Tried & tested: Hotel Zoo Berlin

If the walls at Kürfurstendamm 25 could talk they’d be spilling us glamour and gossip of bygone days. From its grand opening back in 1911, Hotel Zoo has seen it all, from red carpet events and annual film festivals to glitzy fashion week afterparties. A century has passed but glamour and nostalgia still ooze around like never before. Welcome to the Zoo.

The Location

With an A-location right on the Kürfurstendamm Hotel Zoo pleases both first-time visitors as travelers that just want to stay right in the heart of posh West-Berlin. Neighbors include Apple and Arket and sights like the iconic KaDeWe department store, Tiergarten and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche are all within reach of the hotel. The subway station of Zoologischer Garten is a just a short walk from the hotel and connects to all major parts of the city.

The design

The location in the beating heart of West-Berlin might be all fun and games, once inside the hotel premises chances are real you don’t want to stay at all. And for good reason: stepping into hotel Zoo is like stepping into another world. A glammed-up Alice in Wonderland envisioned by some pretty well acclaimed names like Diane von Fürstenberg and LA-based Powerstrip Studio. The result is hotel that combines a New York City townhouse feel with old-fashioned glamour. We particularly like the entrance (a jade-green runway with crawling leopards done by Diane von Fürstenberg) leading up to the reception and the grand lobby right behind it. It’s basically the hotel’s living room with a fire place, elegant red theater drapes, velvet sofa’s and a giant chandelier dangling from the seven meter high ceilings.

The Rooms

The 141 guest rooms range from petit’s to 100m2 suites. Not a single room at Hotel Zoo is the same, some still capture the authentic feel with high ceilings and exposed bricks from the original structure while others are more modern and contemporary. All come with the hotels signature style with deep red or purple colors, tufted headboards and retro-chic furniture. Expect comfortable beds, a Nespresso coffeemaker, stocked minibar and spacious bathrooms with bespoke toiletries and Italian bath salt. Opt for a Grand Deluxe or higher and you’ll get a sleek standalone bathtub in your room.

Food and drinks

Grace Bar & Restaurant is a hotspot for both hotel guests as hip Berliners who flock to Hotel Zoo over the weekends. The restaurant serves a rich semi a la carte breakfast in the morning and International cuisine with a mix of European and Asian dishes. The swanky adjacent cocktail bar is a speakeasy affair with dimmed lights, low pudgy stools and a purple paneled bar where mixologists shake distinguished cocktails. Come during summer months and head to the Grace Rooftop for drinks with spectacular views over West-Berlin.

Hotel Zoo, rooms starting from EUR 159 per night