Old Berlin Hotels

Happily, despite the dramatic facelift Berlin has undergone in the past 20 years, many of the city’s most famous and historical buildings still stand. The city has endured a troubled past, and several of these edifices, such as the Brandenberg Gate, remain as testimony to its plight.
Other buildings that remain a presence on the urban landscape include some of Berlin’s oldest hotels. Whilst they may lack the strategic significance of some of the city’s other landmarks, they still have a story to tell. If only walls could speak….
Here are three of Berlin’s most distinguished and important hotels:

Located in the city’s famous Kurfurstendamm shopping district, the Kempinski boasts the honour of being the first 5-star accommodation in Berlin to be rebuilt after World War II. Today it has retained many of its original features, in contrast to the contemporary slickness of today’s modern establishments.
The enduring popularity of the Kempinski is reflected in the 84% recommendation rate it currently scores on tripadvisor. Indeed, one such review suggests that anyone who wants to experience a post-WWII Berlin should come to visit this hotel. For history buffs, what better endorsement do you need?

Hotel Zoo
Another distinguished hotel in Berlin that goes back even further is the 4-star Hotel Zoo, which first opened its doors to the public in 1911. Located next door to what was once the legendary Café Kranzler in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, the hotel has managed to retain plenty of its original charm.
Today it boasts an old-style ambience and decor, with a creaky, musty atmosphere and old-fashioned furniture that harks back to a bygone era. Modern Berlin is evident in the hotel’s contemporary features which include a mezzanine-level lounge overlooking the Kurfuerstendamm.

Finally there is the 5-star Hotel de Rome, which dates all the way back to 1889. This lavish-but-compact hotel is housed in the former Central Bank of the old East Berlin and has been restored by Rocco Forte Hotels, the luxury hotel brand, into a truly luxurious establishment.
Many of the bank’s original details are now modern facilities, such as a former underground vault which has been transformed into a swimming pool.