Hotel Alma am Anger in Erfurt reviewed

In the heart of Erfurt's old town stands a hotel that, at first glance, hardly reveals itself as one. Behind historic façades, guests will find spacious rooms, winding courtyards and a surprisingly cosy atmosphere. We spent two nights at Hotel Alma am Anger and experienced a four-star hotel that exceeded our expectations in many respects, even if not every detail was entirely convincing.

A hotel you first have to discover

Standing in front of Hotel Alma am Anger for the first time, you could almost walk straight past it. There is no imposing hotel façade and no eye-catching entrance that draws attention from afar. The building blends remarkably discreetly into the historic streetscape of Erfurt's city centre.

We stayed here for two nights from 14 to 16 October 2026. Our stay took place at the invitation of the hotel and was partly covered by the hotel. For our review, we stayed in a double room with breakfast included.

Alma is officially classified as a four-star hotel. Accordingly, we expected a well-kept city hotel with good comfort and reliable service. Shortly after our arrival, it became clear that the hotel would surprise us, above all with its architecture, the spacious room and a genuinely pleasant atmosphere.

Location and arrival: Hardly more central

The location is without doubt one of the hotel's great strengths. Situated directly on the Anger, you find yourself right in the middle of Erfurt's historic centre. The city, with its shops, restaurants and sights, is practically on your doorstep.

Arriving by car, on the other hand, requires a little attention. The entrance to the underground car park is in a narrow side street and not necessarily where you would instinctively look for it. The hotel had sent us helpful arrival information in advance, so we eventually found the right way without any trouble.

During our visit, the barrier at the car park entrance was not working properly. To drive in, we had to ring the bell and have the hotel staff let us through. A minor inconvenience that was hopefully only temporary.

We found the underground car park itself practical. The car was parked under cover, the luggage was easy to unload, and a lift took us up to reception.

What sets Alma apart from many other city hotels, however, only becomes apparent behind the façades. The hotel complex extends across several historic buildings, some of which are connected to one another and grouped around courtyards. Different passageways and parts of the building give the hotel its special character.

In those two days, we did not explore every corner by any means. But it was precisely this slightly rambling layout, which you cannot take in all at once, that we liked. As a result, Alma feels less like an ordinary hotel and more like a piece of Erfurt's history that has grown over time and where guests can now spend the night.

Check-in and first impression: A successful welcome

Our check-in was extremely pleasant. Everything had been prepared, reception was professionally organised, and we were treated in a friendly and courteous manner.

Of course, we take into account in this assessment that our visit had been announced. That made it all the more important for us to watch, throughout our stay, whether this good first impression continued in the hotel's everyday routine.

What we liked right from the start was the combination of a professionally run hotel and an almost personal atmosphere. Despite the different parts of the building, Alma never felt restless or confusing. Instead, we quickly had the feeling of having arrived in a place with a character of its own.

Our room: Spacious, modern and with a lovely view

Our double room was a genuinely pleasant surprise.

The generous size of the room stood out as soon as we walked in. There was plenty of space, and the furnishings felt modern and fresh without seeming contrived or overdesigned. For our taste, functionality and homeliness were well combined.

We particularly liked the view. From the windows, we looked out onto the street façades of Erfurt's old town. The various buildings and their architectural details created a cityscape that we were happy to gaze at for a while.

A small gesture was waiting for us, too: a nicely arranged plate of macarons, berries and honey had been set out to welcome us. We were very pleased about it. Gestures like this are certainly not decisive for a hotel review, but they make a welcome all the more pleasant.

The room climate was convincing as well. The air conditioning allowed for a pleasant temperature, and the room as a whole conveyed a well-kept, high-quality impression.

In terms of amenities, there were just two extras we would have liked. There was no small fridge or minibar, and no coffee machine either. For us, both are among the things that make a longer stay even more comfortable, especially if you spend part of your time in the room.

We did not, however, consider this a significant drawback. We liked our room very much, and for us it was one of the most convincing parts of the hotel.

Cleanliness: A very well-kept overall impression

When it came to cleanliness, too, there was mostly positive news to report. The room, the bathroom and the public areas we visited were all in very well-kept condition.

Whether in the lobby, the underground car park, the courtyard or the restaurant: we had the impression that order and cleanliness are taken seriously at Alma.

There was one small thing we noticed, though. There were stains on one of the curtains in our room, which stood out somewhat given the otherwise excellent condition. In our view, this is a detail rather than a serious complaint, but one that belongs in a complete hotel review.

At Alma, rooms are only cleaned daily on request. A notice in the room explained this with reference to protecting the environment. This did not bother us: for our two nights, we did not need any cleaning and did not ask for any.

Sleep comfort: We would have loved to take these beds home

There are hotel beds in which you sleep well enough. And there are those that leave you wondering the next morning which brand the mattress might be.

At Alma, it was the latter.

We found the mattresses exceptionally comfortable. They felt superb, and we slept very well throughout our stay. The pillows were pleasant too, and there were no issues at all with blackout. On the contrary: the curtains kept out the daylight so effectively that we even left them open a crack at night.

The only small deduction we have to make concerns soundproofing. At times, footsteps from the room above could be heard quite clearly. In places they sounded a little thumping, which may be related to the historic fabric of the building.

This did not seriously disturb our night's sleep. Nevertheless, it is an observation that may be of interest to guests who are particularly sensitive to noise.

It did not, however, change the very good comfort of the beds.

Bathroom: Bright, modern and well equipped

The bathroom suited the modern character of our room perfectly.

It was bright, clean and in very good condition. The shower worked reliably, there was enough space to put things down, and we were not missing anything essential among the rest of the amenities.

An illuminated make-up mirror, a hairdryer and the usual toiletries were provided, as were hygiene bags laid out ready for use, something we had hardly ever seen in hotel bathrooms before.

There were no bathrobes in the room at first, but reception provided them without any fuss when we asked.

All in all, a lovely, functional bathroom that rounded off the good impression of the room.

Service and staff: Friendly and uncomplicated

During our stay, we came into contact with the hotel's staff in various areas. Whether at reception, at breakfast, in housekeeping or in the evening at the bar in the restaurant: we found the staff friendly and helpful throughout.

We particularly appreciated how easily our requests were dealt with. Questions were answered kindly, wishes were fulfilled, and the service felt professional without being stiff or overly formal.

It was precisely this natural ease that, for us, made up a good part of the pleasant atmosphere.

Breakfast: Cosiness rather than grand presentation

Breakfast is served in the adjoining restaurant, Alma’s. To get there, we had to leave our building and cross the open courtyard.

In fine weather, this short walk is no problem at all. In rain or wintry temperatures, it is likely to be less pleasant. Umbrellas were provided, though, so the hotel had also prepared for worse weather.

We liked the restaurant itself very much. Plenty of wood, warm rustic furnishings and pleasant background music created an atmosphere in which you happily stay seated a little longer.

We found the selection at the buffet entirely appropriate for a four-star hotel. There were cold cuts, cheese, fruit, vegetables, muesli, various drinks and the usual breakfast items.

The bread rolls stood out in our memory in particular. They seemed fresh and of higher quality than the usual standard bake-off rolls. We do not know whether they actually came from a local bakery, but they certainly convinced us in terms of taste.

We came to breakfast relatively late but still found the buffet well stocked. At one point, only plates were missing, and these were replenished after a short while.

The member of staff on duty clearly had a lot to do but remained friendly and attentive throughout.

What we particularly liked was the calm in which we were able to enjoy our breakfast. After we had eaten, we stayed seated for a while and chatted over another cup of coffee.

It was not a breakfast that set out to impress with an extraordinary abundance or a spectacular presentation. Rather, it was a good, cosy hotel breakfast at which we felt very much at ease.

The bar at Alma’s restaurant: A lovely place for the evening

The bar at Alma’s, the restaurant where we had already had breakfast that morning, also left a particularly pleasant impression.

With its wooden features and rustic character, the interior reminded us of classic hotel bars of the kind you sometimes see in older films. Yet the room did not feel old-fashioned or cluttered in the slightest, but well kept and cosy in a lovely way.

We ended one evening there with a drink and enjoyed the atmosphere.

Here, Alma has an area that differs markedly in design from the modern guest rooms. It was precisely this contrast that we liked.

We did not test the hotel's other facilities extensively. We were offered the use of the sauna, but decided against it because of the late hour and work we still had to do. We are therefore unable to give a rating for this area.

Technology and value for money: Minor drawbacks amid convincing comfort overall

One point where we would like to see an improvement is the internet connection.

The Wi-Fi in our room did not work as reliably as we would have needed for our work. As a result, we used our own mobile hotspots at times. We cannot say whether this affected only our room or other parts of the building as well.

For an ordinary city break, this may matter less, depending on how you use it. Anyone who regularly works from their hotel room, however, depends on a stable connection.

Apart from that, the technical equipment convinced us. The room could be conveniently opened with a key card, there were plenty of power sockets, and in the bathroom we could listen to the TV or radio through speakers.

Because our stay was partly covered, we can only assess value for money to a limited extent from our own experience of paying. We can, however, certainly put the services offered into perspective.

Measured against our expectations of a four-star hotel, we found the overall offer very convincing. The quality of the room, the sleep comfort, the location and the service in particular gave us the impression of high value within this hotel category.

Expectation and reality: A hotel with a personality of its own

Before our arrival, we had expected a good city hotel. The online presentation conveyed a well-kept, upmarket impression, which was confirmed on site.

What is hard to convey in pictures, however, is the special atmosphere of the entire ensemble of buildings.

The historic façades, the interconnected houses, the courtyards and the individually designed rooms give Alma a personality that we liked very much.

On top of that came a room that exceeded our expectations in terms of size, condition and comfort.

Not everything was perfect, and it does not have to be for a very good hotel review. What matters to us is whether the key services are convincing and whether minor weaknesses noticeably affect the overall impression.

In our view, that was not the case at Alma.

Our conclusion: A surprisingly lovely city hotel

Hotel Alma am Anger pleasantly surprised us.

We felt very much at home during those two days and got to know a hotel whose particular appeal lies not only in its amenities. Rather, it is the combination of historic architecture, contemporary comfort and pleasant hospitality that sets the hotel apart.

There is room for improvement in a few areas. This applies above all to the Wi-Fi connection and to minor practical details. Nevertheless, we never felt that these points significantly affected our stay.

Would we come back? Definitely. On a future visit to Erfurt, Alma would be a very good option for us.

Above all, we came away with the impression of a charming, professionally run four-star hotel that knows its strengths and offered us considerably more than we had originally expected.