25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

"A renovated 1950s high-rise is home to the Berlin outpost of this hip German hotel chain, which is sandwiched between the Berlin Zoo and the trendy concept mall Bikini Berlin. There's a fun energy as soon as you walk into the third-floor reception area, dubbed Bikini Island, which sports a playful jungle-themed design, with tropical plants, stuffed monkeys, and hammocks perfectly positioned to look out over the zoo’s monkey and bird cages. All rooms, even the ones called XL, are on the smaller side, but the funky Jungle Rooms, many with their own hammocks overlooking the zoo, offer an escape different from the others you can find in the city. The hotel is also home to the Monkey Bar, one of Berlin's most popular cocktail spots, and guests can cut the line by taking a private elevator straight to the door." - Jennifer Ceaser, Liz Humphreys

"Start us off with an overview and an entrance.A renovated 1950s high-rise is home to the Berlin outpost of this hip German hotel chain, which is sandwiched between the Berlin Zoo and the trendy concept mall Bikini Berlin. The third-floor reception-café area, dubbed Bikini Island, sports a playful jungle-themed design, with tropical plants, stuffed monkeys, and hammocks perfectly positioned to look out over the zoo’s monkey and bird cages. In the adjacent lounge, guests can spin vinyl on a turntable hooked up to a towering stack of speakers, play old-school pinball, or chill out on comfy, custom-made modular sofas. Who do you see around you?The creative set feels right at home in this trendy boutique hotel, but there are also businesspeople seeking an upscale stay without the stuffiness. Tell us about the rooms.The 149 rooms come in three sizes—M, L, and XL—though all are on the smaller side. Urban rooms look out onto busy Breitscheidplatz and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church; the quieter, zoo-facing Jungle rooms come at a premium. Their open-plan design is fun and funky, with custom wood built-ins, platform beds, colorful modern furniture, and hand-drawn wall illustrations by Japanese artist Yoshi Sislay. Jungle rooms are cozy, with warm wood flooring and walls, while the edgier Urban rooms feature exposed concrete ceilings and walls. Some Jungle rooms have hammocks strung in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. The green- or gray-tiled free-standing sinks are incorporated into the room; the rainforest showers are spacious; and larger rooms have freestanding tubs—oddly, next to the bed. Any little goodies of note?The L category includes the free use of a Schindelhauer bike (which hangs on the wall); otherwise, bikes are available to rent. All rooms have portable Bluetooth speakers and bike bags that guests are free to use throughout their stay. If you need your caffeine in the morning though, note that there's only a coffee and tea setup in the L and XL rooms. And for food and drink—what do they have onsite?Neni, the rooftop restaurant, is fashioned from an old greenhouse, with glass walls and hanging plants everywhere you look; unsurprisingly, the best tables are the ones overlooking the zoo or out on the breezy wraparound terrace. The menu here consists of Mediterranean and Israeli share plates and a 58€ ($63) tasting menu with around 10 courses. Just opposite is the Monkey Bar, one of Berlin’s most popular cocktail spots, thanks to its panoramic city and zoo views from inside the windowed bar or out on the wraparound terrace. Drinks, though pricey, are expertly crafted with fresh herbs and fruits; try the vodka-based Bini’s Monkey Ponkey, whose proceeds benefit the zoo’s mother orangutan, Bini. The hotel’s more casual Aperitivo Bar sells spritzes, coffee and tea, and assorted snacks from 10 am to 10 pm. Any other features you absolutely must mention?All guests can borrow the hotel's resident Mini-Cooper for free. They can also avoid the lines and use a direct elevator to reach the Monkey Bar for a drink. Why will we love staying here?It's an experience unlike any other in Berlin, especially if you book a zoo-facing Jungle room." - Jennifer Ceaser

"Opened in 2014, the 25hours Hotel Bikini has injected some much-needed "Ost-side" chic into the West Berlin hotel scene. Being situated right next to the city’s main zoo, which houses the most animals of zoos in Germany , has given the hotel not only some interesting views but also a neat conceptual theme for German designer Werner Aisslinger. The interior blends a slew of funky furnishings—such as fur-lined hammocks, Vitra hanging chairs, and Moroso-esque sofas—with quirky touches like exposed concrete and bicycles stuck to the walls, and surrounds it all with an abundance of tropical plant life. Aisslinger’s playful approach informs the rooms, too, which are inventive and smart. They are split between "Jungle," which look over the zoo’s animal enclosures, and "Urban," which face out across Breitscheidplatz and the World War II-damaged Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The rooms are found along deliberately darkened corridors illuminated only by rows of glowing room numbers."