Der Zauberlehrling

Der Zauberlehrling in Stuttgart, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers guests a unique and memorable boutique hotel experience in the heart of the city. It is widely praised for its distinctive design, exceptional dining, and attentive service.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Generally, Der Zauberlehrling receives a "Very Good" overall rating, with an 8.4 out of 10 based on nearly 400 reviews. Guests consistently highlight the hotel's charm, central location, and the quality of its culinary offerings. While the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, a recent critical review suggests that experiences can vary, particularly regarding room conditions and some service aspects.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly enamored with the hotel's:

• Unique, Themed Rooms: Each of the 17 rooms and suites is individually designed with eclectic to avant-garde themes, creating an "out of the ordinary" stay.
• One-Michelin-Star Restaurant: The on-site restaurant, also named Der Zauberlehrling, is a major draw, celebrated for its innovative cuisine and extensive wine list.
• Excellent Central Location: Situated in Stuttgart's vibrant Mitte district, the hotel offers easy access to major attractions and public transportation.
• Outstanding Service: The staff is frequently commended for being friendly, helpful, and providing an exceptional level of hospitality.
• High-End Amenities: Rooms feature amenities such as Sonos sound systems and showers designed by Philippe Starck. Many also boast private patios with city views.
• On-site Parking: While often noted as tight, the availability of private parking is a valued convenience.

3. Room Quality

The hotel's rooms are a defining feature, each a "thoroughly unique" themed environment. Guests have enjoyed specific designs like the "Titanic Room" with its waterbed, and "Wolke 7" (Cloud 7) which includes a jacuzzi. Design elements can range from animal prints and free-standing copper bathtubs to inflatable metallic furniture and an Xbox One. Most rooms incorporate open-plan bathrooms, which guests often find appealing. Standard room amenities include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffee/tea making facilities, sound-proofed windows, and a writing table. Some showers even feature floor heating. However, one recent review suggested that some "theme rooms" might appear "aged" or have a "dusty" aesthetic that some guests might find outdated rather than modern.

4. Dining Experience

The culinary experience at Der Zauberlehrling is a significant highlight, primarily due to its one-Michelin-Star restaurant. The restaurant offers a modern, innovative cuisine, with Fabian Heldmann at the helm, blending Asian influences with classical French techniques, prioritizing taste above all. The menu typically consists of 4 to 7 courses, with a special "theme night" offered on Saturdays. A 7-course menu is priced at €157. The restaurant also boasts an impressive, glazed wine cellar with approximately 300 selections.

Breakfast is served in the "Wunderkammer" café, which is either on the ground floor or across the street, and is generally described as "very good". Offerings include croissants, muesli, fresh fruit, smoothies, Eggs Benedict, and waffles. Despite generally positive feedback, one guest recently described the breakfast cafe as "loud, cramped," with "uninterested staff."

5. Service & Staff

The service at Der Zauberlehrling consistently receives high praise. Guests frequently describe the staff as "friendly and helpful" and appreciate their "outstanding service." The hotel is run as a small family business, which contributes to a personal and attentive atmosphere. However, one recent negative review mentioned issues with staff at breakfast being "uninterested" and unable to resolve a heating problem in their room.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an "excellent location" in the Stuttgart-Mitte district, described as a "lively cultural district." It's within a short walking distance to major attractions such as the town hall, State Theater, State Gallery, and Schlossplatz (Palace Square). The hotel is also well-connected to public transport, being close to tram lines and a U-Bahn station, and about a 10-minute walk from Stuttgart Stadtmitte train station. On-site parking is available, but several guests have noted that it can be very narrow and challenging for larger vehicles.

7. Value & Pricing

With a "value for money" score of 8.1 out of 10, guests generally consider Der Zauberlehrling to be worth the cost, particularly given its unique offerings and the Michelin-starred dining experience. While specific room pricing varies, the premium experience, central location, and high-quality service justify the rates for most visitors. The restaurant's 7-course menu is priced at €157.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring issues or criticisms include:

• Dated Room Design: Some guests, particularly in recent reviews, have found certain "theme rooms" to be "aged" or to have a "dusty" aesthetic that feels less like modern design and more like an 80s novelty.
• Open Bathroom Privacy: The open-plan bathrooms, while a design feature, can sometimes lead to privacy concerns, especially for showers with partially screenable windows.
• Waterbeds: The presence of waterbeds in some themed rooms is not universally popular, with one guest reporting an "unstable waterbed."
• Tight Parking: The on-site parking is frequently mentioned as being very narrow and potentially difficult to navigate, particularly for larger cars.
• Isolated Service Issues at Breakfast: One recent review highlighted a negative breakfast experience, citing a loud and cramped café with uninterested staff.
• Heating Problems: An issue with non-functional heating that staff could not resolve was also noted in a recent complaint.
• Poor Wi-Fi: An older review mentioned issues with very poor Wi-Fi.

Sources

1. booking.com
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4. michelin.com
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6. restaurant-ranglisten.de
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8. hotel-stuttgart.org
9. stuttgarthotel24.com
10. hotelstuttgart.net
11. feinschmecker.de
12. zauberlehrling.de
13. zauberlehrling.de
14. holiwise.com
15. wunderkammer-stuttgart.de
16. zauberlehrling.de
17. zauberlehrling.de