Written by Brit Seaton

As Berlin climbs the ranks of luxury travel destinations, visions of the German capital as ‘sexy but poor’ are fast becoming an old cliché. Today, the vibrant metropolis boasts some of the world’s most prestigious icons of luxury hospitality, defined by their offerings of international fine dining, impeccable concierge services and tailor-made innovations in immersive, authentic tourism.

With Berlin bursting at the seams with artistic and cultural flair, it seemed only appropriate to dedicate our luxury hotel guide to those best accommodating for the creative class. Our hand-picked favourites present the best of the city’s design hotels, boutique retreats and luxury apartments with a twist. Whether it’s a whistle-stop city break or indulgence in an extended stay, these nine choices situate you in the distinct and inimitable creative pulses of Berlin.

Hotel Adlon Kempinski

The prestigious Adlon Kempinski hotel is a historical treasure of Berlin’s luxury hospitality, situated just a stone’s throw from the iconic Brandenburg Gate in the central Mitte district. First opening in 1907, the now-renovated building presents a contemporary ode to the original establishment, fusing the masterly grandeur of traditional furnishings with an impeccable understanding of a modern guest’s requirements. The Adlon Kempinski’s outstanding success can be attributed to its exceptional accommodation for business and leisure visits alike, assisted by the services of its highly-trained concierges and butlers. While the inhouse business centre functions as personalised office on-the-go, the luxury Adlon Spa, multiple restaurants and shopping arcade indulge guests with exquisite wellbeing treatments, fine dining and that ever-important retail therapy.

Grand Hyatt Hotel Berlin

Celebrated as a vibrant hub of shopping and nightlife, the Potsdamer Platz area is home to the modern classic Grand Hyatt Hotel. The five-star hotel presents a refined interior décor by award-winning contemporary designers Tony Chi and Hannes Wettstein, which complements a diverse collection of curated paintings and sculptures throughout. A venture around the local district leads to Berlin’s world-renowned Philharmonic Hall, the iconic inner-city Tiergarten park and numerous notable museums, including the Portrait Gallery (Gemäldegalerie) and the Neue Nationalgalerie, displaying 20th-century European and American masterpieces. Long days spent wandering the city can be relieved by the hotel’s skyline-view pool, irresistible spa treatments and sophisticated international dining.

Miniloft Berlin

Situated next to Berlin Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), the flawless apartments of Miniloft Berlin exemplify the persisting trend of luxury design hotels. Ribbons of stainless steel present a striking silver façade and anticipate the exceptionally sleek interior design, highlighting the candid use of materials incorporated to reduce the site’s environmental footprint. Miniloft recognises the diverse needs of the modern traveller, presenting a range of four distinct layout styles to suit those who value the flexibility of an apartment with private facilities. To aid the guest’s independence, the Miniloft team provides an impressive 40-page guidebook to Berlin, enabling the reader to experience Berlin like a local.

Waldorf Astoria Berlin

In the heart of upmarket West Berlin, the Waldorf Astoria hotel exudes classic charm through its Art Deco interiors, unified with cutting-edge design staples of the 21st century. The hotel’s excellent location is only enhanced by its views, as rooms in the 118m tower present the all-embracing scenery of the Zoological Garden through floor-to-ceiling windows. If that’s not tempting enough, the Waldorf Astoria’s presidential suite is the highest in Berlin, offering unrivaled panoramic views of the city. The fifth floor is reserved for the unique and exclusively created Guerlain Spa, offering the quintessential urban retreat after a shopping spree in the nearby fashion houses of Chanel, Burberry and Versace.

Hotel Oderberger

Originally constructed in the late 19th-century, Berlin’s Oderberg swimming hall has been converted into an elegant luxury guest house. Hotel Oderberger can be discovered in the splendid neighbourhood of Prenzlauerberg, presenting a stunning example of classically-inspired architecture designed by architect Ludwig Hoffman (famed for his work on Berlin’s Pergamon Museum). We recommend dining at the listed building’s in-house restaurant, celebrated for its seasonal selection of modern German cuisine. Guests can also indulge in a creative array of cocktails at Oderberg’s Kaminabar, accompanied by a real log fire for the pinnacle of relaxation.

The Weinmeister

If dynamic contemporary furnishings are your design preference, we unwaveringly recommend The Weinmeister. Located in downtown Mitte, this edgy boutique hotel neighbours the rich abundance of world-renowned galleries on Auguststrasse and Linienstrasse, not far from our own coGalleries exhibition space. Perfect for creative professionals, The Weinmeister is thoughtfully adorned with vibrant works of graffiti by global street art collective, the Paint Club, and a selection of signature rooms feature spray-painted murals of pop culture icons. If you expect to soak up the artistic flair of Berlin, The Weinmeister presents an exuberant ode to the city’s esteemed status as a contemporary creative capital, before you even leave your room.

Hotel de Rome

The Hotel de Rome is a masterpiece of the Rocco Forte hotelier group, adopting the converted site of a grand 19th-century bank in Mitte’s historic Bebelplatz square. Original architectural features combine with modern hospitality essentials, culminating in such iconic highlights as the luxurious De Rome spa and pool located in the building’s former jewellery vaults. Located in the midst of St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, The State Opera and the infamous Museum Island, the Hotel de Rome has an inimitable connection with Berlin’s history. Celebrated as family-friendly, this grand hotel is assisted by a full concierge service and offers personalised programmes for children of all ages, presenting a tailor-made luxury getaway for all.

Soho House Berlin

Maintaining the characteristic decadence of Soho House properties, the private members’ Berlin hotel combines the luxury of antique furnishings with contemporary design icons and expensive original artworks, most prominently the lobby’s Damien Hirst shark canvas. Situated on the border of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte, Soho House Berlin is an icon amongst the city’s boutique hotels, featuring a rooftop pool, an exclusive spa and fitness centre, and a private library and cinema. Alongside 89 rooms, Soho House offers 20 expansive apartments that denote the pinnacle of exclusivity, ideal for creative business trips and romantic retreats alike. A five-minute walk leads to the prestigious Volksbühne theatre, while the courtyard complex of Hackescher Hof (once the centre of Jewish Berlin) is located just a little further around the corner.

Gorki Apartments

The philosophy central to Berlin’s Gorki Apartments is living like a local. Situated in a renovated 19th-century residential building on Mitte’s Rosenthaler Platz, the boutique apartments are designed by interior connoisseur Sandra Pauquet to provide a luxurious home-from-home feel. Furnished with treasures uncovered at antique markets and classic elements of design by Egon Eiermann and Fritz Hansen, the rooms provide the perfect base for an authentic experience of the city. While most apartments lack a concierge service, Gorki Apartments light a beacon of innovation with their thoughtful iConcierge facility run by the team’s young and knowledgeable hoteliers, encouraging guests to feel connected to the city, whatever the length of their stay.

Orania.Berlin

Located in the heart of vibrant eastern Kreuzberg on the Oranienplatz square, the Orania.Berlin hotel epitomises urban chic in a restored historic building. To accommodate lovers of music and culture, Orania.Berlin’s Living Room area features a Grand Steinway piano and a stage, anticipating the regular music events of the classical, jazz and soul genres. The blend of globally-sourced furnishings and textiles capture the boutique hotel’s distinctly refined taste, in a rich array of deep reds, browns and gold. The Orania.Berlin also offers a literary salon, a cutting-edge fitness suite and treatment room. Celebrated for warmly welcoming families, the hotel offers versatile options for sleeping arrangements including elegant cots and additional beds. It’s truly unsurprising that visitors fall in love with Berlin’s diverse artistic and cultural flair. And the city’s flourishing hospitality industry presents no exception.

These luxury hotels and apartments offer unforgettable experiences—whether it’s your first or fifth encounter with the city, we recommend each of them wholeheartedly for their unique expression of Berlin’s cultural vitality. Our expertise in Berlin’s evolving creative currents also informs coGalleries art adventures and custom-made tours, which reveal the hidden gems and modern masterpieces of the world-renowned art scene on our doorstep. Discover more information about our private art tours here.

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