Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [99]
T&C Apartments (Map; 405 046 612; www.tc-apartments-berlin.de; Kopenhagener Strasse 72; apt from €50) Huge selection of stylish, hand-picked one- to four-room apartments in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Tiergarten and Schöneberg; headquarters located in Prenzlauer Berg.
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Charlottenburg
Propeller Island City Lodge (Map; 891 9016 8am-noon, 0163-256-5909 noon-8pm; www.propeller-island.de; Albrecht-Achilles-Strasse 58; r €65-180, breakfast €7; ) The name was inspired by a novel by the master of imagination, Jules Verne, and indeed each of the 32 rooms is a journey to a unique, surreal and slightly wicked world. To be stranded on Propeller Island means waking up on the ceiling, in a prison cell or inside a kaleidoscope. This is no conventional hotel, so don’t expect pillow treats or other trappings.
Hotel Bogota (Map; 881 5001; www.hotel-bogota.de; Schlüterstrasse 45; s €66-98, d €90-150; ) Helmut Newton studied with fashion photographer Yva here in the 1930s and to this day this rambling landmark hosts glam-mag photo shoots. It oozes vintage charm from every nook and cranny and is one of our favourite budget picks in town. Room sizes and amenities vary greatly (cheaper ones share a bathroom), so inspect a few before settling in.
Hotel-Pension Dittberner (Map; 884 6950; www.hotel-dittberner.de; Wielandstrasse 26; s €67-87, d €95-120; ) It’s hard not to be completely charmed by this hushed 3rd-floor Pension presided over by the super-friendly Frau Lange. The soaring ceilings, plush oriental rugs and armloads of paintings and lithographs ooze genuine Old Berlin flair. All in all, a great base of operation for city explorations.
Hotel Askanischer Hof (Map; 881 8033; www.askanischer-hof.de; Kurfürstendamm 53; s €105-130, d €117-155; ) In a city that likes to teeter on the cutting edge, this 17-room jewel warps you back in time to the roaring ’20s, albeit with updated amenities. Still, the look is all Old Berlin: eclectic antiques, lacy drapes, gaudy chandeliers and oriental rugs. For extra privacy, order breakfast in bed.
Hotel Art Nouveau (Map; 327 7440; www.hotelartnouveau.de; Leibnizstrasse 59; s €96-146, d €126-176, tr €151-191; ) A rickety belle-époque lift drops you off at one of Berlin’s finest boutique Pensionen. Its rooms neither skimp on space nor on charisma and offer a unique blend of youthful flair and tradition. The honour bar is handy for feeding late-night cravings, and coffee and tea are free.
Ellington Hotel (Map; 683 150; www.ellington-hotel.com; Nürnberger Strasse 50-55; s €120-250, d €130-270, breakfast €19; ) Duke and Ella gave concerts in the ‘Badewanne’ (bath tub) jazz cellar and Bowie and Prince partied in the ‘Dschungel’ night club, then the lights went out in the ’90s. Now the handsome 1920s building has been reborn as a high-concept jewel that wraps all that’s great about Berlin – history, innovation, elegance, the art of living – into one attractive package.
Louisa’s Place (Map; 631 030; www.louisas-place.de; Kurfürstendamm 160; ste €135-425, breakfast €20; ) Louisa’s is a discrete deluxe hideaway that dazzles with class not glitz, perfect for sharp dressers tired of anonymous big-city hotels. Few properties put more emphasis on customising guest services. They’ll even send you a pre-arrival questionnaire asking for your likes and dislikes. Suites here are huge, the spa heavenly and the library regal.
Hotel Concorde Berlin (Map; 800 9990; www.berlin.concorde-hotels.com; Augsburger Strasse 41; r from €160; ) If you like designer boutique hotels but value the amenities of a big-city property, the Concorde should fit the bill. Designed by Jan Kleihues, from the curved limestone facade to the door knobs, it channels New York efficiency, French savoir vivre and Berlin-style unpretentiousness. The 311 rooms are super-sized, warmly