In recent years Berlin has gained a reputation as being an alt-culture hipster’s paradise, and though this is largely true, it also remains a grand, historic city full of premium luxury. So while we might visit for contemporary art bunkers and independent café culture, Berlin has no shortage of deluxe hotels to rest our heads in. Elegant and conveniently placed, The Regent provides world class food and superior lodgings.
Stay
Regent is a small group of upmarket hotels mainly based in Asia. The company’s Berlin outpost is one of only two in Europe, the other on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. Located just by the Gendarmenmarkt the hotel is a stone’s throw from the impressive Konzerthaus concert hall, several cathedrals, shopping centres Galleries Lafayette and Quartier 206, and Museum Island. Sectioned off by the River Spree, Museum Island is home to many of Berlin’s top cultural and historical museums. There you can find the Pergamonmuseum, Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, and Bode-Museum, with the Deutsches Historisches Museum nearby. The hotel is also not far from popular tourist sites such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
Despite the hotel’s fairly modern architecture, the interiors are sumptuous old school luxury. The lobby is a riot of peach marble and gilt as far as the eye can see, and Biedermeier furnishings prevail throughout. The Regent offers a two Michelin starred restaurant, bar, outdoor courtyard in summer months, lobby lounge, small spa with sauna and gym equipment, efficient concierge, and twice daily housekeeping service.
Sleep
Bedrooms are calming and decorated with a neutral palette. Most have Biedermeier cabinetry and desks with useful international plug sockets, comfortable arm chairs, and plush beds with 300 thread count linens. If a view is important to you, ask for a corner room or suite which will look over the Gendarmenmarkt and be filled with glorious light at sunset.
Fully marble, luxury bathrooms come as standard. Complete with deep tubs, walk in showers, L’Occitane toiletries, and separate lavatories. Luxuriating in a bubble bath here is a joy.
Eat
The jewel in Regent’s crown is its two Michelin starred fine dining restaurant Fischers Fritz. Located down a marble corridor from the Lobby, the restaurant’s décor is more subdued than the hotel’s other public spaces. Taupe upholstery, thick carpets, contemporary art, and wood panelled walls create a luxurious space without a hint of chintz. Chef de Cuisine Christian Lohse creates French inspired menus that emphasise seafood. The cooking is some of the best in Berlin, and Fischers Fritz one of the city’s smartest choices for dinner.
Next to the restaurant is the rather masculine Regent’s Bar, finished with wood panelling and leather upholstery. The bar serves drinks and a light menu of food, and is suitable for after dinner drinks or even for coffee in a less formal setting than the Lobby Lounge. When weather is warm the bar offering is extended to an outdoor courtyard area, which is an elegant spot for drinks in the summer.
Afternoon tea is served in the Tea & Lobby Lounge where the British pastime is taken very seriously indeed. The hotel boasts a Tea Master Gold, Roland Proh, who offers a wealth of knowledge on tea varieties and brewing. Scones were a highlight, freshly prepared and served warm with proper clotted cream and home-made jam. The Lobby Lounge is a formal space with gilt mirrors, low tables, and white gloved waiters.
Breakfast is served in the Fischers Fritz dining room. Bread, jams, and German cold cuts come to the table as standard, while a help yourself continental buffet offers fruit, cereals, and pastries. Eggs Benedict, waffles, blueberry pancakes, fried breakfasts, and other hot dishes can be ordered from an a la carte menu.
Berlin has become one of Western Europe’s most popular weekend break destinations. The Regent offers a comfortable and stylish base from which to explore.