THE HOTEL
The four-star hotel is next to Friedrichstrasse train and S-Bahn station, a 30-minute ride by Airport Express from Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The modern, 268-room property is a 20-minute stroll from attractions on Museum Island and, in the opposite direction, an easy 15-minute walk to the iconic Brandenburg Gate.
THE CHECK-IN
The reception is in a spacious, modern lobby with comfy, casual seating around a fireplace and a bar. The concierge works from a desk surrounded by information leaflets about things to do in Berlin and the nearby area.
My visit coincided with the UEFA EURO 2024 football tournament, which Germany hosted. Consequently, the lobby was decorated with flags of participating countries and football-related items celebrating the championship, including a chart showing results and the route to the final, held at Berlin Olympic Stadium – less than 30 minutes by S-Bahn from the hotel.
I arrived in the mid-afternoon while a family was checking in. A couple of minutes later I was welcomed by a member of the hotel’s reception team, who apologised for my brief wait. After going through the formalities of showing my passport, running a credit card through the system and signing the check-in form I was allocated a key for a junior suite on the third floor of the eight-storey hotel.
THE ROOM
With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard, my soundproofed junior suite had a contemporary vibe. The bedroom featured a desk, armchairs and two comfortable beds that were pushed together. It was comfortable and ideal for a two-night stay in the city that left relatively little time for hanging out in the hotel.
To mark the UEFA EURO 2024 championship, a red, yellow and black football was on the desk along with a small box of chocolates. As I sipped an espresso from the Nespresso machine, one of the features of the mini-bar in a hallway, I played keepie-uppie with the football and treated myself to one of the praline-filled chocolates; hopefully the solidly-built floors ensured that my neighbours heard no footsteps, scuffing or bouncing!
In addition to a wall-mounted television opposite the bed, the suite had a comfortable TV lounge large enough for a small group of colleagues, friends or family to gather.
The bathroom was a decent size and had a walk-in shower and refillable toiletries were supplied.
The safe, below the mini-bar, was large enough to stash a laptop while the large lean-to mirror in the corridor was ideal for checking everything looked okay before heading out to explore the city.
THE FACILITIES
A breakfast buffet, with a selection of hot and cold choices, is served in the ground floor restaurant, Friedrichs. The idea of bacon, sausages and egg seemed a mite too British while in Berlin, so I opted for seed-topped bread rolls, smoked salmon, a selection of cheeses and sliced German ham. I then popped back for a plate of chopped fruit.
The freshly ground coffee, from a self-service machine, had exactly the kick I needed after exploring the neighbouring area until well into the previous night.
Browsing the menu of the hotel’s a la carte restaurant and bar – TASTE! – showed that it served international and German dishes. However, I had dinner plans at the restaurant Veronika in the Fotografiska photography and art museum, a 10-minute stroll from the hotel.
The hotel has a compact fitness room, which is open 24 hours a day, along with a sauna and steam room.
Bicycles are available to rent from reception and are ideal for zipping between nearby points of interest. In a relatively flat city such as Berlin, bicycles are ideal for orientating.
THE BUSINESS
The hotel has 10 meeting rooms and event spaces for between six and 320 people. Translator services are available, as is video conferencing. The Wi-Fi connection in the hotel is quick and reliable.
THE VERDICT
A smart, modern hotel that is inviting and comfortable as well as quiet, as well and conveniently located next to a railway station served by local trains, the airport express and some inter-city services.
THE DETAILS
Junior suites from around €146 a night. nh-collection.com
