Review of Schlosshotel im Grunewald, by The TI Review Team

By TI Reviewer Olivia De Santos:

Schlosshotel im Grunewald is a palatial manor in Berlin's elite Grunewald district. Built in 1914, it boasts private gardens near the neighbouring forests and lakes and is in every sense an escape from the gritty, industrial and lively German capital. No review of this unique luxury hotel would be complete without a mention of fashion king Karl Lagerfeld, mastermind of the Schlosshotel's 90's incarnation and responsible for its heady blend of contemporary cool and 19th-century Baroque classicism.

The Vivaldi Restaurant serves gourmet Mediterranean fare, surrounded by original print wallpaper and elegant Lagerfeld-chosen chairs. More informal is Le Jardin, which provides both breakfast and lunch, either out on the terrace or in the winter-garden. The extensive lounge areas are open to all, as is the cosy Le Tire Bouchon bar.

A Roman-style swimming pool, Jacuzzi tub and spa are more lavish touches to be found on the lower floors. Bicycle rental is complementary; a great excuse to explore Berlin's fab cycle routes and the forested paths around the hotel. Wannsee Golf Club is a 20-minute drive away, and even closer are horse-riding facilities and tennis courts.

Each of Schlosshotel im Grunewald's 53 rooms (including 12 suites) is elegant and refined, with king-sized beds, gilded headboards and antiquated oil paintings throughout. The Grunewald Suite is the place to book for a real treat: a masterful confection of Lagerfeld's own possessions that includes a portrait of the man himself atop an upright piano. The hotel also lays claim to Berlin's largest room, the Kaiser Suite - with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a terrace, dining area, lounge and even a private library, it spans over 250 square metres.