Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Berlin’s most glamorous hotel address has hosted Michael Jackson and Her Majesty the Queen, among other luminaries. Overlooking the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel's prestigious location is matched to top-notch facilities (a two-floor spa, several restaurants) and flawless service
Location
The Brandenburg Gate is right outside the front door, as is the historic Academy of Arts, Max Liebermann’s former home, and several embassies. Primary sights such as the Reichstag, Unter den Linden, Potsdamer Platz and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe are all within a 15-minute walk. There are always tourists in the vicinity, but the nearby transit stations – or the hotel’s limousine service – can provide a convenient escape.
Style and Character
Bombed to bits during the Second World War, the hotel was restored in 1997 and carries a nostalgic, Old Europe atmosphere throughout with refined materials (cherrywood, mahogany, marble) everywhere you look, from the public areas to the restaurants and rooms.
That said, the swish lobby area, comprehensively refurbished in 2017 for a cool €6 million, has a slightly more modern feel thanks to new furnishings (velvet sofas and bergère armchairs) and a new lighting concept; the 1.5 metre Murano chandelier and famous elephant fountain keeps it reassuringly classic though.
Service and Facilities
As well as a (circular, after the refurbishment) reception area, the lobby features a dedicated concierge desk and another counter for the hotel’s “Ladies in Red” – Kempinski’s brand ambassadors. There are still several boutiques offering everything from gifts to luxury haute couture, several meeting and conference rooms for business travellers, plus a refurbished smokers’ lounge.
The main hotel highlight, though, is the spa. Designed by Anne Maria Jagdfeld, it’s a self-contained universe of luxurious pampering complete with heated pool, whirlpool, 24-hour fitness centre, hair salon and treatments that range from facials, massages, meditation to yoga lessons.
Rooms
Designed by London’s Ezra Attia Associates and Sweden’s AB Living Designs, the rooms and suites vary in terms of price and indulgence levels, though all come with limestone floors, mahogany and cherry furnishings and black granite bathrooms with bathtubs. The regular doubles, at a generous 35sqm, are spacious enough for most; the 80 suites are larger and some have kitchenettes for longer stays.
You’ll have to pay premium rates for a suite overlooking the Pariser Platz, but on the other hand, those facing the inner courtyard are nice and quiet.