A stone’s throw from the Opera, in a pedestrianised street, this ‘very friendly’, family-run hotel is composed of two Gothic gabled listed buildings formerly owned by the Knights of Malta. ‘Very much a Guide hotel,’ says its nominator this year. ‘It has style and is quiet. Reserve a room on the nice, leafy inner courtyard, a pleasant place for meals in fine weather.’ There is a 17th-century fresco in the lounge. There’s no restaurant, but the street the hotel is on has five. Free Nespresso is available in reception, and guests receive free entry to the Haus der Musik museum next door. Recent renovations have added a further six rooms to the hotel.