THE 'OUTLET HOTEL'…read more The cosy little Swabian market town of Metzingen , some 20 clicks to the south of Stuttgart, may be quite well-known in the U.K. (I'm not sure) and is certainly worth a visit. Apart from the usual scenic and culinary charms that such small towns in Southern Germany boast, it became well-known in and beyond Germany quite a few years back when local company Hugo Boss first opened their factory outlet there. Since then, outlet stores have bloomed for just about any designer brand you care to think of. Indeed, as far as I know it was one of the very first outlet cities in Europe (along the lines of Bicester Village in the U.K.). In the meantime, it literally attracts visitors from all over the world, including Russia, China and other countries. I have stayed at the Hotel Schwanen several times, both with my wife and once alone on business. This very friendly family-run hotel in the town centre by the church and minutes from the shopping centre offers very pleasant rooms, excellent bars, a fine and a reasonably-priced restaurant with quality local specialities and even a gift shop. I know from professional experience that the word 'sumptuous breakfast buffet' is somewhat overused by hotels in the German-language diaspora, but the Schwanen is certainly deserving of that epithet, with its diverse and stylish facilities. In fact, as you pass through to the breakfast room you will see photos of the serried ranks of the great and good who have stayed there (but remember that it is still very reasonably-priced). In fact, during my last visit, I had stayed the previous few nights at the Four Points Sheraton in Duesseldorf which cannot hold a candle to the Schwanen! Definitely the place to hang your hat when passing through! Early booking in the high season is probably not a bad idea to avoid missing out on the best hotel in Metzingen (as far as I know, 'high season' there runs from January to December). My photos are not representative of the luxurious double rooms, but I was very impressed with the imaginatively-designed and practical open-plan single room I had last time round: a sort of studio apartment. To see more, best check the pix on their website which you can read in an interesting variety of languages! http://www.schwanen-metzingen.de/de/00_home.php Related links:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metzingen http://www.outletcity-metzingen.com/en/welcome

From the owner: Ein Paradies mit urbaner Lebensqualität Wo Freundlichkeit…read moreund Qualität zu Hause sind, Herzlichkeit und perfekter Service kaum Wünsche offen lassen, dort ist gut wohnen. Wunderschöne Zimmer und extravagante Juniorsuiten empfangen Sie mit 4-Sterne-Wohnkomfort und ausgesuchten Designerstücken, die Auge und Seele verwöhnen. Weltoffenheit, Eleganz und Professionalität mit Herz prägen das idyllische Ambiente unseres innovativen, modernen Stadthotels, das Behaglichkeit, urbane Lebendigkeit und ein abwechslungsreiches gastronomisches Angebot vereint. Dank unserer einmalig vorteilhaften Lage mitten in Deutschlands größter Outlet-City erwarten Sie international bekannte Fabrikverkäufe der weltbesten Modedesigner direkt vor der Hoteltür. Eine vielfältige Erlebnisregion in herrlicher Landschaft freut sich darauf, von Ihnen entdeckt zu werden. Erleben Sie unsere bemerkenswerte Individualität und das wunderbare Gefühl, stets herzlich willkommen zu sein. Bei uns im Schwanen.

The prices were higher than the other restaurants in the area and portions were just right for one…read moreperson where as most places ingerman portions are huge! They have only Ziewfalter on tap but other options in bottle. Ordered the vegetarian knödel with in season pilzen (shrooms) which was tasty. It was a nice place to take a break from the flohmarkt. The menu options has something for everyone between chuck of beef to pasta or salads. Only 3 stars for value of the meal compared to the nearby places.