by the michelberger
Since opening 14 years ago, Michelberger has created a community of locals and tourists who flock to this historic factory turned modern boutique hotel. Located between the liveliest districts of Berlin, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, its 140 rooms, designed to satisfy all budgets, attract an eclectic and artistic clientele. Transport links can take you across the city 24/7, although you won’t be traveling very far. Concerts are offered in the internal patio, yoga classes, ice baths and saunas; there are plenty of bars and restaurants in every direction, while Berghain, the city’s most famous nightclub, is only a short walk away, if you fancy popping in.
Rooms from £79, michelbergerhotel.com
orania berlin
Laid-back luxury sums up the atmosphere at Orania, a corner of calm in the heart of Kreuzberg’s hectic streets. With just 41 rooms, a stay here is an intimate experience: there’s live music in the open-plan lobby, bar and restaurant Tuesday through Saturday, with an ever-changing lineup of Berlin-based artists taking the stage . The chef’s duck in four directions is famous, but if you’re feeling frugal, just head to Doyum for a kebab or Goldies for Michelin-quality fast food. On any Tuesday or Saturday, wander the river to the sprawling Turkish market of Maybachufer.
Rooms from £158, orania.berlin
25 hours Hotel Bikini
Housed in a 1950s high-rise building on top of the Bikini Berlin concept mall, growing chain 25hours’ Berlin offering has a real buzz. The “Urban” rooms face the city skyline; the jungle option offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling Tiergarten, with the enclosures of Berlin’s famous zoo just below. In every room you’ll find a free minibar, portable speaker and backpack to borrow – grab your gear, pick up a bike from reception and explore. Or head upstairs to the bustling rooftop bar and enjoy a Middle Eastern meal at NENIen, or relax in the 9th floor sauna and watch the elephants and monkeys while sipping on complimentary beers from the fridge.
Rooms from £158, 25hours-hotels.com
Hotel Oderberger
Occupying the site of a 19th-century public bathhouse, this 70-room Prenzlauer Berg boutique hotel opened in February 2016 after extensive renovations, bringing the impressive derelict building back to life. Many original details have been retained, the most impressive being the 20m indoor pool with vaulted ceiling. You may have to queue with the locals to take a dip, but the wait is well worth it. It is only a 10 minute walk to Mauerpark past cafes and restaurants, where on Sundays the famous flea market is well worth a visit.
Rooms from £122, hotel-oderberger.berlin
wilmina
In the western district of Charlottenburg, Wilmina may only have opened its doors in April 2022, but the 11 years the team spent turning this former courthouse and prison into an oasis of tranquility was time well spent. Original details (cell doors, window bars) are tastefully incorporated into its light, modern and spacious design. With a rooftop pool, rooftop sauna, expansive guest lounges and secret patios, stay here for a rest and relaxation retreat, ideal after a day exploring the city’s best shopping streets and restaurants right outside. of the door.
Rooms from £163, wilmina.com
royal castle
With 93 rooms on five floors, this impressive luxury boutique hotel sits parallel to the famous boulevard Unter den Linden, just a few minutes’ walk from the Brandenburg Gate. Once a Stasi spy center, left to rot for 30 years, its doors reopened last September. Now 1850s architecture meets modern design here, with early 20th-century materials—colorful marble, oak parquet floors, nickel, and hand-crafted craquelé tiles—giving Berlin Bohemia a elegant and contemporary touch. But it’s the art that really takes center stage here. With the work of over 100 featured artists in the rooms, bar, restaurant and public spaces, the hotel may be a stone’s throw from some of the city’s best museums, but it’s also a gallery unto itself.
Rooms from £170, chateauroyalberlin.com
The circus
With accommodation in hotels, hostels and apartments, Circus offers a central and stylish place to stay at all price points. The team here organize events and activities to entertain those who stay, not that you need much guidance: located on bustling Rosenthaler Platz, you’re in a prime position to shop, eat, drink, dance and consume culture to your heart’s content.
Rooms from £17 (hostel) and £87 (hotel) circus-berlin.de
Hotel the Courtyard
Don’t let the quiet street outside fool you: this Kreuzberg hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring Berlin on foot. Inspired by a Milanese courtyard, interiors here are sleek and minimalist, with a compact, contemporary feel in the smallest of the 55 rooms. Both the Jewish Museum and the Berlinische Galerie are a 10-minute walk away, while Checkpoint Charlie is a further five minutes. Relax with a swim in the indoor pool and a Finnish sauna.
Rooms from £109, hotel-theyard.berlin
Hüttenpalast
For something a little different, try checking into one of Hüttenpalast’s vintage cabins or caravans, parked in a former factory complex in trendy Neukölln. Urban glamping may be unconventional, requiring a shared bathroom, but the flea market finds that decorating communal spaces has real charm. There are also six loft bedrooms available for those who prefer a little more privacy.
From £61, huettenpalast.de
Soho House Berlin
Every corner of the city is within easy reach of Soho House, an 85-room Berlin outpost nestled between the Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg districts. Its industrial chic aesthetic may seem modern, but this hotel is steeped in history. In the 1920s, the eight-story Bauhaus building was a Jewish-owned department store. During the following decades, it first became the headquarters of the Hitler Youth and then the home of the Central Committee of the Communist Party once the city was divided in two. If the rooftop pool, cinema, gym, basement spa, and three on-site restaurants aren’t enough to keep you entertained, there’s plenty to see right on your doorstep: the iconic Volksbühne theater and the famous tower television stations are just around the corner; The 24-hour concierge team knows exactly which bars, shops, clubs and restaurants are trending.
Rooms from £170, sohohouse.com.
