October 21, 2025, 10:43 am | Read time: 5 minutes
There are many hotel reviews. However, those seeking excellence are more interested in the judgment of experts, such as those from the renowned Michelin Guide, rather than subjective assessments from users on booking platforms. Indeed, Michelin stars are traditionally awarded to restaurants of outstanding quality. For hotels, however, the “Keys” were introduced just last year. TRAVELBOOK explains the new rating system and reveals which hotels in Germany currently lead the way.
6 Hotels in Germany Rated “Outstanding” by Guide Michelin
The Michelin Guide introduced the new award in 2024 as a “response to today’s hyper-standardization of accommodations.” The hotel and travel guide states this on its website. In countless establishments, the design and furnishings have become completely uniform. “We want to recommend accommodations to our customers that are truly exceptional,” it continues.
The Michelin Key does not stand for luxury in the traditional sense. It is about individuality, atmosphere, and emotional value—in short, the quality of the experience. The keys are meant to provide travelers with reliable guidance—regardless of size, style, or star category. One Key represents a “special” stay, two Keys an “exceptional” stay, and three Keys an “outstanding” stay. Such experiences are possible in six hotels in Germany; more on that later.
How the Rating System Works
According to its own information, the Michelin Guide has been issuing hotel recommendations since the 1920s. About five years ago, they began a fundamental overhaul of the hotel selection. The result is the Michelin Keys as a new section.
The evaluation is conducted through anonymous visits and inspections by Michelin Guide employees and trusted individuals. It is independent of existing hotel stars or industry-specific standards. Among other things, the following are assessed:
- Architecture and interior design,
- Quality and consistency of service,
- Personality and character of the establishment,
- Value for money, and
- The hotel’s contribution to its surroundings
The Michelin Guide 2025 selection for Germany includes six hotels with three Keys and 34 hotels with two Keys—featuring only one newcomer compared to the previous year. Ninety hotels in the country were awarded at least one Key.
Two German Cities Each Have Two 3-Key Hotels
Two establishments with three Keys, and thus the highest category, are located in the heart of Hamburg. These are the modern The Fontenay on the Außenalster and the renowned Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten on the Binnenalster (see photo). As the Michelin Guide notes, it set standards for the elegance of luxury hotels in Hamburg as a landmark on the Jungfernstieg at the end of the 19th century. The cuisine is as timelessly elegant as the ambiance.
Additionally, in the small town of Baiersbronn in the Black Forest, with just 15,000 inhabitants, two hotels were also awarded the top rating. The other two 3-Key hotels are located in Bavaria. One of them is the well-known Schloss Elmau.
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The 6 Best Hotels in Germany According to Michelin Guide
- The Fontenay, Hamburg
- Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg
- Hotel Bareiss, Baiersbronn
- Hotel Traube Tonach, Baiersbronn
- Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway, Elmau
- Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt, Rottach-Egern
What’s New with the Exceptional Hotels According to Michelin Guide
The Vitalhotel Alter Meierhof is new among the 2-Key hotels this year, offering guests an exceptional stay. The establishment impressed with a combination of gastronomy, service, and location, according to the explanation. The quiet location on the Flensburg Fjord was as appealing as the approximately 2,000-square-meter spa with thermal baths, a Shiseido bar, and a variety of wellness offerings. Culinary delights are also offered at the “Meierei” restaurant under two-star Michelin chef Dirk Luther.
Also noteworthy is the Berlin Hotel Telegraphenamt. It opened about three years ago in the Mitte district, specifically in the former main telegraph office—a neo-baroque architectural monument from 1910 to 1916. After careful restoration, the facility combines historical architecture with modern design. But even due to its central location near the lively Hackescher Markt, a stay here is likely to be appealing to visitors to the capital.
All 2-Key hotels in Germany at a glance:
- Vitalhotel Alter Meierhof, Glücksburg
- Villa Contessa, Bad Saarow
- Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden, Berchtesgaden
- Hotel de Rome, Berlin
- Patrick Hellmann Schlosshotel, Berlin
- Telegraphenamt, Berlin
- The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
- Spa & Golf Hotel Weimarer Land, Blankenhain
- Hotel Ketschauer Hof, Deidesheim
- Der Öschberghof, Donaueschingen
- Bülow Palais, Dresden
- Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais, Dresden
- Breidenbacher Hof Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- Sofitel Frankfurt Opera, Frankfurt
- Vitalhotel Alter Meierhof
- Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa, Gonnesweiler
- Das Achental Resort, Grassau
- Hotel Louis C. Jacob, Hamburg
- Luisenhöhe – Gesundheitsresort Schwarzwald, Horben
- Das Kranzbach Hotel & Wellness Retreat, Kranzbach
- Mandarin Oriental München, München
- Rocco Forte Charles Hotel, München
- Rosewood München, München
- Seesteg Norderney, Norderney
- Sonnenalp Resort, Ofterschwang
- Hotel Gut Steinbach, Reit im Winkl
- Wellness & Sport Hotel Jagdhof, Röhrnbach
- Parkhotel Egerner Höfe, Rottach-Egern
- Esplanade Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken
- LA MAISON, Saarlouis
- BUDERSAND Hotel – Golf & Spa, Sylt
- Landhaus Stricker, Sylt
- Severin’s Resort & Spa, Sylt
- Söl’ring Hof, Sylt
- Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort, Weissenhaus
All 1-Key hotels in Germany can be found on the Michelin Guide website.