7 Best places to stay in Berlin

The city’s only hotel with full-frontal views of the Brandenburg Gate, the sumptuous Adlon is one of Europe’s grand old dames and a favourite with visiting celebrities. It was here that Marlene Dietrich was discovered, Goebbels chased his mistress down the hall and Michael Jackson dangled his infant son from a balcony.

Starting with the gilt-edged lobby and gorgeous stained-glass atrium, the complex oozes old-style luxury from every pore, although it’s a post-war replica. There’s an uber-luxurious wellness centre with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, spa and a state-of-the-art gym. For dining, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house, and an on-site wine store, famed for holding more than a million bottles in its cellar – still a treasure trove for connoisseurs.

Even the location is grand. You’re right in the heart of the historic city on Pariser Platz – a ceremonial square stretching behind the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate.

This imposing building was once an office of the secret police. Today, it’s a luxury hotel with 73 beautifully-appointed rooms & suites, flooded with natural light. Even the most basic have queen beds and kitchens with microwaves, fridges, dishwashers and coffeemakers. There are also several separate, self-contained, multi-room apartments you can book close by through the hotel – ideal for groups and family stays.

There’s a good in-house restaurant (operated by a third party), and guests may use the fitness centre at EVO Fitness, opposite the hotel.

Lux sits in the perfect location for Mitte’s shopping and Prenzlauer Berg’s cool bars. It’s a good base for sightseeing and first visits – a 15-minute walk from Museum Island; a 3-minute walk from Alexanderplatz station.

Former video-game producer Tom Michelberger used his experience of creating fantasy lands to design this brilliant budget pad.

The style is Manhattan loft – high ceilings, exposed bricks, wooden floors and Anglepoise lamps. Rooms are simple; some are compact and rooms for groups have bunk beds.

The relaxed communal spaces have books, games and lampshades made from old magazines. It’s super-friendly and convivial – like staying at a friend’s place. Packs of hip singles come here to be near the party heat of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, and to enjoy facilities that rival some of the area’s more expensive options.

The in-house restaurant is worth dining in for, and is a popular hangout for locals. It serves up seasonal dishes, using organic, biodynamic and sustainable ingredients sourced from their farm and other local producers.

It’s in a fairly industrial area, not that close to the city’s main attractions, but the U-bahn is a two-minute walk which will whisk you off to sightsee as needed. This is a hotel that’s perfectly located for serious partying. If it’s peace you’re after, rooms at the back are a lot quieter.

Run by Spanish shoe company Camper, this slick boutique hotel in the heart of the vibrant Mitte district draws young, fashionable Euro-hipsters who wouldn’t dream of staying in humdrum lodgings.

The spacious rooms cast a sidelong glance at design trends: beautiful hardwoods and deep reds set off Bauhaus light switches, 1980s touch telephones and classic Eames chairs. The bathrooms are flooded with natural light. There’s a decent all-day café/restaurant downstairs, serving fresh, seasonal dishes.

But this hotel is all about location. One for those who like stepping out into the buzz.

Berlin is bursting with over-the-top design hotels, but the Amano is probably Mitte’s most tastefully understated option. High-tech gadgets and natural materials set the tone in the bedrooms, with stunning parquet flooring, flatscreen TVs and deliciously dark slate in the bathrooms.

Night owls book in here for the buzzing nightlife around nearby Rosenthaler Platz, while by day the dimly lit lobby with velvet upholstery is filled with preppy tourists sipping lattes and yakking on smartphones. In the summer months, there’s breakfast in the garden and drinks on the roof terrace.

It’s a ten-minute walk from Museum Island and a three-minute walk from the metro, so still a good base for sightseers, but this suits those who also want to come to join in the party and experience Berlin’s legendary social scene.

The grand 19th-century headquarters of Dresdner Bank, adjacent to the State Opera on grand Bebelplatz, have been converted into this impressive luxury hotel, which will appeal to jet-setting business folk and couples after a romantic weekend.

Many original features have been retained, including the speckled Terrazzo floors and wrought-iron handrails. The capacious guest rooms are high and handsome, while the old jewellery vault houses the Spa de Rome with saunas, glittering mosaics and lap pool.

The hotel’s restaurant serves some of Berlin’s most exciting Italian food in an ambience of relaxed wealth. The wine list is extensive and the service flawless. On the roof, there’s a rooftop bar for a pre-dinner cocktail.

The location is ideal for regulars, or a first-time sightseer – it’s barely a 15-minute walk to Brandenburg Gate, and five minutes to the nearest metro.

Owned by the same lovely people who run the Honigmond Restaurant-Hotel, this is a wonderfully relaxing place to retreat to after a day’s sightseeing.

The interiors are an ode to a 19th-century country house style with gilt-framed oil paintings, chandeliers, original wood floors, antiques and iron bedsteads. The largest rooms face the street, but the rear ones overlooking the fish pond and Eden-like garden win in the charm stakes.

Considering its prime location close to the main attractions, 15-minutes walk from the city centre, and proximity to the nightlife of Mitte, it’s remarkably good value.