Hotel Kempinski Adlon Hotel Berlin impression and stay in the famous luxury hotel. THE ADLON! These two words already describe the special status of the hotel for many hotel guests around the world. A hotel that is automatically connected with the city, where it is automatically clear where exactly it is located. An accommodation where you can already directly imagine the view from the window to the Brandenburg Gate. THE ADLON fascinates and so it should be for me and my hotel report from the special hotel on Pariser Platz in Berlin.
A journey into history – history meets modernity
In 1907, the Adlon Hotel Berlin was opened for the first time by Lorenz Adlon – with just two years of construction time – as the first “Grandhotel” in Germany. While it was already known in the USA to hold grand balls in luxury hotels, in Europe the hostels were often only used as “sleeping accommodation”.
In Europe, the reception was often held at a country estate or in one’s own castle – with accommodations for the guests. While in New York and Boston in 1900 it was already a matter of course to hold the reception in the hotel and to offer leisure activities in addition to the accommodation, such as a café, a library or an elite cigar lounge, Lorenz Adlon entered a new piece of hotel history in Europe.
The first grand hotel of the new “generation”. There were already the RITZ in Paris, the Imperial in Vienna or the Astoria in St. Petersburg, but these hotels could not compete with the standards of the “new era”. Berlin was to become the first address for a new “hotel experience” and, thanks to the support of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the foundation stone was laid on two plots of land on the boulevard “Unter den Linden” in 1905.
A special address, a special house – and the fascination has remained until today. What many people do not know is that the hotel was completely destroyed in 1945, except for one wing, and was only ceremoniously opened a second time in 1997 by the then Federal President, Dr. Roman Herzog. A plaque in the lobby still reminds us of this special day. Many new guests of the house look quite astonished at the board and ask the staff afterwards – whether it was really closed.
As a guest of the house, on the one hand, you still have the feeling of being in a historic grand hotel with the special service, and yet “DAS ADLON” has charmingly adapted to modern times.
Arrive and enjoy – first impression of the Adlon Hotel Berlin
The pick-up with the own limousine service a dream, the last meters before arrival – automatically a round in front of the Brandenburg Gate. A look at the tourists creating your souvenir pictures and then directly the entrance of the hotel. Two Doormen greet me friendly, accompany me to the door while the luggage is unloaded.
The first view into the lobby of the Adlon Hotel Berlin – warm and cozy – a large bouquet of flowers in the entrance area, on the left a corridor with various boutiques, car rental options and the corridor to the swimming pool and the Smokers Club. On the opposite side, the Quarré Restaurant, for breakfast and also possible for lunch or dinner.
A walk past the commemorative plaque of the second opening with Dr. Roman Herzog and the VIP parking for children. A nice and above all very popular idea. Who would expect to be allowed to drive a bobby car in a luxury hotel. Of course with style 🙂
Arrival at the front desk already prepared, a quick signature and already “my personal Lady in Red” takes me to the elevator and explains the first peculiarities in the hotel. The elevators only usable with room card and of course state of the art, but in addition with a display from the past. A nice play with old memories and modern comfort.
Arrived on the sixth floor, a small information by “my Lady in Red”, how I get directly to the wellness area, without having to go through the lobby with the bathrobe and how to reach the swimming pool directly. One more turn, the hallway shines beautifully, a friendly greeting from a maid just coming from another room and I was standing in front of my suite.
Rooms and Suites at the Adlon Hotel Berlin
WOW! I’ve certainly lived in 50 suites in the last two years, allowed to feel at home, but this first view when you open the door and you look past the fireplace to the illuminated Brandenburg Gate – just has something and certainly belongs to my top5 suites of the last two years.
The decor of the Adlon Hotel Berlin is timeless, but warm. You feel right at home and can imagine staying here for a longer period of time. Fortunately, I was allowed to extensively test the house and this suite with a view of Pariser Platz for exactly this period.
A welcome gift, some fresh fruit and drinks, plus personal greetings and the program with my treatments for the next few days. The bedroom large, enough space in the bathroom, a walk-in closet and again the dreamlike view. The fireplace crackles, outside it is cold and you enjoy the evening and can warm up. Dreamlike!
The Adlon Hotel Berlin has a total of 304 rooms, each at least 35sqm, and 78 suites. 40 of the suites can be accessed directly from Behrenstrasse and are also equipped with kitchenettes for a longer stay.
Another special feature at the Adlon Hotel Berlin are the presidential suites. While there is only one presidential suite in almost every luxury hotel – the ADLON Kempinski Hotel has a total of three suites, each with a direct view of the Brandenburg Gate. This is an exception, as there are often more than one state guest or super VIP in the house at the same time.
The two presidential suites have 185sqm of space, as well as a meeting room, small kitchen for the butler, and their own “wellness area” with shower and whirlpool. The 225sqm “Royal Adlon Suite” has the highest security standards, panic room and direct elevator to the underground garage.
Regardless whether 35sqm or 225sqm for the night in the Adlon Hotel Berlin, the facilities are each tastefully furnished and guarantee with the latest technology a relaxing stay and also a relaxation, after the wellness treatment.
Fitness – Swimming pool – Wellness
I have already reported separately about the treatments in the Adlon Hotel Berlin in the ADLON DAY SPA by RESENSE and I still remember the harmonious wellness concept. Wonderful treatments, very friendly and eager staff and a pleasant atmosphere.
A special feature compared to many other hotels is the spatial separation of the swimming pool and sauna area, as well as wellness treatments. Due to the architecture of the hotel, the swimming pool area was integrated in the front hotel area, the wellness area a few years later on the opposite side of the hotel.
What may sound strange to many guests at first glance, is in retrospect and also in my opinion, an absolute stroke of luck. It is very rare that you first want to be in the pool and then go through a door to the application. The short way as an advantage, the noise of the pool as a disadvantage – a complete “switch off” is almost then not possible, especially when the noise level in the pool area increases.
Personally, I was also convinced by the separation, swim a few lanes, relax a little in the whirlpool and then strengthen a little with the various juices or fruit. The spatial separation here allows the guest in each case undisturbed relaxation or a pleasant activity program – and for me afterwards, a delicious piece of “Lady in Red Torte” in the lobby.
Adlon Hotel Berlin Lobby and Restaurants
The Adlon Hotel Berlin offers three restaurants, as well as the lobby as a possibility to strengthen yourself. Whether small snacks or a delicious piece of cake and pie in the lobby, whether Asian influences in Sra Bua by Tim Raue or a special curry sausage with a view of the Brandenburg Gate.
A very special experience awaits guests at Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, the 2-star Michelin restaurant with chef Hendrik Otto and maître Boris Häbel. While many star restaurants rather emphasize the service with distance and conjure up special delights on the plate – with the team of Otto/Häbel the event already begins at the entrance to the restaurant.
It is not without reason that the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer is called the “best 2-star restaurant” in Berlin. A beautiful composition of the different courses, a special experience with corresponding wines and always a surprise in the course of the evening.
The term “dining room” could not have been chosen better – you forget everything around you, enjoy the small details of the decoration and the breathtaking view of the Brandenburg Gate in the evening. For me, a very clear recommendation for a great taste experience in Berlin.
The Sra Bua by Tim Raue in the basement of the ADLON Hotel Berlin also joins the dining room in service, friendly staff an eager service and exceptional food. Who does not want to wait until the next vacation in Asia, would like to sit down comfortably with friends or family in the evening once – I can also unreservedly recommend the Sra Bua by Tim Raue.
If it should be neither star cuisine, nor Asian cuisine – there is of course still the special “Currywurst with gold leaf“, as well as many other great dishes in the restaurant Quarré, where breakfast also takes place.
If you want to “experience” the lobby of the Adlon Hotel Berlin, you should either experience the “Swinging Sunday” with a dance tea or stop by in the afternoon after a stroll through the city for a piece of cake and a coffee or tea, enjoy the soft music in the background or even watch the various guests and visitors. When you have sat down in one of the beautiful corners, you will understand directly when I say, this is how one imagines a “Grandhotel” with the special history.
Take the time to walk through the Bel Étage of the Adlon Hotel Berlin, where you will find a great art exhibition, the combination of historical furniture with special paintings. I have rarely spent so much time in front of the individual paintings in a hotel. Famous movie posters, stars and contemporary history, interpreted in a special way. After walking through the Bel Étage, you will also have a good view of the fountain in the middle of the lobby and opposite the front desk from the top.
A special gift and a reminder to the Maharaja of Patiala, India – who not only bought up all the lamps at the time, but also enjoyed staying at the hotel and gave the fountain and artwork to the hotel out of gratitude.
Famous guests and stars – art in the Adlon Hotel Berlin
Not only the Maharajah of Patiala was a guest in the hotel at the Brandenburg Gate – but many other celebrities, such as Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, Enrico Caruso, Thomas Mann, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mary Pickford, John D. Rockefeller, the Tsar of Russia, Edgar Wallace and Harold Lloyd.
Today’s stars are still regularly seen choosing the ADLON Hotel on Pariser Platz – whether for Fashion Week, the Berlinale in February or even for movie premieres. Famous politicians and state guests choose the special service that even Kaiser Wilhelm II had guaranteed immediately after the opening.
No one was allowed to set foot in the hotel before Kaiser Wilhelm II, as he considered the ADLON one of his palaces and paid 75,000 EUR (converted) each in advance to always have rooms ready for his guests. If the guests of the emperor used more money, it was paid in addition, if less money was used, it was allowed to remain as profit in the Adlon Hotel Berlin.
These are just a few examples of the great stories from the Adlon Hotel Berlin that many employees could tell, but discretion is absolutely paramount.
Maybe on my next visit I will manage to have a conversation with Dirk Ricardo Dürner, the butler who is available to many VIPs and state guests during their stays – 24 hours a day – but my hopes for details are of course minimal. The chances are probably not much greater Mario Weidner, the florist of the house. I may learn which flowers most guests want, but which VIP guest, which flowers in the suites prefer, I will also not learn for reasons of discretion.
I can only say that the service in the house and the flowers – both on my suite, as well as in the public areas, were beautifully put together.
My conclusion of the Adlon Hotel Berlin – luxury hotel at the Brandenburg Gate
The Kempinski Adlon Hotel Berlin on Pariser Platz with a direct view of the Brandenburg Gate has fascinated people from all over the world and spoiled them with a special charm since its first opening in 1907. The expectations that I also placed on the hotel inwardly were very high. I had hoped for a luxury hotel with that special feel-good factor.
However, I had also expected a somewhat cool, distant contact of the staff, a rather formal and stiff treatment, as it happens in many luxury hotels – but I was convinced of the opposite.
The Adlon Hotel Berlin is a special hotel with a special and tangible history. Even during my visits during Fashion Week in the afternoon, I was struck by the warm and helpful nature of the staff, first at the front desk, as well as later in the lobby and bar. A friendly and very accommodating manner that immediately makes the guest feel special.
No pushy kind of service, but very attentive and concerned about the guest. It is often the “little things” in the background that make a stay a memory and that is what happened for me at the Adlon Hotel Berlin.
An exceptional, personal service – many guests who for years always like to come back to the house at the Brandenburg Gate and also on my personal list of favorites worldwide – the Adlon Hotel Berlin – is now very high.
DAS ADLON has completely convinced me and I am already looking forward to my next visit to the hotel. Try it yourself once to enjoy a piece of “Lady in Red Torte” in the afternoon, to order a Currywurst with a view of the Brandenburg Gate or also to experience a very special gourmet meal with Hendrik Otto and Boris Häbel in the Lorenz Adlon dining room – followed by a massage in the SPA… and you will have a dreamlike weekend…
I will certainly try it once again on one of my next visits to Berlin and absolutely enjoyed the time.
