Berlin’s hotels are as edgy and creative as the city itself — from jungle-themed rooftops to music-fuelled design temples, these are the places that I personally stayed which made my jaw drop…
1. 25 Hours Hotel Bikini
My Charlottenburg stay leaned fully into its urban jungle theme, with lashings of greenery, tasteful murals, natural wood, and fun hammocks giving it a tropical feel. While the rooftop restaurant, wood-fired bakery, and DJ-led creative space meant I rarely left the building!
My cocoon-like Extra-large Jungle Room was impressive and featured a glowing rattan pendant, circular walnut reading nook lit in amber, swing chair by huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and earthy linens under an exposed concrete ceiling. It was just very busy at weekends.
My Instagram gallery shot of RAW-Gelände in Friedrichshain in Berlin – it was a cool and creative place just a short walk from nhow Hotel!
This was both edgy and music-driven, with glossy hot-pink accents, vinyl-inspired wall art, sculptural metallic lighting, futuristic, wave-like architecture set right on the River Spree and even playing “Go” by the Chemical Brothers as I walked into the lobby!
My large Junior Suite came with a bubblegum-pink desk, vintage-style phone, and an in-room guitar dialled up the pop-art vibe. In between musicians wheeling flight cases through the lobby and DJs sound-checking before sunset, it didn’t feel like a traditional hotel at all (just not for quiet travellers though)!
To book, check prices or availability for nhow Hotel
My favourite highlights…
The commitment to the music theme! When I got chatting with the staff, I even found out many of them were music college graduates!
3. Michelberger
My shot of Berlin’s street art in Friedrichshain — it was taken just around the corner from where I was staying in the Michelberger Hotel!
Housed in a former factory I saw that Michelberger had kept its raw concrete, huge warehouse windows and chunky beams, but then softened it with worn slouchy sofas, shelves of vintage books, scattered rugs so it had the look of my eccentric’s best friend’s living room!
I opted for the cabin-style loft room, with an elevated bed accessed by ladder and an open-plan sink. With long communal tables, DJs setting up before dinner, and regulars drifting in just for the bar, it was a local hangout too (although the ultra-hipster look won’t suit everyone)!
Location: Friedrichshain (near RAW-Gelände) | Nearest station: Warschauer Straße (3 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: Creative and community-focused
My personal highlights…
4. Lulu Guldsmeden
I stumbled across a cosy eco-chic hideaway where Nordic minimalism met Balinese boho — wood galore, chunky woven textiles, hammock seats, rattan lampshades, lashings of leafy plants and a cute little courtyard, all enveloped in softly glowing hygge-style lighting!
I stayed in ‘Comfy Plus’ a compact but cosy room with a colonial-style four-poster bed and when the muslin canopy caught the warm lamplight at night, the whole room felt almost sanctuary-like! I loved the warm smørrebrød at breakfast and their spicy Batata Harra from Sa Franeca restaurant!
Location: Potsdamer Straße | Nearest station: Kurfürstenstraße (5 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: Hygge-inspired, romantic, eco-conscious
My highlights…
5. Gorki Apartments
My One Bedroom Apartment with Balcony
My self-catering stay in Mitte felt genuinely special. It was a design-led, art-infused urban sanctuary in Mitte fusing heritage architecture with individually styled, high-end apartments — it felt polished but still homely rather than overly-styled.
I opted for the soundproofed One Bedroom Apartment which had high ceilings, exposed brick walls, an old-world-meets-boutique design. The parquet floors creaked gently underfoot and I sipped on my freshly made coffee barefoot on the balcony (although some might miss hotel amenities)!
Location: Mitte | Nearest station: Rosenthaler Platz (2 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: designer apartment-style luxury
My highlights…
The very hip Mitte location — steps from cafés and bars — especially The Rabbit Café (for their garlic mushroom toast) and the cozy, brewery-set Katz Orange.
6. Moxy Ostbahnhof
My picture of the metal sculptures at Urban Spree — it was just a 6 minute walk from my Moxy Ostbahnhof stay!
This was a trendy stay with a youthful, sociable energy — industrial-chic interiors were softened by whimsical quirks such as message-covered writing walls and edgy street-art canvases, and within minutes I was perched on a squishy salmon-pink sofa chatting to another guest over Berliner Weisses from the bar.
My Moxy Sleeper room – although compact – followed the signature contemporary style complete with a retro-style faux leather swivel chair and motion-activated LED lighting. I hung out in the sociable games lounge/co-working space and gorged on soft pretzels from their grab-and-go snack bar!
I took this of Alte Nationalgalerie, a few minutes’ walk from where I was staying in the Hotel Amano in Berlin’s Mitte district!
I discovered this sleek mid-range bolt-hole in the trendy Mitte and it was all dark walnut hues, polished concrete, herringbone floors, moody lighting and the rooftop terrace was already humming before 9pm, but I still felt comfortable slipping in solo with a cocktail (but probably wouldn’t suit wallflowers)!
I liked my hypoallergenic Standard Double which, although compact, had a chic monochrome look finished with a white headboard, integrated lighting and coffee station. I grabbed herb-packed falafels from the Israeli-influenced bistro and hung in the party-focused rooftop terrace and courtyard garden!
Location: Mitte | Nearest station: Rosenthaler Platz (1 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: Sleek, cosmopolitan, nightlife-friendly
To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Amano
My highlights…
The rooftop bar which had superb skyline views – I braved the ‘Spicy P’ — chili-infused mezcal, mango purée, and a fiery chili-lime rim that packed a punch!
8. The Circus Hotel
I took this of the Käthe Kollwitz’s “Mother with Her Dead Son” sculpture inside Neue Wache Memorial — it was just a short walk from my stay at The Circus Hotel in Berlin’s Mitte district!
I saw that creativity and community were at the heart of this Mitte boutique, where eco-friendly materials, custom furnishings and quirky features like stacks of vintage books merged. The courtyard was filled with low conversation and clinking glasses while guests drifted between the bar and terrace.
I stayed in a ‘Classic’ hypoallergenic room and I enjoyed messing around with the Bose speakers while the moody olive walls and soft blackout drapes gave it an intimate feel. I split my time between the courtyard, rooftop terrace, buffet breakfast, and melon cocktails from the Commonground Bar.
Location: Mitte | Nearest station: Rosenthaler Platz (1 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: Creative, community-driven, eco-aware
My personal highlights…
Hiring a Babboe electric cargo bike from reception — the roomy front box, fold-out bench, and handy pull-over rain cover made city exploring easy, even when it was drizzling!
9. Hotel Q
I discovered this trendy, design-led Charlottenburg stay featured Insta-worthy minimalist interiors by GRAFT architects – the curved white walls and dramatic red shag corridors felt like walking through a minimalist art installation!
My Double Room came with a built-in bed and open-plan bathroom complete with a soaking tub, then alternated between the Japanese-style spa complete with eucalyptus-scented steam room, Eiskaffee’s in the Fox Garden courtyard, and walks to nearby upscale Kurfürstendamm.
I thought this glamorous boutique was perfect for couples — it fused 1920s Parisian glamour with a chic modern design in a very atmospheric way – the low amber lighting and velvet textures made even ordering a drink feel like part of a scene!
I stayed in a Classic Double which was all teal-on-teal glam with a scalloped velvet headboard, brass accents, warm amber lighting and an enveloping vibe. It was atmospheric enough for date-night cocktails downstairs, but just two minutes from the U-Bahn for late-night returns.
Location: Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf | Nearest station: Konstanzer Straße (2 min walk) | Price range: €€€ | Vibe: Seductive, Art Deco, romantic
My personal highlights…
Savouring cocktails in the award-winning bar, I chose the ‘Silver Lining’ — San Cosme mezcal, Thai basil, elderflower and fresh herbs — and it seriously kicked!
11. Sir Savigny Hotel
This small artistic upscale boutique, set in an 1893 building, was a gorgeous mix of contemporary design with old-world touches — leather furnishings, curated artwork, and even chairs that looked like wire sculptures. Although it felt warm and quietly sophisticated rather than overly showy.
My spacious, soundproofed Deluxe Double featured an emerald-toned headboard, brass-framed mirrors, Marshall Bluetooth speakers and an amber velvet armchair added an Art Deco touch. I took in the vibes of the terrace and garden and explored nearby Charlottenburg’s literary cafés, galleries, and bookstores. Pricey, but very plush!
My photograph of the U.S. Embassy near Brandenburg Gate — it was just a 10-minute S-Bahn ride from my stay at The Social Hub Alexanderplatz!
I thought this was such an interesting concept – it was a hybrid “stay–work–play” hub — so a unique mix of hotel rooms, student accommodation, co-working spaces, long-stay apartments, event areas and lively communal hangouts decked out in an urban-industrial design and quirky street-art murals.
My Executive Queen Room came with a forest-green feature wall, a funky geometric bedspread, and a quirky “Let’s Stay In” banner, finished with large windows! The social events, from live music to themed nights, were a great addition! Not for serious-minded travellers, but a lot of fun!
Location: Mitte | Nearest station: Alexanderplatz (10 min walk) | Price range: €€ | Vibe: Youthful, sociable, co-working-friendly
My personal highlights…
The varied, high-quality breakfast menu — I gorged on a creamy oat porridge adorned with forest berries, oat milk, and dried apricots, a nourishing start before sightseeing!
13. Hotel Ackselhaus
My IG gallery shot of a strawberry cocktail at Zu mir oder zu dir, a lively spot just a 10-minute walk from Hotel Ackselhaus in Prenzlauer Berg.
I thought this beautifully eclectic boutique hotel was just so unique! Set in a stunningly restored 19th-century building, it featured charming, Instagram-worthy interiors with individually themed rooms inspired by romantic destinations like Africa and Rome.
My Double Room felt more like an apartment but also felt like an elaborate film set with a crystal chandelier, nautical model ship, and backlit beach murals adding a whimsical, seaside-meets-baroque charm. There was also a pretty zen-like terraced garden (but no onsite restaurant)!
Frothy oat cappuccinos at Kaffee Marlene, then velvety Black Forest Espresso Martinis and bingo nights at Höschen in the surrounding Prenzlauer Berg.
14. Numa Berlin Weinmeister
My Numa Berlin Weinmeister guest roomMy Numa Berlin Weinmeister bathMy shot of Berlin’s TV Tower rising over Unter den Linden — I easily reached it from Numa Berlin Weinmeister and I could even spot the tower from my window!
I checked into this laid-back urban budget boutique — it was functional but modern – a pared-back, tech-enabled hideaway in the Mitte. I checked in via my phone, unlocked the door with a code (there were no staff on site), and barely saw another guest on my floor!
I opted for the Medium Room which came with a comfortable bed but the rust-toned velvet armchair, bold blue cushions, and funky graphic wall art added a stylish, gallery-like edge. There was no restaurant but I found it was surrounded by plenty of good ones!
Location: Mitte | Nearest station: Weinmeisterstraße (1 min walk) | Price range: €€ | Vibe: Stylish, boutique, rooftop-cool
My highlights…
Spotting the iconic Fernsehturm TV Tower along with glimpses of the Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg districts from my large windows!
