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 Berlin’s liveliest districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, its 140 rooms, designed to suit all budgets, attract an eclectic and artistic clientele. Transport links can take you across town 24/7, not that you’ll be traveling far. Inner courtyard concerts, yoga classes, ice baths, and saunas are available; 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 feel like dropping in.
Rooms from £79, michelbergerhotel.com
Orania Berlin
Relaxed luxury sums up the vibe of Orania, a haven of calm in the heart of Kreuzberg’s bustling, bustling 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 artists taking the stage. The chef’s duck four ways is famous, but if you’re feeling frugal, pop into Doyum for a kebab or Goldies for Michelin-quality fast food. Every Tuesday or Saturday, potter along the river to the sprawling Maybachufer Turkish Market.
Rooms from £158, orania.berlin
25 hour hotel bikini
Housed in a 1950s high-rise atop the Bikini Berlin shopping mall, the growing 25hours chain’s Berlin offering has a real buzz. The “Urban” rooms overlook the city skyline – the jungle option offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling Tiergarten, with the enclosures of Berlin’s famous zoo directly below. In each room, you’ll find a free mini-bar, portable speaker, and backpack to borrow – grab your gear, grab a bike from reception, and explore. Or head upstairs to the lively rooftop bar and a Middle Eastern meal at NENIen, or relax in the ninth-floor sauna and watch the elephants and monkeys while sipping on free beers from the fridge.
Rooms from £158, 25hours-hotels.com
Hotel Oderberg
Occupying the site of a 19th-century public bath, this 70-room Prenzlauer Berg boutique hotel reopened in February 2016 after an extensive renovation, bringing the massive abandoned building back to life. Many original details have been retained, the 20m vaulted indoor swimming pool being the most impressive. You may have to queue with the locals to get a dip, but it’s worth the wait. It’s only a 10-minute walk to Mauerpark, plus cafes and restaurants, where the famous Sunday flea market is worth a visit.
Rooms from £122, hotel-oderberger.berlin
Vilmina
In the Western District of Charlottenburg, Wilmina may have only opened in April 2022, but the 11 years the team spent converting this former courthouse and prison into a tranquil oasis have been well spent. Original details – cell doors, railings – are tastefully incorporated into its light, modern and airy design. With a rooftop swimming pool, penthouse sauna, spacious guest lounges and secret patios, stay here for a haven of rest and relaxation, ideal after a day exploring the city’s best shopping streets and restaurants right outside your gates .
Rooms from £163, wilmina.com
Royal Castle
With 93 rooms over five floors, this extraordinary luxury boutique hotel is located parallel to the famous Unter den Linden boulevard, just a few minutes’ walk from the Brandenburg Gate. Once a Stasi spy center, left to rot for 30 years, its doors were reopened last September. Now 1850s architecture meets modern design here, with early 20th-century materials – colored marbles, oak parquet floors, nickel and hand-made craquelé tiles – giving Berlin Bohemia a chic, contemporary edge. But it’s the art that really takes center stage here. With the works of over 100 leading artists found in the rooms, bar, restaurant and public spaces, the hotel may be a stone’s throw from some of the best museums in the city, but it is also a gallery in itself and for self.
Rooms from £170, chateauroyalberlin.com
The circus
With accommodation in hotels, hostels and apartments, Circus offers a stylish and central place to stay at any price. The team here curates events and activities to keep those who stay entertained, not that you need much guidance: located on bustling Rosenthaler Platz, you’re in a prime location to shop, eat, drink, dance and consume culture to your heart’s content.
Rooms from £17 (hostel) and £87 (hotel) circus-berlin.de
Courtyard Hotel
Don’t let the quiet street fool you – this Kreuzberg hotel is in the perfect location for exploring Berlin on foot. Inspired by a Milanese courtyard, interiors here are sleek and minimal, with a compact, contemporary vibe in the smallest of the 55 rooms. Both the Jewish Museum and Berlinische Galerie are a 10-minute walk away, while Checkpoint Charlie is five minutes more. 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 period cabins or caravans, parked in a former industrial complex in trendy Neukölln. Urban glamping may be unconventional and require sharing a bathroom, but flea market finds that the decor of common spaces has real charm. Six loft-style rooms are also available for those who prefer a little more privacy.
From £61, huettenpalast.de
Soho House Berlin
All corners of the city are within easy reach of Soho House, an 85-room Berlin outpost located between the Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg districts. Its industrial chic aesthetic might feel modern, but this hotel is steeped in history. In the 1920s, the eight-story Bauhaus building was a Jewish-owned department store. In the following decades it first became the headquarters of the Hitler Youth, then the headquarters 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 on the doorstep – the iconic Volksbühne theater and famous TV tower are right on your doorstep. behind the corner; the 24-hour concierge team knows exactly which bars, shops, clubs and restaurants are trending.
Rooms from £170, sohohouse.com.
