Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

"Start us off with an overview and an entrance.With a prime setting on Under den Linden, just a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate, this Berlin landmark certainly has the most glamorous address of all the city’s five-star hotels. Coffered arched ceilings in its opulent lobby, overhauled in 2017, now feature updated lighting, which brightens and dims depending on the time of day. A mix of cool gray and rich gold velvet seating and glass tables lend a modern feel to the vast, white-marbled space. There are still plenty of classic details, though, including the enormous stained glass and gold leaf cupola, and the iconic elephant fountain, which was presented to the Adlon in 1930 by India's Maharajah. What’s the crowd like?Upscale leisure and business travelers, many of them American. You'll also see well-dressed families and, in the lobby, tourists galore. How seamless is checking in, getting into your room, and all that? With a comfortable number of receptionists manning the front desk, check-in is a breeze. The hotel is enormous—occupying an entire block—so you'll be escorted to your room by an immaculately outfitted Lady or Gentleman in Red, one of the hotel's dedicated team of brand ambassadors. Tell us more about the rooms.There are a whopping 385 rooms, 78 of them suites, that vary in size and layout—and you'll pay a premium for those with Brandenburg Gate views. But the aesthetic throughout is classic and timeless, with wood floors, and traditional wood furnishings. The marble bathrooms are generous, with separate rainforest showers and bathtubs and, in the suites, a seated mirrored vanity. The Pariser Platz Suite is an apartment-sized space (900 square feet) with separate living and sleeping areas, and direct views of the Brandenburg Gate through tall windows. The three presidential suites, 2,000-square-foot setups, come with bullet-proof glass windows, a full kitchen, and 24/7 butler service. Of the three, the Royal Suite (where Queen Elizabeth II once stayed) wows with its wood-burning fireplace and grand piano. Any amenities of note?We we appreciated the ability to control everything—even the temperature—from a bedside console. And what about the food? What do they have here?There is one bar and two restaurants in the hotel: Quarré, with French and German cuisine, and the outstanding two-Michelin-star Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, with chef Reto Brändli at the helm. But if you'd rather skip the formalities and hang out in your bathrobe in your giant suite, the Adlon does a small, but excellent, room service menu, complete with rolling warming carts, linen napkins, silver plate covers, and proper silverware. If you've never had lowly currywurst embellished with gold flakes, now's your chance. Another don’t miss: Afternoon Tea in the Lobby Lounge & Bar, served on weekends in the second-floor Bel Etage. If we've got an afternoon to spare at the hotel, where should we spend it?Squeeze in a massage at the Adlon Spa by Resense, a calm, tri-level space with custom therapies and treatments. There's a pool and sauna in another part of the building. Bottom line: Why come here?You'll get to experience what's arguably Berlin's best hotel." - Jennifer Ceaser

"Steps from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate sits the Hotel Adlon." - Boutayna Chokrane, Andrea Bartz

"This storied icon, originally opened in 1907 by owner Lorenz Adlon, has endured as one of Berlin’s most sought-after places to stay. Travel + Leisure readers raved about its timeless charms and unbeatable location near many top sights, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Academy of Arts, and the Tiergarten. Add in a three-story spa, Michelin-starred dining, Old World atmosphere (think: mahogany furniture and a Murano chandelier in the lobby), and lavish suites overlooking Pariser Platz, and it’s no wonder the property has hosted such celebrities as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Jackson." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"The Hotel Adlon Kempinski undoubtedly boasts the most distinguished location in the city—right on historic Pariser Platz, opposite the Brandenburg Gate. The original incarnation opened in 1907 with the blessing of none other than Kaiser Wilhelm II. Despite playing host to such illustrious guests as Tsar Nicholas II, Albert Einstein, and Franklin Roosevelt, the building was almost destroyed after World War II. A new hotel was eventually opened in 1997 and continues to draw celebrities, politicians, and the occasional aristocrat—in 2002, it was here that Michael Jackson notoriously dangled his nine-month-old son out the window. Needless to say, the hotel is the last word in stately—if somewhat conservative—luxury, as heralded by its glamorous, balconied lobby, which greets guests with the sounds of live piano and a trickling fountain. The sumptuous rooms come with marble bathrooms, full-size work desks, and entertainment centers; the three restaurants include the two-Michelin-starred Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, serving classic European dishes such as braised shoulder of lamb (there’s a four-week waitlist for reservations, so plan accordingly). A luxury spa and a range of boutiques offering everything from fine wines to jewelry to porcelain are also on-site."

"With a prime setting on Under den Linden, just a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate, Hotel Adlon Kempinski is a Berlin landmark, with the most glamorous address of all the city’s five-star hotels. Coffered arched ceilings in its opulent lobby, overhauled in 2017, now feature updated lighting, which brightens and dims depending on the time of day. There are still plenty of classic details, though, including the enormous stained glass and gold leaf cupola, and the iconic elephant fountain, which was presented to the Adlon in 1930 by India's Maharajah. Rooms are classic and timeless, with wood floors, and traditional wood furnishings. There's a two Michelin-starred restaurant here too as well as the Adlon Spa by Resense, a calm, tri-level space with custom therapies and treatments, and a pool and sauna in another part of the building." - Jennifer Ceaser