LOCATION: One of the most fashionable capital cities in Europe, Berlin received a welcome addition in October, 1991 with the opening of the Hotel Brandenburger Hof. A hotel fitting the outstanding tastes of outstanding guests, the Hotel Brandenburger Hof became a member of Relais & Châteaux in 1995. The hotel is strategically located in a very central and most elegant area, a stone's throw from the romantic Tiergarten, the Kurfürstendamm, and the Memorial Church. Nevertheless, this hotel, which we like to refer to as a boutique palace hotel is located in a calm and quiet residential street. Boutique due to the intimate size, with only 78 rooms and 4 suites; palace, indeed, due to the timeless atmosphere of this turn-of-the-century mansion, reconstructed and redesigned by renowned architects Peter Sauter and Kenji Tsuchiya.

The classical, aristocratic stone façade remained untouched, and represents the Relais & Châteaux highest standard. The arriving guest enters through the imposing lobby, then a sandstone portal decorated with the Brandenburg coat of arms leads to the Wintergarten: a conservatory, which is without a doubt the most popular area in the entire building. This is a blend of Italian monastery courtyard and Japanese garden. Unique in Berlin, this is the place for either a business lunch or a romantic dinner. The Wintergarten teatime is also very fashionable and, shall we say, very chatty with the smartest ladies of high society regularly in attendance.

Through our description, one could believe the HOTEL BRANDENBURGER HOF is somehow a straight Prussian style palace. On the contrary, the clever management succeeded in transforming this heaven of luxury into something inventive, relaxing and casually enjoyable. The mansion displays a fascinating contrast between old and new. The harmonious selection of the various elements is emphasized by the choice of the finest natural materials such as natural stone, glass, wood, noble textiles and leather. SHOW MAP

ACCOMMODATION: Harmony between classicism and modernity continues in the rooms and suites, where Bauhaus design and contemporary styling are tastefully combined with more traditional items. Very luxurious, all rooms have the facilities and high tech equipment any international business hotel could offer: sockets for computers and fax machine, voice mail telephones in both bedroom and bathroom, radio, hair dryer, and private bar. The temperature in the room is kept at a pleasant level by in-floor heating. The oak room doors, with a weight of ninety kilograms, are soundproof, while a modern key-card system insures security.