A century ago, Berlin was the European epicentre for creativity and culture. The Roaring Twenties in the German capital was defined by its forward-thinking Art Deco design, late-night lavishness and booming film and cabaret industries. However, events of the mid-late 20th century weren’t kind to the city, with reminders of its unhappy past still omnipresent with the Holocaust memorial, remnants of the Berlin Wall and the iconic Brandenburg Gate, now a symbol of unification. 

The gritty city was famously split into East and West in the aftermath of WWII, with the division remaining through the Cold War of the 1980s. While the Soviet-controlled East remained closed off, the West aimed to entice tourists, particularly from its allied Western nations, including Britain and America. Once the wall came down in 1989 and Germany was unified a year later, five-star brands ventured into the once-restricted Eastern side of the city, and now span the breadth of the capital. From historic properties to design-led boutiques, here are the best luxury hotels in Berlin. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Potsdamer Platz

Emulating the glitz and glamour experience which has become so synonymous with the Ritz-Carlton brand, the Berlin outpost is located in the heart of the city at Potsdamer Platz, adjacent to the city’s largest park, Tiergarten, and less than 10 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate. Harking back to the city’s golden era, the 10-storey property, including its 303 guest rooms and suites (the 3,000sq ft penthouse certainly has the wow-factor), feature a modern Art Deco-inspired design with contemporary touches as a result of a £40m refurbishment in 2019. Think large marble pillars flanking grand rooms, sweeping staircases and sparkling chandeliers accompanied by handmade furniture and locally-commissioned artworks.

If reliable, impeccable service is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Professional staff are on hand to help from the moment you step through the doors and thoughtful touches include limousine hire, dry cleaning and restaurant and concert recommendations and bookings. Choose from a number of culinary experiences: Pots, aptly named after the neighbourhood in which it resides and the copper pans it adorns, offers high-end German cuisine in the form of tasting menus featuring black halibut, meatball Koenigsberg style and beef fillet from Holstein. Visit The Lounge for a Bavarian twist on afternoon tea and enjoy a cocktail or two behind the drapes of The Curtain Club: a space inspired by the Roaring Twenties and complemented by live jazz music. 

From £348 per night, visit ritzcarlton.com

Hotel de Rome, Bebelplatz

Housed in a neoclassical 19th-century former bank, Hotel de Rome occupies an enviable slice of Bebelplatz found in the heart of East Berlin. Like much of the city, this five-star hotel has respected its history throughout its thoughtful transformation into a hotel, with original marble columns, skylights and iron staircases remaining, while the bank’s jewellery vault houses a large, underground pool. The striking entrance sets the tone for the rest of the property, featuring eye-catching designs including the grand Atelier Prométhée magenta urns and Olivia Steele’s neon birdcage. Upstairs boasts some of the largest suites in the city, expertly designed by Olga Polizzi and Tommaso Ziffer in bold wallpapers, bright furniture and understated artworks.

The hotel’s main restaurant, Chiaro, serves Italian fare, while the Opera Court serves afternoon tea inspired by its sister London hotel, Brown’s in Mayfair. However, the jewel in Hotel de Rome’s crown comes in the form of its rooftop terrace boasting some of the best views in town. Watch Berlin light up before your eyes while sightseeing, thanks to the lavender-lined champagne bar offering panoramas of the historic Bebelplatz, the green dome of St Hedwig’s Cathedral, the collonaded grandeur of the Opera House and the entire skyline of the city. 

From £285 per night, visit roccofortehotels.com

Hotel am Steinplatz, Charlottenburg

Once the German bolthole for Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov and actress Brigitte Bardot, Hotel am Steinplatz’s leafy location adjacent to Tiergarten Park seems far removed from the business of Berlin. However, a short wander and you’ll stumble across a number of cultural hotspots, including gallery C/O Berlin, Berlin’s largest opera house Deutsche Oper and popular shopping street Kurfürstendamm – perfect for a spot of retail therapy. Max Zellermayer first opened the luxury hotel in 1913, meaning the property boasts quite the historical timeline: after the German Revolution of 1918, many Russian aristocrats and intellectuals occupied the stately suites, while during the Second World War, it was business as usual albeit in an eccentric style (think tomato patches on the roof and a herd of goats in the courtyard). 

The property has stuck to its fashionable, relaxed roots with Art Nouveau-inspired interiors featuring Moorish arched windows, stucco decorations and August Endell artistry. All of the 84 rooms feature helpful technology including Bose and JBL Bluetooth speakers, 42-inch televisions and chic coffee machines, while the three suites provide the perfect home-from-home (the Spa Suite even has its own sauna and freestanding bathtub). Book into the rooftop spa for birds-eye views of Berlin, while the in-house restaurant and bar will certainly sate your appetite with classic German fare. 

From £200 per night, visit marriott.com

Waldorf Astoria Berlin, Charlottenburg

If the flagship 301 Park Avenue establishment in New York has set your standard for luxury, you’ll feel right at home at Waldorf Astoria’s Berlin property. Situated between the Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard, Berlin Zoo, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the five-star hotel is perfectly positioned for those looking to explore this historic destination from the West. Rooms feature Art Deco elegance while boasting the city's largest and highest suites with breathtaking views. The Presidential Suite, for example, is situated at the highest point in Berlin (on the hotel’s 31st floor) and is furnished with a grand piano, fireplace and specially designed porcelain from the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, as well as two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. 

Experience rustic Mediterranean cuisine under a hand-painted ceiling in Roca, high tea with a view in the 15th-floor Library Lounge, or an original Waldorf Astoria cocktail at Lang Bar. The hotel is also home to Germany’s first Guerlain Spa – inclusive of five therapy rooms, a cloud-shaped pool, sauna, terrace, 24-hour fitness centre and a Guerlain boutique – making this the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of this lively city while high up in the German clouds. 

From £320 per night, visit hilton.com

Schlosshotel Berlin by Patrick Hellmann, Grunewald

Image: Schlosshotel

One for creatives, German fashion designer Patrick Hellmann transformed this 18th-century Renaissance-style property into an architectural masterpiece with an idyllic inner-city garden and 22 individually-styled rooms and suites. Built in 1911, Hellmann has preserved 100 years of history, which has seen the building transform from the opulent home of a friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II to the hospitality project of Chanel’s long-time creative director Karl Lagerfeld. Rooms have adopted a dark palette – think lots of blues, greys and blacks – with textiles made from offcuts from Hellmann’s previous clothing collections, while suites feature marble bathrooms, underfloor heating and large televisions. 

Elsewhere, the restaurant serves European cuisine in an historic castle setting, offering an international wine list from the most prestigious vineyards in the country. The darkly seductive PHC Bar features crystal accessories by Lalique, stunning art photography and a refined cocktail menu, alongside the Champagne Bar, which offers the world’s finest champagnes all in one glamorous location.

From £180 per night, visit schlosshotelberlin.com

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