Berlin Art Week is coming up September 13–17. Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, we’ve shortlisted some of our top suggestions for beautifully designed places to stay and eat during Berlin’s biggest art week of the year.
Charlottenburg
KPM Hotel & Residences
kpmhotel.de
Englische Straße 6, 10587 Berlin, click here for map
KPM Hotel // Photo by WhiteKitchen
Nestled between the lush urban greenery of the Großer Tiergarten park and the buildings of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin founded by the Prussian King Frederick II in 1763, KPM Hotel & Residences far exceeds the ordinary. Embracing a rich legacy of 260 years of design history, it presents a seamless fusion of tradition, contemporary flair and a distinctive design signature. The hotel boasts premium service, along with various amenities such as a rooftop terrace with bar, state-of-the-art gym and playroom, as well as a fleet of e-bikes and classic bicycles for easy transportation. Expect a cozy, light-flooded private retreat with high-quality furnishing and a variety of optional upgrades, including a fully equipped kitchenette that adds an extra touch of comfort to your stay. At the porcelain factory next door, you can also attend the KPM workshop and create your own souvenirs guided by experienced porcelain molders and painters.
pars Restaurant
pars.berlin
Opening Hours: Wednesday–Saturday; from 6:30pm
Grolmanstraße 53, 10623 Berlin, click here for map
Residing in the former Café Savigny, pars Restaurant offers an innovative menu that centres unique flavours with artistic flair. Led by Kristiane Kegelmann, a visual artist and patissière, the restaurant developed out of Kegelmann’s original project—pars Pralinen—which can still be purchased on-site as a gourmet takeaway dessert or a delicious souvenir from Berlin. Guests can opt for a reduced four-course or the full seven-course menu, composed by head chef Alina Jakobsmeier with high-quality produce. With a stainless-steel open kitchen, refined interior design and a selection of artworks completing the ambiance, pars guarantees a feel-good experience that is both convivial and intimate.
Townhouse Berlin
vagabondclub.com/berlin
Goethestraße 87, 10623 Berlin, click here for map
Only a short walk to Kurfürstendamm shopping street and the Tiergarten, Townhouse Berlin can be found right in Charlottenburg’s bustling centre. With a range of studios and suites, each room is designed with its own special flair and has large windows to let in plenty of daylight. Guests can choose between a view of the quiet courtyard garden or the dynamic city awaiting them outside. The largest space available is the Loft, which features separate cooking, working and sleeping areas. In addition, a launderette, a well-equipped fitness area and a shopping service are available to all guests. With a contemporary chic feel and velvet furnishings, Townhouse Berlin offers comfort, convenience and luxury all rolled into one.
893 Ryōtei
893ryotei.de
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday; 6–11pm
Kantstraße 135/136, 10625 Berlin, click here for map
893 Ryōtei // Photo by John Bauer
Arguably one of the most alluring fine dining restaurants in Berlin, 893 Ryōtei boasts a rugged exterior resembling a graffiti-covered railway station. Upon stepping inside and parting the heavy velvet curtain, guests are greeted by a vibrant club ambiance, accompanied by loud music and neon lights. With its dimly lit and slightly unconventional atmosphere, 893 Ryōtei captures the spirit of Berlin. At the heart of this style-conscious eatery lies an exposed kitchen, encircled by bar stools and closely arranged tables. This is where the team of Duc Ngo—an awarded gastronomic innovator, chef and owner of numerous Berlin restaurants—skillfully prepares dishes that celebrate the essence of Japanese culinary artistry infused with South American and European influences.
Hotel Q!
hotel-q.com
Knesebeckstraße 67, 10623 Berlin, click here for map
The sleek modern design of the Hotel Q’s rooms look like a luxurious capsule from a space station imagined in the 1960s. It’s not what you would necessarily expect of Charlottenburg, which is the heart of tradition in the old West Berlin. Designed by the award winning Graft Architects, streamlined lines, inset lights, and an attention to detail are the trademarks of this unique space. Guests can start the day with full breakfasts every morning and end the night with a drink in the red-toned Fox Bar. The Q! Spa offers a Finnish sauna and steam room, a Japanese washing area, a gym for those not wanting to break their fitness routine or a tropical sand room for those just looking for a moment of escape.
Papillon
papillon-berlin.com
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday; 6pm–2am
Hardenbergplatz 15, 10623 Berlin, click here for map
Relishing delectable cuisine, popping champagne bottles and dancing atop tables until late in the night is the recommended itinerary at Papillon. Located under the railway of the iconic Zoologischer Garten train station, this sparkly bar-restaurant-dancefloor reinvents the mid-century style with touches of contemporary design and 1970s New York glamour. The lively dinner-and-dance experience is best enjoyed with a group and with an early reservation, as it tends to be booked out. It involves Mediterranean-inspired dishes intended for sharing, a cocktail bar with drinks concocted by award-winning mixologists, attentive service and a sophisticated sound-to-light system. Papillon seamlessly transforms into a lively soirée as the kitchen closes—or even well before that time arrives.
Tiergarten
The Mandala Hotel
themandala.de
themandalasuites.de
Potsdamer Straße 3, 10785 Berlin, click here for map
The Mandala Hotel // Courtesy of Steve Herud for Design Hotels © Made by Originals
Located at Potsdamer Platz this sleek, modern hotel offers a well-connected location with spectacular views of the city. The Mandala Hotel is in walking distance from some of the city’s most interesting cultural venues, like the Neue Nationalgalerie or the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. A little further south, visitors will find a cluster of renown galleries and exhibition venues on Potsdamer Straße. For those craving a moment of downtime, the hotel also offers escape in the form of its ONO Spa, a 600-square-meter wellness center on the top floor, where regenerative technology is fused with traditional spa features. Plus, if you find yourself looking for more spacious rooms without sacrificing the luxury and privacy of The Mandala Hotel, look no further than The Mandala Suites on Friedrichstraße.
Kreuzberg
Layla
layla-restaurant.com
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday; from 6pm
Hallesche Straße 10, 10963 Berlin, click here for map
Opened by chef Meir Adoni in 2018, Layla marks his first restaurant in Central Europe. Layla—Hebrew for ‘night’—transforms traditional meals with modern techniques and flavours from around the world into Mediterranean fusion cuisine. Not to be missed here is the signature dish: smoked eggplant carpaccio with pistachios, date honey, tahini, feta snow, rose petals and thyme. The drinks menu, which includes Israeli wines and the restaurant’s own cocktail creations, perfectly complements delicacies from the kitchen but is well worth a try on its own. Located in a quiet spot next to Tempodrom and adjoining the Crown Plaza Hotel, Layla has a modern design with a beautifully tiled open kitchen, following the style of Adoni’s other restaurants based in Tel Aviv, New York and Singapore.
Mitte
Urban Loft
urbanlofthotels.com/berlin
Heidestraße 43, 10557 Berlin, click here for map
Urban Loft // Photo by Steve Herud
Urban Loft provides a home away from home where wanderlust meets comfort and familiarity. The playfully designed spaces speak to creatives in particular. Here, art is given center stage with permanent installs and a rotating exhibition. Rooms filled with splashes of color overlook the city or the peaceful courtyard. You can enjoy Roman pizza and other Italian delicacies at the hotel’s restaurant, Bacio della Mamma, and round it off with a cup of specialty coffee to-go or a cocktail served at the rooftop bar. If your stay is intended for more than leisure, you can catch up on work in the Lounge Area or meet your health goals in the well-equipped 24/7 gym. Dedication to sustainability is the “green thread” running throughout Urban Loft, from the furnishings to the products used by guests and staff.
India Club
india-club-berlin.com
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday; from 5:30 to midnight
Behrenstraße 72, 10117 Berlin, click here for map
Savor authentic North Indian cuisine by Chef Manish Bahukhandi at India Club, Germany’s first Michelin Guide-awarded Indian restaurant located near the Brandenburg Gate. Renowned internationally for his expertise in rustic Indian cuisine, Bahukhandi and his team deliver the pinnacle of North Indian culinary art. Enjoy classic flavors reminiscent of top eateries in India and London, with bread, meat and vegetables cooked in rare clay tandoori ovens for maximum flavor and health benefits. India Club also boasts an extensive selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, richly seasoned with a myriad of Indian spices. The opulent interior co-designed by Anne Maria Jagdfeld and Richard Blight completes the experience for all senses.
The Social Hub
thesocialhub.co/berlin-mitte/
Alexanderstraße 40, 10179 Berlin, click here for map
The Social Hub // Photo by Sal Marston Photography
The Social Hub Berlin is a co-live and -workspace focused on community, where you’ll find everything you need under one roof. It’s a space to spend the night, work, enjoy a variety of meals and drinks at the on-site restaurant and bar, connect with like-minded guests and locals, or even extend your stay for up to a year. The Social Hub prides itself on being an inspiring, dynamic place for people from all walks of life. Expect to find artists, musicians, digital nomads and students in the brightly coloured shared spaces that reflect the youthfulness of the city. Located in the heart of Mitte, just around the corner from Alexanderplatz, it’s ideal for visitors who like to walk or cycle to multiple Berlin Art Week venues in one go. It’s also convenient for many other activities—from sightseeing to partying at some of the famous clubs nearby.
Prenzlauer Berg
Ryke
ryke-berlin.de
Opening Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 6–11pm; Sunday, 1–9:30pm
Rykestraße 39, 10405 Berlin, click here for map
Ryke’s distinctive attributes are honesty, fairness and responsibility. This new neighborhood favorite treats its guests with wholesome, high-quality cuisine and a warm, welcoming ambiance. Throughout the week, the restaurant offers a casual fine dining experience of modern German cuisine with Kazakh influences, with the exception of Sunday when it serves family-oriented lunch and apéro. At Ryke, people from different backgrounds come together to create something unique—ideas and recipes made from fresh, carefully selected ingredients. The emphasis here is on environmental stewardship and sustainability: the suppliers focus on ethical animal farming and the menu is based on seasonal conditions and the offerings of the region. The Scandinavian style-inspired interior reflects this mindset through the use of recycled materials and collaborations with local craftspeople, resulting in elevated simplicity with keen attention to detail.
Frieda
cafefrieda.de
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday; from 10am
Lychener Straße 37, 10437 Berlin, click here for map
Frieda // Photo by Maša Stanić
A café-bar-restaurant located on a corner on Helmholtzplatz, Frieda positions itself around everyday luxury all day long. Arrive early for specialty coffee and the fresh sourdough baked in-house or end your evening there with natural wines, top-shelf vermouths and mezcal. The daily changing market kitchen menu consists of a variety of produce-focused, flavour-driven dishes, including a few elevated meat and seafood classics. The kitchen uses local, sustainable and seasonal produce, sourced directly from farmers and artisans in Brandenburg and across Europe. A treat for all the senses, Frieda even has a custom sound system where curated selections from their extensive vinyl collection play out to maximise the mood.
Oderberger Hotel
hotel-oderberger.berlin
Oderberger Straße 57, 10435 Berlin, click here for map
Hotel Oderberger, a historic former swimming hall designed in 1898 by architect Ludwig Hoffman, is a unique jewel in the heart of Berlin. With its domed ceiling, hanging lights and cascade of arched entranceways, guests will feel like they have time-travelled into the city’s luxurious past. Located in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg district, the hotel prides itself in a long-standing cooperation with Berlin artists, whose works can be found in the restaurant, the fireplace bar, the library, the hallways and the hotel rooms. The focus on the region also extends to the fireplace bar, which features cocktails and draft beer from local producers.
