Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [190]
Marthahaus ( 510 80; www.stiftung-marthahaus.de, in German; Adam-Kuckhoff-Strasse 5; s €45-60, d €65-85; ) Hospitality is taken very seriously at this quiet hotel run by the Christian mission that manages the adjacent retirement home. It offers fine value for money with soft carpet underfoot, cosy, well-furnished rooms and stained-glass windows in the lounge, stairwell and beautiful dining hall.
Ankerhotel Halle ( 232 3200; www.ankerhofhotel.de; Ankerstrasse 2a; s €70-100, d €90-125; ) Walls clad in local stone and ceilings supported by heavy wooden beams hark back to the 19th century when this was the Royal Customs Office. Completely modernised, it’s now one of Halle’s most charming hotels with stylish and good-sized rooms; the nicest have river views. There’s even a gym and saunas (yes, plural) for sweating it out.
Apart-Hotel Halle ( 525 90; www.apart-halle.de; Kohlschütter Strasse 5-6; s/d/ste from €72/89/115; ) If you like a hotel with a flair for the dramatic, this plush villa in a residential quarter some 10 minutes’ walk from the centre is your stage. It has classic rooms but also fantastical prop-filled and mural-swathed themed suites, including ‘Serengeti’, ‘Martin Luther’ and ‘King Ludwig II’.
Dorint Charlottenhof Halle ( 292 30; www.dorint.com/halle; Dorotheenstrasse 12; r €80-130, breakfast €15; ) OK, it’s a chain and caters largely to the business brigade, so don’t expect too much in terms of character. However, if you’re looking for a modern, efficient hotel with lots of amenities – including a pool, gym and sauna for post-sightseeing unwinding – this one should fit the bill nicely.
Kempinski Hotel Rotes Ross ( 233 430; www.kempinski-halle.de; Leipziger Strasse 76; r €100-190, breakfast €18; ) With over 300 years’ experience in the hospitality business, the Kempinski is Halle’s five-star heavyweight with sumptuous public areas and ultra-comfy if rather stuffy rooms with Italian marble baths.
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Eating
Café NT ( 205 0232; Grosse Ulrichstrasse 51; dishes €3-9; ) Exuding the casual charm of a Viennese coffeehouse, this artsy spot affiliated with the edgy Neues Theater is a good place for writing those postcards over coffee, beer or a light meal. After the show, thirsty theatre-lovers invade for heated critiques and cold cocktails.
Sushi Bar am Opernhaus ( 681 6627; August-Bebel-Strasse 3; dishes €3-12; lunch Mon-Fri, dinner daily; ) Piscine morsels as they should be: fresh, without any gimmicks and beautiful to look at. This sushi parlour delivers on all fronts. Greedy guts should come for the all-you-can-eat deal (€15.50) on Tuesday and Sunday nights.
Ökoase ( 290 1604; Kleine Ulrichstrasse 2; mains €4.50-12; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 6pm-midnight Wed-Sat; ) Hippie types, waist-watchers and enlightened eaters crowd this buzzy vegetarian restaurant to munch on daily organic specials inspired by the world’s cuisines. Arabic tomato soup, Greek vegetable stew or Swiss chard coconut soup are typical menu entries.
Hallesches Brauhaus ( 212 570; Grosse Nikolaistrasse 2; mains €4-15; from 11am Mon-Fri, 10am Sat & Sun) Sure, they make their own beer, but that’s not the only reason to steer towards this contemporary brewpub. Fortunately, food here is not an afterthought and if you’re lusting after hearty German fare, you’ll feel quite Piccadilly here.
Palais S ( 977 2651; Ackerstrasse 3c; mains €7-14; from 6pm Mon-Sat, from 10am Sun; ) From paella to pelmeni, by way of pasta, schnitzels and Argentine steaks – this lively restaurant, in a large half-timbered house on the river, really does offer the ‘jungle’ of choices it promises. In fine weather, tables on the waterfront terrace are the most coveted. Follow the signs through the business park.
Also recommended:
Wok-Bar ( 470 0990; Bernburger Strasse 16; mains €5-11; 11.30am-10pm Mon-Fri, from 5.30pm Sat & Sun; ) Put together your own stir fry by checking