Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

The Adlon was erected after German unification to revive the historic Grand Hotel tradition in the very center of the City. The Adlon claims no less than to be Berlin's flagship among the hotels. I have spent there two nights together with DW in a junior suite and, in addition to that, have attended several conferences there. Here is my review:

Location: Berlin has many good locations and the Adlon has perhaps the very best one, right on Pariser Platz with the Brandenburg Gate across. This means easy access to the historic center, the Reichstag, the historic sites along the former Wall and the Potsdamer Platz.

Building and atmosphere: The building has been erected in the 1990ties, but in historic style, with fake antiques, tapestries etc. The decoration throughout the building is opulent, sometimes even overdone, and certainly not everybody's cup of tea. If you like the Ritz-Carlton style, you will feel homelike in the Adlon, but if you prefer modern design, there are other hotel options for you in Berlin.

Rooms: We had booked a standard double room at a very reasonable corporate rate (less than half of the rack rate) and were upgraded to a junior suite. The junior suite was large, with excellent furnishing. It consisted of a bedroom, a separate living room with high-tech audio and tv equipment, a pantry, a large bathroom and a separate WC, with a second entrance from the hallway. The décor was elegant and first-class. The bathroom was fully made of multi-coloured marble. If this was a junior suite, I wonder how a regular suite will look.

Amenities: The Adlon has, of course, a large indoor pool which is located in a windowless basement. The pool is appropriate for a 5-star luxury hotel but not outstanding.

Service: Service is the Adlon's stronghold. Every family-owned hotel in Germany is proud if they can manage to send a son or daughter for work and training to the Adlon. The staff is extremely motivated and helpful in any way. Expect to be pampered way beyond the usual 5-star level.

Food&beverage: Breakfast is very good but, again, not spectacular compared to that what other hotels in this category would offer. Same applies to dining: Very, very good but not outstanding.

Conclusion: The Adlon is certainly one of the world's best hotels. Would I stay there again? - Probably not, since with the Hotel de Rome, there is a boutique style hotel with a more intimate atmosphere and a more modern look.