The Adlon Kempinski, BerlinSurely one of the World's most famous luxury hotels, with THE prime location overlooking Pariser Platz and The Brandenburg Gate, The Adlon has inspired a raft of artistic and filmic references in its short life. The present building dates from only 1997. To my eyes at least it is a fairly faithful recreation (externally) of Gause & Leibnitz's original from 1907.
As well as an extremely excellent spa, The Adlon boasts a small gym and indoor pool (decorated in classical style), and its own gallery of salons (or shops) where one can purchase fine art, porcelain, jewellery or wine, as well as finely tailored clothes for ladies & gentlemen. Living in Berlin, we have treated ourselves a few times to stays at the Adlon, most often booking a B+B rate of €240 ($320) via American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (available to Platinum & Centurion Card holders), which provides a complimentary upgrade (subject to availability), €85 F&B credit (excluding room service but including mini-bar), late check-out, free telephone calls (world-wide), a welcome amenity and early check-in (subject to...). Brandenburg Gate Deluxe SuitePrior to our first stay, we had been working hard all summer on a number of projects including the Abu Dhabi Maldives Do and had just returned from yet another trip to London to arrange The London Do so we felt we deserved a little R&R. Thus, we spent a few hours in the Day Spa including a two-hour hire of a private spa suite, which is excellent value at €200 ($270), as it includes a bottle of chilled Moet et Chandon and large fruit plate.
Thus we arrived all relaxed at about 3 pm and were more than a little annoyed to be kept waiting until 4 pm, despite the complimentary Prosecco in the lovely ambience of The Lobby Bar. Our irritation subsided instantly when we saw the reason for the delay. We had been upgraded to a Brandenburg Gate Deluxe Suite. The only rooms better than this are The Presidential and Royal Suites. There were so many amenities in the suite it must have taken quite some time to organise. The style of this suite is a slight departure for us and would best be described as on the homely side of grand. There is even a real log-burning fire in the lounge equipped with logs and fire-lighters so it would be really cosy in winter. Extremely comfortable furniture, fabulous views, 2 steam room/shower combos, big bed, two bathrooms with the "master tub" big enough for two, an imaginatively stocked mini-bar, very pretty floral displays and Blaise Mautin toiletries all make this an extremely well-equipped suite. It certainly lives up to Lorenz Adlon's original concept as a luxury hotel. DiningDining options are diverse and high quality, from Sra Bua by Tim Raue to the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer (2 Michelin *). Quarré Restaurant is the place for breakfast and Sunday Brunch and there are bars in the lobby, at Sra Bua and in Felix, a nightclub situated at the rear in the Adlon Palais wing.
We had previously eaten at Sra Bua and were not overly impressed, although as this was in the first week after opening, perhaps we judged too harshly. Due to the volume of fruit, chocolate and other amenities in the room, we decided to use some of the €85 credit on champagne from the mini-bar and have dinner in-room. Easter Brunch had been fantastic, especially the main courses, so we were looking forward to breakfast on this stay, and it didn't disappoint. Never before have we seen champagne, not Sekt, available on a complimentary basis for breakfast with fresh strawberries for those who wanted. There was a very wide selection of hot and cold items, including almost anything one could wish for. Although it would be hard for us to justify €42 per person on breakfast, this was a fantastic benefit from Amex FHR (also available through Virtuoso). On our next stay at the Adlon, we used the credit for dinner in Quarré. The food here was good quality, but the portions were a joke - €4 for 5 chips is overpriced, whatever the location and we left feeling hungry. Overall Impression |
Deluxe King RoomThis review is from 2 different stays. On our first stay, we were generously upgraded to a beautiful suite (see below) and decided we had to book a second stay before we had even checked out. We also needed to return in order to review the more modest King Room. On our second stay (again via Amex FHR) we received the normal 1-category upgrade to a deluxe room.
This was of a decent size (40 sq m) and well appointed. In the room, there were 3 small pots, containing 2 figs, peanuts and some dark chocolate with pine nuts and dried fruit in it. There was also a bottle of Evian on the bedside table. As we had received many amenities on our previous stay, such as a bottle of wine and huge fruit bowl, I phoned the reception to ask whether any other amenities were part of the benefits provided by booking through AMEX FHR. Off we went to enjoy the very good spa (see below). When we returned to the room, we found a fruit bowl and a bottle of red wine. We still do not know if this is a standard amenity or because I mentioned we had received wine on a previous stay. There were a couple of faults we had with the room. Never before have we stayed in a hotel without tea or coffee making facilities (that we could find anyway). Also, the 'King' bed consisted of 2 mattresses, which tended to slide apart - incredibly annoying and this would put us off returning unless we could guarantee a proper king bed. Brandenburg Gate Deluxe Suite 2The lay-out of this suite, with two circular wood-pannelled and Parquet-floored hallways connecting up the lounge and bedroom, was perhaps not the best use of space, but when you have so much, that doesn't matter. Our suite was situated in the corner of the hotel (on the 6th floor) with views from the lounge over Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz and views of Unter den Linden from the bedroom - great for people watching. We entered the suite through one hall-way into a large lounge, dining and study area. Exiting at the other end of the lounge, we found one of the bathrooms, which leads through a dressing room back into a hall-way. We then passed through that lobby into another hall with plentiful storage (loved the shoe racks in the wardrobe) into the large bedroom (this would generally be considered a Junior Suite) with the Master Bathroom accessible from both the bedroom and the second lobby. It is difficult to describe, and to begin with we got a little lost, but the suite feels large and spacious, without feeling overwhelmingly large as can happen with some signature suites.
Air-conditioning, do-not-disturb and lighting were controlled from a unit in the top drawer of the bedside cabinets on either side of the large King bed - why can't it be standard practise for all luxury hotels to do this? Spa and LeisureAs members of the Adlon Day Spa, we feel very at home using the hotel's leisure facilities. Downstairs, at the front of the hotel, is a small swimming pool, numerous loungers, an adequate gym and the sauna area (either mixed or ladies only) with relaxation room, sauna, steam room, experience showers and a (very) cold plunge pool. Throughout the facilities are copious towels, bottles of Evian water and fresh fruit - on our recent stay we particularly enjoyed the strawberry, physalis and nectarine skewers.
The treatment spa is at the back of the hotel (with its own entrance) and has numerous treatment rooms (including one solely for yoga, mediation or singing-bowl massages) as well as a pleasant hair salon. Our favourite feature is the couple's spa suite, complete with private sauna, steam room cum shower, jacuzzi and relaxation area (ask for the suite with a TV to watch a DVD). Treatments are good and varied, and only of a similar cost to other hotel spas in the city (for example a 60 minute massage costs €90, the same as in the Radisson Blu hotel and the facilities are much nicer). |
We had a fantastic first stay at the Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. The wait for check-in was annoying, especially when noon would be early check-in and we waited more than an hour after 3 pm which is normal check-in time. Information about how long we had to wait could have been better communicated, although we were offered drinks whilst we waited in the lounge for the room to be ready. The second stay was a little more down to Earth and more representative of what the average guest will experience.
One significant negative we experienced was WIFI speed, which dropped to 0.12 Mpbs during Monday morning, so is presumably unusable when the hotel is busy. The hotel's system allows you to buy higher speed, which we didn't try at €15 per day. We were incredibly lucky to receive the stupendous upgrade and experience a huge suite with a beautiful view. However, even when staying in the more anodyne Deluxe King, this feels like a special place. Whilst staying in the Adlon, you feel a part of history and a part of Berlin. The service was mostly very good, breakfast was exceptional in quality and the spa is good value for the area. With the AMEX FHR rate, this is a no-brainer for anyone coming to Berlin who doesn't have status with another chain. Despite living within walking distance of the Adlon, we will be back frequently, and you can't endorse a property more highly than that!
On our second stay there were a few annoying problems. Not only is the standard WIFI slow, it is also temperamental and would often only allow one of us to access the web at a time. The gap down the middle of the 'King' bed disturbs sleep and our air-con didn't seem to work. Although service is generally good and friendly, at times it was too slow - after asking for the bill in the restaurant we had to walk out before we received it (after waiting for around 15 minutes). Food is overpriced ($1.10/chip, $5.50/oyster), although of good quality.
Whether here is the place to stay in Berlin is debatable. The location is great for tourists and the hotel is not from a mould, as with many business hotels. However, it is one of the more expensive places in Berlin, especially when extras, such as breakfast or dinner are added. The spa is beautiful and treatments are very good, although we have often had small problems with requests perhaps being lost in translation. If staying for 1 night and you have access to AMEX FHR or Virtuoso rates, the stay is very good value, and as such, we are likely to return. However, I doubt we will eat dinner in hotel again after disappointments in 2 restaurants, we would be loath to risk a third! There are excellent restaurants (such as Fischers Fritz) within walking distance.
One significant negative we experienced was WIFI speed, which dropped to 0.12 Mpbs during Monday morning, so is presumably unusable when the hotel is busy. The hotel's system allows you to buy higher speed, which we didn't try at €15 per day. We were incredibly lucky to receive the stupendous upgrade and experience a huge suite with a beautiful view. However, even when staying in the more anodyne Deluxe King, this feels like a special place. Whilst staying in the Adlon, you feel a part of history and a part of Berlin. The service was mostly very good, breakfast was exceptional in quality and the spa is good value for the area. With the AMEX FHR rate, this is a no-brainer for anyone coming to Berlin who doesn't have status with another chain. Despite living within walking distance of the Adlon, we will be back frequently, and you can't endorse a property more highly than that!
On our second stay there were a few annoying problems. Not only is the standard WIFI slow, it is also temperamental and would often only allow one of us to access the web at a time. The gap down the middle of the 'King' bed disturbs sleep and our air-con didn't seem to work. Although service is generally good and friendly, at times it was too slow - after asking for the bill in the restaurant we had to walk out before we received it (after waiting for around 15 minutes). Food is overpriced ($1.10/chip, $5.50/oyster), although of good quality.
Whether here is the place to stay in Berlin is debatable. The location is great for tourists and the hotel is not from a mould, as with many business hotels. However, it is one of the more expensive places in Berlin, especially when extras, such as breakfast or dinner are added. The spa is beautiful and treatments are very good, although we have often had small problems with requests perhaps being lost in translation. If staying for 1 night and you have access to AMEX FHR or Virtuoso rates, the stay is very good value, and as such, we are likely to return. However, I doubt we will eat dinner in hotel again after disappointments in 2 restaurants, we would be loath to risk a third! There are excellent restaurants (such as Fischers Fritz) within walking distance.