Impressive at first sight, thanks to an exterior complete with wrought-iron balconies, statues leaning out from the facade, and a beautiful courtyard semi-protected from the street, the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof is firmly in tradition of grand European hotels. The property's history goes back to 1876 and it retains a traditional sense of 19th-century elegance, although it's largely been kept up-to-date with sophisticated renovations (the latest in 2016-17). Inside, the all-ecru lobby is traditional and upscale, with cream paneling on the walls and the touchstone element of an old-fashioned hotel: a grand piano. Thanks to its central location, most guests here are a mix of business travelers and vacationers. 

Set in the middle of the city's historic and financial districts, it's hard to imagine a better location for guests who need to get out and around Frankfurt -- especially one that's great for both leisure and business travelers. Fressgass, a street packed full of German food, is seven minutes away on foot, and the city's major shopping street, Goethestraße, is a three-minute walk away.

Top sights and museums are also within walking distance: Goethehaus is three minutes away by foot, the German Film Museum is 10 minutes away, the Museum for Modern Art is 10 minutes away, and the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt is seven minutes away. Visitors won't be hurting for restaurants or bars in this area of the city, either, and there are excellent links to transit nearby. 

The hotel is located a 10- to 15-minute walk from Frankfurt's central train station, and Frankfurt am Main airport is 16 minutes away by taxi. 

With most units renovated around 2016, the hotel's 261 rooms and 42 suites are sophisticated, spacious, and chic in contemporary, elegant tones of taupes, grays, and silvers. Furnishings and linens and sumptuous yet refined, and artwork and jewel-tone throw pillows add some personality. Each has its own seating area, blackout curtains, and air-conditioning. Standard amenities include a flat-screen TV with premium channels, safe, and a minibar, which comes with a free small bottle of water. Higher-tiers options (Grand Deluxe Rooms and up) add Nespresso machines. Suites are also supplied with tea kettles and a bar area stocked with glasses. 

Sleek bathrooms come with hairdryers, Aigner toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. Lower-category rooms have shower/tub combos, while upgraded options have rainfall showers with color-changing lighting and separate bathtubs, as well as small flat-screen TVs. 

Guests here won't be short on dining options if they want to stay on-site, and the food across all the restaurants is generally quite good, though expensive. The jewel is the Michelin-starred Restaurant Francais, which serves haute French fare and more than 500 wines on a lovely outdoor terrace. Breakfast buffets are served in the Hofgarten restaurant, and a cafe has an outdoor terrace. Guests can also have high tea or drinks at the Autorenbar, or "author's bar,"  which is classically elegant in dark wood-paneled walls and leather club seating. In keeping with the hotel's traditional vibe, there's also a classy cigar room with a fireplace, which is cozy during the winter. 

The hotel's 10,700-square-foot (1000-square-meter) spa and wellness area, which guests can access for free, was renovated in spring 2017 and includes a sauna, solarium, and small gym. A barber shop, nail services, and facial and massages are also available, as is a suite that guests can book for three hours. The treatments are excellent across the board, but again, unsurprisingly expensive. 

For guests with kids, babysitting services are available, and free cribs and infant beds are available for free. Beyond that, however, there's not a ton for kids to do. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property, though service can be slow if a connection is actually achieved; however, as of June 2017, the hotel was working on transitioning to a better connection. For those on business, 19 meeting rooms hold up to 700 people. 

Valet parking in a garage is available for a separate charge.