Schwarzer Bock Hotel in Wiesbaden, Germany – a Review

In all my travels, I’ve never written only about a hotel! There’s so much to say about this wonderful place. The Schwarzer Bock is a 4-star hotel. It was founded in 1486 – the remains of the original foundation can still be seen in the basement. Of course, it’s had a long history of trauma and rebuilding, and in 1995, it became part of the Radisson Blu organization.

The Building

The chic, refined exterior of the Schwarzer Bock is so inviting. There are window boxes with flowers out front which give it charm, and the flags flying above the entrance make a grand impression. Picture windows out front give passersby a glimpse into the upscale interior. In the summer evenings, when the bar is open, there are outside tables with umbrellas and comfy seats for sitting with a cocktail to watch the world go by. There’s a newer door near the main entrance that goes directly into the Eck Bar, so visitors can enter without going through the hotel lobby.

• 

• 

The lobby itself is small and elegant. The floors and staircase are a beautiful veined marble, with rich wood trim. Plush velvet chairs are available for guests to gather. There’s a coffee machine and infused water in the lobby, with mints and snacks, plus soft drinks available to purchase.

• 

• 

Breakfast was offered, but I eschewed that – there are so many nice bakeries nearby. I understand from reviews that it’s a wonderful breakfast, and can be taken in the flower-filled courtyard. The spa and the bathhouse were closed due to Covid; usually, the bathhouse has no additional charge. It sounds like the thermal spa, sauna, and indoor pool are perfect for unwinding and relaxing. I wish I had been able to take advantage of this, but…not this time!

• 

• 

• 

The Room & Amenities

I was traveling solo, and in perusing the room types when booking, there were several types of rooms available. The description of the “Single” rooms confused me – it said it was a “single” bed – and to me (US ears) that meant a twin bed. The photos on the website are all the same for the Single, Standard, and Superior rooms, so that wasn’t very informative. I booked a Single, and was happy to discover that it’s a double sized bed, with plenty of room even if there were 2 guests. The room was spacious, and I adored that I could cast the double windows wide for fresh air every night.

The Schwarzer Bock Hotel offers free wifi – fast and reliable, plus laundry & dry cleaning services, and in-room complimentary tea and coffee. There’s a kettle with teas, coffee, hot chocolate, and cups + spoons. It seemed a tad confused when I was there, likely due to the pandemic – sometimes, the tea wasn’t refilled in the room. Liter bottles of still and sparkling water are also provided in the room each day.

• 

• 

• 

• 

There was a closet with plenty of hangers and shelves, and big hooks near the door for coats, umbrellas, hats, etc. The bed, pillows, and linens were comfortable, and felt luxurious. You can plug in your air stick to the TV, or connect the TV via Bluetooth to your device to watch what you have. Plenty of electrical outlets are at the desk, and the room had a mini-safe and a little fridge (a mini-bar in normal times). The fridge was locked when I arrived (Covid), but the staff opened it for me so I could store cool drinks in there.

Near the bed, there were also USB ports (I wish hotel rooms around the world would adopt this, so we wouldn’t need adaptors!!) There was a wonderful, deep tub that I enjoyed often, with a hand-held shower attachment, and a pull out clothes line for drying hand-washed dainties.

The staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful. I first met Lara, who helped me extend my reservation. [I’d only booked one night, as I was flying in before Germany was actually open to US citizens – that’s a whole other story!] The next day, I met Stephan; he was so gracious, and helped me with all my little concerns and questions. Max and Felix from the Eck Bar were fun and personable. Everyone remembered my name.

Getting Around Wiesbaden

One of the things I like best about Wiesbaden is the ease and efficiency of the public transportation. If arriving at Frankfurt airport (FRA), it’s super easy to catch the train to Wiesbaden right from the airport (about a 45 minute ride), and then the buses go from the train station to anywhere you’d want to go, even into the forest. The Schwarzer Bock Hotel is at the Webergasse or Kochbrunnen stop on the #8 bus. The Rhein-Main Transport Association has an app which makes it uber-easy to plan and navigate a trip on the trains and buses, and to buy tickets.

There are a plethora of restaurants in the area; I never did eat in the hotel restaurant. I did order bouillabaisse from the hotel restaurant, in the Eck Bar, on my last night for convenience – it was fantastic. Felix and the other main bartender were able to make all my favorite cocktails, and it’s a nice, well-stocked bar.

Nearby Restaurants I Liked

All the restaurants and bars in Wiesbaden have large outdoor seating areas with umbrellas; as you walk around mid-town, the lively crowds are fun and exciting. The Schwarzer Bock is steps away from the main pedestrian shopping area. Note that Covid restrictions require proof of vaccination for dining inside, but not outside, where I like to be. Near the solstice, it was still light out at 10 pm – about when I went for supper (I had a tough time with adjusting to the time zone this trip!). There are many types of cuisine available – lots of Italian, Asian, and middle-East restaurants. Here are some of my favorites:

Karim’s Brasserie

Karim’s Brasserie has all sorts of Middle Eastern food. The Hugo Spritz was great, and I had the falafel plate – delicious! The waiters were fun and friendly – lots of laughter.

• 

• 

Palast Hotel Restaurant & Bar

The Palast Hotel is beautiful, but it’s no longer a hotel – it’s apartments and offices. There is, however, a sports bar sort of restaurant there with a great outdoor space, and the Bolognese pasta sauce was probably the best I’ve ever had!

The bill was 15 euros, and they only take credit cards for over 20 euros. I didn’t have enough cash; the waitress directed me to a nearby ATM, saying, “I trust you.” Extraordinary!

• 

• 

• 

Little Italy

My hands-down favorite this trip, I went to Little Italy twice. The first time I went I wanted pasta with shellfish, but they only had it with a white sauce. I’m a firm lover of Italian red sauce. The waiter, Luigi, made it happen (“But, of course, madam!”). When I went back about a week later, Luigi remembered me with a big smile, and remembered exactly what I’d ordered – this is the kind of service I admire. And, the food is excellent!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Luigi packaged up the remainder of the wine for me to take back to the hotel.

Goldgasse

This little plaza is surrounded by bars and restaurants; there are hundreds of little tables, and it’s a crowded, lively scene. When I was there, there was a fire-spinning performer doing his thing for the crowd.

• 

• 

Schwarzer Bock Brief History

The history of the Schwarzer Bock Hotel fascinated me. It was started as a bath house in 1486 (Wiesbaden sits over many thermal springs, and is well known for its thermal baths and spas). Goethe took a cure there in 1818. In 1865, Dostoyevski wrote “The Gambler” whilst staying at the Schwarzer Bock – the casino is just around the corner, and reportedly, he squandered his travel budget at the roulette table there.

The upper floors of the hotel were destroyed during the Second World War, but the facade was untouched. In 1987, the Schwarzer Bock became the first hotel in Germany to be included in “Distinguished Hotels of the World.”

In Conclusion

Overall, I very much enjoyed Wiesbaden, and loved my stay at the Schwarzer Bock Radisson Blu Hotel; I would absolutely stay here again. Stay tuned for my next article about fun things to do around Wiesbaden.

Have you ever been to Wiesbaden? What are your favorite hotels and restaurants there?

If you enjoyed this article, please consider subscribing to my newsletters, below – I only send them out once each month or two 😉

Pin It to Save It

• 

• 

• 

•