The Circus Apartments

From its white brick-and-glass exterior, the Circus Apartments conveys a sense of modern chicness. The two-story reception area is light and airy, with a large, white-brick wall, accented with light blues and greens. An origami-like sculpture hangs from the ceiling, suspended over retro wireframe chairs and a sofa in powder blue. Despite its appealing look, this doesn't tend to be an area for congregating as apartment units have separate entrances. The Circus Apartments opened in 2011, and each unit has been individually decorated in a trendy style. Part of this property's appeal comes from the fact that it's more like a residential building than a hotel, drawing couples, families, and even business travelers on an extended stays. The on-site cafe offers a light selection of snacks for purchase, but there's little else in the way of common space.

A mere five-minute walk from the U-Bahn station, the Circus Apartments are well-located for exploring the city. The property's neighborhood, Mitte, is a vibrant corner of Berlin. It's a 13-minute walk to Hackescher Markt, a car-free square of eight interconnected courtyards filled with cafes, bars and street performers among numerous other shops by up and coming Berlin fashion designers. Museum Island, a heritage site that's home to five separate museums, is a 24-minute walk from the apartments. But reaching most historical sites requires a ride on the U-Bahn, including the Holocaust Memorial (a 23-minute train ride), the Brandenburg Gate (20 minutes by train), and the Stasi Museum (a 31-minute train ride). It's a 36-minute train ride from the airport. 

Each unit in the Circus Apartments is individually decorated, but in general the style is modern and minimal, with playful colors like lilac and pistachio green being paired with one-of-a-kind furnishings and original art. By and large rooms have trendy, appealing decor such as striped slipper chairs or wrought-iron bed frames. But it's not exactly high-end, and certain items like the bureaus can feel flimsy. There is ample living, sleeping and work space, and units have balconies furnished with wicker chairs or molded plastic seats. When it comes to tech, the rooms are fully kitted out, including flat-screen TVs with Blu-ray players, multimedia docking stations, and iPads loaded up with music, city guides, and a range of kid-friendly apps. Likewise the kitchens have everything needed to create a home-cooked meal including stainless steel refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, toasters, and kettles, as well as dishware and cutlery. Each unit also comes with a washer/dryer. Apartments on the upper floors or facing the interior courtyard are quieter. (Although in general, despite the bustling neighborhood, disturbances are minimal.) Bathrooms are fully tiled with deep tub/shower combinations, and have organic toiletries and hairdryers. As is standard for such units, there's is no daily housekeeping, but towels and amenities are refreshed by request. 

Most apartment-style hotels offer little in the way of features, expecting guests to utilize amenities in their units. But the Circus Apartments offers more than most. The first-floor cafe provides light snacks, sweet treats, and breakfast, for those that prefer to leave the cooking to others. While there's no on-site fitness facilities, the property has an arrangement with local gyms to give guests access. Concierge services such as airport transportation, babysitting, or laundry services are available online through WhatsApp, WeChat, or Viber. Guests can also borrow local mobile phones on request. Parking in available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.