Lux Eleven
Lux Eleven is a designer apartment-hotel located in the heart of the trendy Mitte district in central Berlin.
Contemporary minimalism is the theme, with the 72 modern, open-plan rooms decorated mainly in white, with bleached wood furnishings. The rooms come with wall-mounted flat-screen televisions and DVD/CD players, as well as full kitchens.
The basement is occupied by an Aveda spa, where you can get massages and beauty treatments. Other facilities include a designer fashion boutique and a restaurant-bar-lounge serving Italian-Asian fusion cuisine. The surrounding Mitte district is packed with plenty more fashion shops, plus art galleries, cafés, bars and restaurants, and many of the city's top cultural attractions are within easy walking distance.
Why We Love It
Because it is conceived as an apartment hotel, services are fairly minimal and there is a relaxed, residential atmosphere to the place.
Das Stue
Standing in stately splendour at the heart of Germany's capital, the boutique Das Stue hotel offers guests a luxury retreat in beautiful surrounds. Housed in the former Danish Embassy, Das Stue is set amidst the lush Tiergarten Park and adjacent to Berlin Zoo.
This boutique hotel is comprised of 78 spacious rooms, all of which feature ensuite bathrooms, king sized beds and air conditioning, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free stay. Most rooms are complete with floor to ceiling windows, providing views of the stunning Tiergarten or the animals of Berlin Zoo, while the spacious Suites boast the addition of separate living areas. Some accommodations have balconies or terraces from which to enjoy the views over Berlin, with a good book in hand.
There is a dining area at Das Stue to suit every mood and occasion. For fine dining and Mediterranean cuisine, guests can visit the Cinco by Paco Pérez, or on those more laid back days, The Casual is the perfect spot to head to. Serving tapas dishes all-day and breakfast first thing, this is the hotel's social hub and the place to enjoy sharing food with friends and family. During the summer months, The Casual hosts Thursday night tapas BBQs on the terrace. Visit Stue bar to discover whiskies and cognacs which are exclusively available at the hotel and on a Friday, enjoy the live music while sipping your favourite tipple.
Das Stue's central location makes it the perfect place from which to discover Berlin's many wonders. If it is history and cultural you're after, the magnificent Victory Column, Reichstag Building and Holocaust Memorial can be found close by. Alternatively, it is only a short walk from KaDeWe and Kurfürstendamm or take a short drive to the shopping and art districts in East and West Berlin. For a break from sightseeing, head to the hotel's spa.
Why We Love It
When staying at Das Stue, guests gain exclusive access to the wonders of Berlin Zoo through the hotel's private entrance.
Bleibtreu
The Bleibtreu is a modern boutique hotel, located in a former town-house on a side street off the famous Kurfürstendamm boulevard.
Compared to some of the uber-hip hotels in town the Bleibtreu might seem positively staid, but we like the understated cool, combining classic elegance and a modern, ecological philosophy.
Each floor has its own style and the colour schemes vary for each room, with furnishings made from carefully chosen natural materials. Best of all, the bathrooms feature delectablly deep Japanese-style baths.
The hotel's Blue Bar is a relaxing oasis, and the restaurant, Bleibtreu 31, serves Italian food. In summer, breakfast and lunch are served in the small inner courtyard. The excellent shopping of the Ku'damm is just a stone's throw away.
Why We Love It
Not content with a bar and restaurant, the Bleibtreu also has an espresso bar, a deli, a florist and a wellness centre specialising in homeopathic treatments.