Brandenburger Hof, Berlin, Germany

Brandenburger Hof stands out from other luxury hotels in Berlin thanks to the personal touch of owner Daniela Sauter and dynamic General Manager Markus Otto Graf. Together they have transformed a turn-of-the-century mansion in the leafy district of Charlottenburg near Ku’damm into a discreet and tranquil oasis. Hand-picked, contemporary furniture and artwork compliment the imposing, classical architecture and its award-winning gourmet cuisine and exceptional wine cellar have made the luxury hotel a favourite with politicians, businessmen and celebrities from Berlin and beyond.

But it’s the delightful, lavender-clad staff that makes the Brandenburger Hof a truly exceptional luxury hotel. The excellent service here is sincere and a refreshing change from the by-the-book pleasantries of the more corporate five-star hotels in the city. In fact, that rare mix of etiquette and charm has secured the staff at Brandenburger Hof regular high-profile catering jobs from Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The facilities

A pretty, glass-roofed winter garden takes centre stage at the luxury hotel. Guests sip Krug and cocktails from lime-coloured Moroso Bloomie chairs at the sunken bar in the Quadriga Lounge and look out onto Japanese acers and exotic plants that change subtely with the seasons. The Weinzimmer, which hosts wine-tasting from the luxury hotel’s extraordinary collection of 1,000 German wines, and the cosy library furnished with Bauhaus Brauer chairs offer more intimate moments.

The luxury hotel’s Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurant Die Quadriga is something of an institution in Berlin. Two menus of gourmet cuisine created by chef Sauli Kemppainen are served up in four salons that often cater to private dining and glamorous galas. Salon Registrano is decorated with hand-painted wallpaper depicting bucolic, pastoral scenes. Salon Platini is a vibrant, canary-yellow and Salon Koenigstuhl is dominated by the blood-red, contemporary canvases of Spanish artist Salustiano. Salon Orofino is the grandest as it reflects the luxury hotel’s rich heritage with cherry-wood panelling, Art Deco silverware and Frank Lloyd Wright chairs.

Brandenburger Hof has its own theatre box office, private parking and a limousine service solely dedicated to guests. The luxury hotel’s spa, the Thaleia Beauty and Wellness Suite, also offers highly personalised pampering. Only one guest (or a couple) at a time can use the suite where they are pummelled and preened with St Barth spa products before winding down in the steam shower.

The rooms

The Brandenburger Hof’s 72 rooms are individually-designed with Missoni carpets,original artwork, Bauhaus lamps and designer furniture. Every day the luxury hotel’s Ikebana master places fresh flowers in each bedroom and bathroom and a poem replaces the usual chocolate at turn-down. Flat-screen TVs pop up from a discreet sideboard and guests are offered a selection of classic and romantic films (no tacky blockbusters here) from the DVD library with a box of complimentary popcorn.

Rooms on the first and fourth floors of the luxury hotel have particularly high ceilings. The 8 new suites are pure indulgence as they span 65sqm and are furnished with design classics by Corbusier and air-con.