I am at the beginning of planning a trip to Berlin, what is the best area to stay? I generally like a nice atmospheric neighborhood with shopping, restaurants and people watching. I also want to be close to the U Bahn for easy access to other areas.

We enjoyed our stay on Oranienburgerstrasse at Arcotel Velvet. Hotel rooms have large glass walls looking over the activity on the streets below. Trams and buses right outside the door, 3 or 4 minute walk to the U Bahn station. The Museum Island and Unter den Linden are both easy and interesting to walk to. Lots of restaurants across the street and within a few blocks--everything from fast food, to upscale Asian, to typical local pubs, Italian, etc.

I stayed in the old west near the zoo. Good U Bahn access and pleasant outdoor restaurants around the squares.
Jeff

I like the prior East Berlin side - Berlin Mitte.

I stayed at the Berliner Hilton...right across the street from the nicest square in Berlin.

It is nice walking distance in any direction to allthe major sites.