Sofitel Berlin Kurfuerstendamm

Even the exterior of the Sofitel hotel makes an impressive statement as it wraps around a street corner and rises to 17 floors of limestone in an eye-catching, tiered pattern. Once inside, the airy lobby exudes a simple, minimalist elegance, with soothing mood lighting and modern flair. High-quality wood paneling partially covers many of the walls, and polished off-white and gray tile covers the floors. The furniture is contemporary and comes in hues of mustard yellow, ocean blue, fuchsia, and other bold colors. Huge pieces of striking contemporary art give the space a gallery-like feel. Even the wall behind the reception desk features the faces of several notable Berliners, including Marlene Dietrich and Knut, the city’s world-famous Polar Bear. With a central location and large inventory of meeting space, this quiet and classy hotel is a favorite among business travelers, but it also attracts well-heeled tourists with its central location and elegant atmosphere.

The Sofitel Berlin Kurfurstendamm is situated in the heart of the City West district, near some of Berlin’s top attractions. It's just off the famous Kurfurstendamm retail avenue and its fashionable boutiques and department stores. Numerous restaurants and other upscale hotels are within a brief walk. The Kurfurstendamm U-Bahn (subway) station is within two minutes on foot, and there's a bus stop right outside the hotel. Walking to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church takes about five minutes, and the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium located in the expansive Tiergarten are within about 10 minutes on foot. Checkpoint Charlie is about a 17-minute bus ride away, while Museum Island is about half an hour by bus or U-Bahn. The transportation hub at Alexanderplatz takes about 20 minutes to get to by public transit or 15 minutes by car. Berlin Tegel Airport is approximately a 15- to 20-minute drive or 25 minutes by public transit, depending on traffic.

The modern and stylish rooms at the Sofitel feature large and striking pieces of custom-designed artwork by Junior Toscanelli and distinctive wood furniture designed by German architect Jan Kleihues, who also orchestrated the design of the entire hotel. Walls are a flat white, but the boldly striped carpet gives a strong hit of bright colors. Silvery-gray blackout drapes cover banks of large windows that allow light to cascade through the rooms. Bedding is bright white except for coffee-colored throws. The matching wood furniture includes headboards, coffee tables, and roomy desks with matching upholstered chairs. Standard amenities include minibars, flat-screen TVs, Nespresso coffeemakers, Bose stereo clocks, safes, robes, and slippers. Free bottled water, and newspapers are standard as well, and turndown service is provided. The rooms are generally kept spotlessly clean and are exceptionally quiet, with comfortable king beds. Bathrooms are decadently large, with green marble floors and vanities with twin sinks and sparkling white tile on the walls. The roomy walk-in showers have clear glass doors and rainfall showerheads, and each has an oversize soaking tub with a handheld shower nozzle. Toilets are separate. Magnifying mirrors, phones, and Hermes toiletries are included. Even the base-level Superior Rooms offer enough space (376 to 430 square feet) that each can include a set of two magenta upholstered armchairs and a matching sofa. Other options include Luxury Rooms (430 to 667 square feet), Junior Suites (600 to 732 square feet), and full suites (Opera and Imperial) that are between 807 and 1,076 square feet. Some suites also have sleeper sofas and second bathrooms. Luxury Rooms and some suite guests benefit from exclusive access to the 11th floor Club Lounge, which offers a free breakfast buffet, free afternoon snacks, and free evening beer, wine, and cocktails. Smoking is allowed in select rooms. 

This luxury hotel offers a full range of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. The Restaurant Saint Germain serves a daily hot breakfast buffet with an omelet station and a variety of French baked goods. While it's not included in standard rates, it does come included in some packages. The Library serves afternoon tea, espresso, and pastries. Le Faubourg offers fine French cuisine for lunch and dinner, and offers outdoor seating. The restaurant’s lobby bar serves light fare, fine wine, and custom cocktails and has a DJ spinning dance music on weekends. Room service is available 24 hours as well.The spa has sauna and steam rooms as well as foot and ice baths and showers. It also has a relaxation area and offers various massage treatments, but there are no salon services. The adjacent fitness center is small and has free weights and a few cardio and weight-training machines. Spread over two floors above the lobby are 16 meeting rooms, including a ballroom that can host up to 350 for receptions. The business center on the second floor has several separate cubicles for private work, including some computer stations with internet access plus printers, copiers, and fax machines. Free basic Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property, but it might be slow for some guests; high-speed Wi-Fi is available for purchase. Concierge services include babysitting and valet laundry and dry cleaning. The hotel has an underground garage for secure parking, but it costs extra to park here.