microwave, dishwasher, sink, dishes, and cups make the room much more flexible. Families can warm food for children, and business travelers can keep simple meals in the room. The guest laundry is useful in theory, but it was not always easy to use. With only a small number of machines and one machine out of order, laundry became competitive. The small gym is a useful extra, although it needs better privacy from people walking outside.
Residence Inn Breakfast and Staff
Breakfast Selection
Breakfast at Residence Inn is a clear highlight. At the €113 nightly studio rate, breakfast was included. The buffet had bread, toast, eggs, cheese, cold cuts, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee, and hot dishes. Coffee specialties were good, and on many mornings the staff refilled food quickly. The breakfast starts early, around 6:30 a.m., which is helpful for business trips. There were still some misses. White sausages were cold on one morning, scrambled eggs were tough on another, and warm vegan or vegetarian choices were limited. One uncomfortable moment happened when leftovers from other tables were dumped into a large container right beside my table while I was still eating.
Breakfast Room and Seating
The breakfast room and bar area usually had enough seating. Even when the hotel was busy, tables turned over well, and food was replenished often. The selection is better than many hotels in this category. Cheese and cold cuts are available, though the variety could be stronger for guests expecting a more German-style breakfast. Overall, breakfast is one of the easiest parts of this hotel to recommend.
Front Desk Service
Front desk service was often friendly and helpful. Staff handled directions, public transport questions, room requests, and parking questions in German and English. When the right staff member was on duty, check-in felt smooth and well explained. The weaker side was staffing. Sometimes calls were not answered, and it was faster to go downstairs in person. TV problems, room changes, and deposit questions were not always handled quickly. One morning, the receptionist gave a scripted answer without really listening. The unclear deposit handling was the biggest service frustration.
Breakfast Staff and Housekeeping
The breakfast staff were usually polite, professional, and quick to help with coffee, food, and seating questions. Housekeeping was much more uneven. Some rooms were spotless, while others were cleaned too quickly and without attention to detail. Dust under furniture, missing towels, and floors that needed vacuuming were issues. Because housekeeping is not daily, small problems become more noticeable during longer stays. Trash left near the elevator for too long also created an unpleasant smell. This is the area where the hotel needs the most improvement.
Residence Inn Parking and Facilities
Underground Parking
The underground garage at Residence Inn is large and directly connected to the hotel. It is convenient with luggage, children, or bad weather. There is enough space for normal cars and larger vehicles. The price is €20 per day. The problem is the signage and the garage layout. The entrance is easy to miss, and nearby hotel garages can cause confusion. One time, the hotel exit led to a different garage than the one where the car was parked. That created unnecessary hassle. If you plan to drive in and out often, public transport is a better option.
Lobby, Laundry, and Family Comfort
The lobby is modern but not large. It works well for a quick coffee or water, but it is not ideal for waiting a long time for a taxi or another guest. For families, the hotel works well because of the large rooms, kitchenettes, breakfast, and nearby parks. Supermarkets, restaurants, and small shops are close enough for daily needs. The guest laundry is helpful for longer stays, but the limited number of machines can make it difficult to use when the hotel is busy.
Residence Inn Overall Rating and Would I Stay Again
Strengths
The main strengths of Residence Inn are room size, kitchen facilities, breakfast, and the location near Munich Ostbahnhof. S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, buses, and trains are all close, so the airport, old town, Marienplatz, Messe München, and day-trip connections are easy. The breakfast is generous, the lobby coffee and water are convenient, and the in-room kitchen makes the hotel much better for families and longer stays. Courtyard-facing rooms are quiet and comfortable for sleeping.
Weaknesses
The weaknesses are housekeeping, maintenance, and communication. Non-daily cleaning, missing towels, mold in some bathrooms, leaking showers, weak heating in some rooms, and unclear deposit handling are real drawbacks. Parking is useful but expensive and confusing. Travelers expecting a flawless four-star hotel may be disappointed. Travelers who value space, a kitchen, breakfast, and public transport access will likely find it a good fit.
Recommendation
I would stay at Residence Inn again, but I would book carefully. I recommend asking for a courtyard-facing room, checking the bathroom, bedding, towels, and heating right after check-in, and confirming the card deposit in writing. For travelers without a car, this hotel works better because Munich Ostbahnhof is close and parking can become expensive. For families, business trips, and longer stays, Residence Inn is a practical hotel near Munich East Station.
Residence Inn Location and Transport
From Munich Ostbahnhof
Residence Inn is about a 5 to 10-minute walk from Munich Ostbahnhof. The station is a major transport hub with S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses, and regional trains, making it easy to reach the airport, Marienplatz, the old town, Messe München, and other parts of the city. The hotel sits in Haidhausen, near the French Quarter area, with cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, and small shops nearby. Werksviertel is around 10 minutes away on foot, and the Isar River is also reachable for a walk. The hotel is not in the middle of the historic center, so I recommend using public transport rather than trying to do everything on foot.
Check the hotel location on the map
Hotel Photos
This review is connected to the city review page below.
Munich Place Reviews