Koos Hotel and Apartment, Munich

Previously:

McDonald's in Germany

The final stop on our Europe trip earlier this year was German - Munich, to be exact.

We stayed at Koos Hotel, which was a great location and made it easy to get around the city.  The hotel itself had a simple, modern, business-style vibe.  One thing that was completely new to us was that there were no room keys!  Instead, you open your room using an App on your phone.  We had never experienced that before, but thankfully, the lovely lady at the concierge kindly showed us how everything worked.

The room was more like a self-contained apartment than a hotel room.  It came with two bedrooms, each with own bathroom, plus a laundry area, kitchen and a comfortable living space.  It was perfect for a longer stay and gave us plenty of room to relax after a day of exploring.

We also appreciate the little touches, like the chocolate waiting on our pillows when we arrived.  That's one of the things I really love about hotels in Europe.  They often add thoughtful details that make your stay feel extra special.

Breakfast was another highlight, with a great selection of options to choose from.  Just a little tip: if you're after hot items such as bacon and eggs, you'll need to order them directly from the kitchen.

Overall, Koos Hotel was a comfortable and convenient base for our time in Munich, and a lovely way to finish off our European adventure.

Koos Hotel and Apartment

Sonnenstrasse 18b, 80331 

Munchen Ludwigsvorstadt - Isarvorstadt

Ph: +49 89 4613530

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Munich:

McDonald's in Germany

Previously:

Maislinger Bakery, Hallstatt

I still remember my McDonald's visit in Germany, at that time, their standout item was this burger stacked with a slab of pork ribs, absolutely drenched in sauce.  Not just a little drizzle either - this thing was unapologetically messy.  The kind of burger where you know you'll need extra napkins before even take the first bite. The meat was tender, the sauce was rich and slightly sweet.

That said, as much as I loved it, it didn't quite beat the bacon and egg burger I had in Switzerland.  Still, I have to admit, anything overly saucy automatically earns extra points from me.  There's something about that messy, flavour-packed bite that just hits differently.

To finish it off, I ordered a hot sweet pie - a cherry chocolate pie.  It was just ordinary. 

  

Pork ribs burger

Twin nugget

Cherry chocolate pie

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Germany:

Koos Hotel and Apartment, Munich

Maislinger Bakery, Hallstatt

Previously:

Hallstatt, Austria

We started the day the right way, with a visit to a local loved bakery shop - Maislinger Bakery.  There's something special about grabbing fresh bread straight from a neighbourhood bakery and this place did not disappoint.

Paired with our picks was a cup of Hallstatt coffee.  It was rich, warming and elevated with delicate drips of alcohol that gave a subtle kick.  It felt like a small indulgence, perfect for easing into the morning.

The cheese and bacon stick was a standout savoury, satisfying and baked just right.  And for something sweet, the apricot jam filled donut was an absolute little treat.  It was soft and pillowy. 

Cafe Backerei Konditorei Maislinger

Seestrasse 156, 4830 Hallstatt

PH: +43 6134 20004

Open: 6:30 am - 5 pm (Sunday closed)

 
Stay tuned for the next blog still in Europe:

McDonald's in Germany

Hallstatt, Austria

Previously:

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Seehotel Gruner Baum, Hallstatt

Hallstatt had always lived in my imagination as a dream destination - one of those places that almost feels too beautiful to be real. Tucked between serene lake and dramatic alpine mountains, it's the kind of village you see in postcards and wonder if it could ever look the same in person.  And somehow, it does - maybe even more magical.

We visited toward the end of January, just after the peak holiday season had faded and right after a fresh snowfall.  It felt like we had arrived at the perfect moment.  The crowds had thinned, the rush was gone and what remained was a quiet, snow-covered fairytale.  Every rooftop was dusted in white, the mountains stood still and majestic and the entire village seemed wrapped in a peaceful bush.

Staying overnight tuned out to be the best decision.  As everything settled in, Hallstatt grew even more tranquil, and by early morning, it felt like the village belonged entirely for us.  Walking along the lake with barely anyone around.  It was calm, intimate and almost surreal.  There's something incredibly special about experiencing a place before the world wakes up.

Winter adds a different kind of charm to Hallstatt.  It isn't about ticking off attractions or rushing from one spot to another.  There isn't much to do in the traditional senses, but exactly the beauty of it.  You slow down.  You breathe.  You take it all in - the stillness, the reflections, on the lake, the quiet crunch of the snow beneath your feet.

And somewhere in between wandering and soaking it all in, we had one of those simple yet memorable meals that just felt right and perfectly paired with the atmosphere around us.

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hallstatt:

Maislinger Bakery, Hallstatt

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Seehotel Gruner Baum, Hallstatt

Previously:

Pension Bergfried, Hallstatt

Dinner that night was at the restaurant inside Seehotel.  Not sure if it was because everything on the menu looked so good or we were just that hungry.  But we definitely ordered way more than planned (no regrets though).

Pumpkin cream soup EUR 9.90

We started with a pumpkin soup, something light and easy to digest to warm up.  It was smooth, creamy and had that natural sweetness from the pumpkin, balanced with slightly savoury, buttery finish.  Perfect for the cold weather and honestly felt like a cozy hug in a bowl.

Farmer's salad bowl with grilled chicken EUR 19.90

Then came a salad with grilled chicken, which was fresh and simple but really well done.  The green were crisp, the chicken was tender and nicely seasoned and the dressing tied everything together without being too heavy.  A nice little "we're being healthy" moment before everything else arrived.

Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes and cranberry jam EUR 28.90

For the mains... this is where things escalated quickly.

The veal schnitzel was a standout - thin, crispy, and golden on the outside, while still juicy inside.  That classic crunch when you cut into it was so satisfying and it paired perfectly with a squeeze of lemon and sweet cranberry jam.

Rack of lamb with grilled mini vegetables, mashed potatoes and lamb thyme jus EUR 33.90

The lamb cutlets were beautifully cooked, tender and flavourful.  They had that rich, somewhat earthy taste lamb is known for, but not overpowering at all.

Grilled whole rainbow trout with parsley potatoes EUR 28.90 

The rainbow trout felt like the lighter option among all the mains.  It was delicate, flaky and fresh with a clean taste but kinda hard to eat as too many tiny bones.  I do understand though because they served as a whole.

Linguine with tomato sauce base and grilled prawns EUR 24.90

Then we had tomato pasta with giant prawns, which brought a bit of comfort food into the mix.  The sauce was tangy and rich, the prawns were juicy and all together just worked so well.  Simple but really satisfying.

Pork schnitzel EUR 22.90

And somehow.. after all that, we decided to add pork schnitzel at the end for our dessert 😁

Safe to say we left completely full and very happy.

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron in Seehotel Gruner Baum

Marktplatz 104, 4830 Hallstatt

Open: Daily 11:30 - 21:00

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hallstatt:

Hallstatt, Austria