Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin, Germany

The Hotel Adlon Kempinski is a luxury landmark hotel that’s something of an institution in Berlin. Its history goes back a 100 years to when entrepreneur Lorenz Adlon set about building the best luxury hotel in the world for his emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II. When it was completed, the Adlon’s heating system, plumbing and air-conditioning were so state-of-the-art that the German royal family actually moved in, making the luxury hotel the very hub of German society.

In the Roaring Twenties, when Berlin was the undisputed party capital of Europe, Lorenz Adlon’s son Louis courted intellectuals, heads of state and movie stars and the luxury hotel became a magnet for the likes of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin.

In fact, the Hotel Adlon became such a beloved Berlin institution that it survived both World Wars unscathed as it was declared neutral territory. But three days after the end of the Second World War, it burnt down. As it was located in East Berlin right on the edge of No Man’s Land, the luxury hotel lay in ruins for over forty years.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the restoration of the Hotel Adlon became one of the top priorities of the re-united city. In 1997 the luxury hotel finally re-opened its doors as a Kempinski property with an extra floor, state-of-the-art facilities and some of the largest bedrooms in Berlin. And since then a glittering roll-call of world-famous celebrities, politicians and Nobel prize-winners have been checking in once again.

The facilities

The Hotel Adlon Kempinski’s lobby lounge and bar are a favourite with well-heeled businessmen and ladies-who-lunch. They flock to this gilded, domed space and settle at the low-slung tables around the famous elephant fountain to indulge in high tea and champagne cocktails as a piano player tinkles the ivories from the Bel Etage above. After a recent refurbishment in 2007 the whole of this area of the luxury hotel has high-speed, wireless internet.

The Hotel Adlon Kempinski has two restaurants. Restaurant Quarre is a light, elegant space overlooking the Brandenburg Gate which serves up gourmet buffet breakfast, business lunches and a renowned Sunday brunch. Restaurant Lorenz Adlon is a smart, gourmet, Michelin-starred affair with French haute cuisine and perfect service.

The basement pool, gym and day spa are open until 10 p.m. at night and are accessible by guests at the luxury hotel via a special lift which goes directly from the room floors. A mini shopping arcade with designer boutiques, a hairdresser and beauty salon also cater to even the most pampered primadonna.



The rooms

All 304 rooms and 78 suites at the luxury hotel are large by Berlin standards, and decorated in a grand, classic style which reflects the Hotel Adlon’s long history. They all have marble bathrooms with both bath and shower and a separate toilet. Instead of the usual ‘Do not disturb’ sign that hangs from a doorknob, a discreet light wards off the maids who don’t clutter up corridors with their trollies as each room has its own housekeeping cupboard.

Many of the rooms look out onto three, elegant, landscaped inner courtyards, but corner rooms with views of the Brandenburg Gate are by far the most spectacular. Ask for room 610 if it is available.

The suites have open fires and are furnished with more lavish antiques and Molton Brown toiletries, bath salts and bath oils in the marble bathrooms.