by The Michelberger
Since opening 14 years ago, the Michelberger has built a community of locals and tourists who flock to this historic factory-turned-modern boutique hotel. Nestled between the liveliest districts of Berlin, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, its 140 rooms, intended for all budgets, attract an eclectic and artistic clientele. Transport links can take you around the city 24/7, but you won’t get far. Live music in the inner courtyard, yoga classes, ice baths, and saunas are offered; there are plenty of bars and restaurants in every direction, while Berghain – the city’s most famous nightclub – is just a short walk away, if you’re lucky enough to get inside.
Rooms from £79, michelbergerhotel.com
Orania Berlin
Laid-back luxury sums up the atmosphere of Orania, a corner of calm amidst the hectic streets of Kreuzberg. 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 artists on stage. The chef’s duck is famous, but if you’re feeling thrifty, head to Doyum for a kebab or Goldies for Michelin-quality fast food. Every Tuesday or Saturday, stroll along the river to the vast Turkish market of Maybachufer.
Rooms from £158, orania.berlin
25 hours Hotel Bikini
Housed in a 1950s skyscraper atop the Bikini Berlin concept mall, the Berlin offering of the growing chain 25hours is having a real buzz. The “urban” rooms overlook the rooftops of the city. The jungle option offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the vast Tiergarten, with the enclosures of the famous Berlin Zoo just below. In each room you will find a free minibar, a portable speaker and a backpack to borrow: grab your gear, pick up a bike from reception and explore. Or head up to the bustling rooftop bar and enjoy a Middle Eastern meal at NENIen, or relax in the ninth-floor sauna and watch elephants and monkeys while sipping complimentary beers from the fridge.
Rooms from £158, 25hours-hotels.com
Hotel Oderberger
Occupying the site of a 19th-century bathhouse, this 70-room boutique hotel in Prenzlauer Berg opened in February 2016 after extensive renovations, bringing the impressive derelict building back to life. Many original details have been preserved, the 20m indoor pool with vaulted ceiling being the most impressive. You may have to queue with the locals to take a swim, but it’s worth the wait. It is only a 10 minute walk to the Mauerpark, cafes and restaurants, where on Sundays the famous flea market is well worth a visit.
Rooms from £122, hotel-oderberger.berlin
Wilmina
In Charlottenburg’s West End, Wilmina may only have opened in April 2022, but the team’s 11 years converting this former courthouse and jail into a tranquil oasis has been well spent. . Original details – cell doors, window bars – are tastefully integrated into its light, modern and airy design. With a rooftop pool, attic sauna, spacious lounges and secret courtyards, stay here for a retreat of rest and relaxation, ideal after a day exploring the city’s best shopping streets and restaurants right outside the door. .
Rooms from £163, wilmina.com
royal castle
With 93 rooms over five floors, this upscale boutique hotel is located parallel to the famous Unter den Linden boulevard, a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate. Once a Stasi spy center, left to rot for 30 years, its doors reopened last September. Here, 1850s architecture meets modern design, with early 20th-century materials — colored marble, oak flooring, nickel, and handmade crackle tiles — giving Berlin Bohemia a chic, contemporary feel. But it’s the art that really takes center stage here. With the work of over 100 leading artists in the rooms, bar, restaurant and public areas, the hotel may be a stone’s throw from some of the city’s finest museums, but it’s also a gallery in itself.
Rooms from £170, chateauroyalberlin.com
The circus
With hotels, hostels and apartments, Circus offers a stylish and central place to stay at all price points. The team here organizes events and activities to keep those staying there entertained, although you won’t need much guidance: located on bustling Rosenthaler Platz, you’re in a prime position for shopping, dining, drink, dance and consume culture at your leisure.
Rooms from £17 (hostel) and £87 (hotel) circus-berlin.de
Courtyard Hotel
Don’t let the quiet street outside fool you: this Kreuzberg hotel is ideally located for exploring Berlin on foot. Inspired by a Milanese courtyard, interiors here are sleek and minimalist, with a contemporary, compact feel to the smallest of the 55 rooms. 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 Finnish sauna.
Rooms from £109, hotel-theyard.berlin
Huttenpalast
For something a little different, try settling into one of Hüttenpalast’s vintage huts or caravans, parked in a former industrial complex in trendy Neukölln. Urban glamping may be 3unconventional — and requires a bit of bathroom sharing — but the flea market finds the layout of common areas has real charm. Six loft-style rooms are also available for those who prefer a bit more privacy.
From £61, huettenpalast.de
Soho house in Berlin
Every corner of the city is easily accessible from Soho House, an 85-room Berlin outpost located between the Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg neighborhoods. 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. In the decades that followed, it first became the headquarters of the Hitler Youth, then later the headquarters of the Communist Party’s Central Committee once the city was cut 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 on the doorstep: the iconic Volksbühne theater and the famous TV tower 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.
