Berlin Design Apartment

Rooms

There are four minimalist bedrooms in total – two at the front of the property and two at the back. Beds are all queensized with stripy cotton duvets. The two at the front are of a similar size and design; the walls are white with a blue feature wall behind the bed, and vibrant artwork. The back bedrooms are situated above each other, one at ground level and another on a mezzanine, and come with orange walls. The mezzanine room has a very low ceiling, so is probably better for kids (the stairs up to it are low-lit to avoid any accidents).

Aside from the striking colours including the artwork (painted by owner Nils), one notable feature of all the rooms is the lighting: low-hanging pendant lights, recessed lighting and sidelights create a warm, inviting atmosphere but also allow for individual preferences. Less considered is storage space, which is limited in each bedroom: a hanging rail, open shelves and maybe a chair.

There is just one bathroom, decorated in a bold terrazzo scheme. Thanks to the smart layout and the separation of the walk-in shower, toilet and wash area, up to three people can use it at the same time.

Features include:

• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The open-plan kitchen and dining area is roomy and contemporary and really the heart of the place. There's plenty of room to cook, chat around the striking blue island/preparation station, and move around without getting in each other’s way. The dining table seats eight with ease. In keeping with the rest of the design, there's no clutter and just enough crockery and kitchen equipment. You get coffee, tea, salt, peppter and oils waiting for you, as well as a welcome basket and wine.

To stock up on groceries, there’s an Aldi and a Lidl within a two-minute walk. The immediate neighbourhood has a couple of very nice cafes and bakeries (including a gluten-free bakery) where you can grab breakfast. For dinner, there’s a sushi restaurant, an Indian, a traditional German pub and a host of Italians. Scan the QR code in the kitchen to download the owners’ inside tips.

Otherwise, wander down to Bergman Strasse where there are eateries galore – including on the way. Steakhouses, burger joints, goulash outlets, vegan restaurants, fine dining, cafes and gelateria abound. As befits Kreuzberg, the mix here is incredibly cosmopolitan, so there’s something for everyone at every price point. (Don’t bother with Potsdamer Platz, however, as it’s an overpriced tourist trap.)

The immediate area isn’t overserved with watering holes – although there’s a couple of very upscale cocktail bars nearby. Down Bergmann Strasse and its side streets, however, you’re spoiled for choice.

Features include:

• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Berliners love their markets. At Christmas, there are dozens of festive villages all over the city. But flea markets are popular year-round (Mauerpark in Prenzlauerberg is the biggest), and the famous Markthalle Neun on nearby Bergman Strasse is a foodie’s mecca, as is the Turkish market in ‘Little Istanbul’
• This is a great city for cycling and it’s the quickest way to see the sights. Or you can take bus tours, river cruises and even Cold War bunker tours
• Shop till you drop in KuDamm, the enormous Mall of Berlin, Alexa in Alexander Platz, the East Side Mall, and Friederich Strasse. Berlin is also a top destination for vintage shoppers – there are hundreds of second-hand outlets in the city
• Nearby Oranien Strasse was recently named one of the world's coolest streets. Constantly bustling, it’s a hodgepodge of trendy cafes and independent shops by day, and an über-cool hive of swanky bars and banging nightclubs in the evening

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and there is a high chair and crib in the storage area. There are also some playgrounds within easy walking distance – especially Viktoria Park, which has a splash pool in summer. Berlin is a terrific city for teens, too.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The mezzanine bedroom at the back has low ceilings so is better for smaller guests.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 30 minutes

• Hospital: 15 minutes

• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Berlin Design Apartment is situated opposite Viktoriapark in the buzzy Kreuzberg district, in south-central Berlin. The nearest U- and S-Bahn station is Yorckstrasse (10 mins’ walk).

By Air:
Fly to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (24km).

From the Airport:
Express trains (including FEX and S-Bahn) go from beneath the Terminal 1 direct to the city’s main stations; there are also buses which connect to S- and U-Bahns. Either way it usually takes 50-60 mins to reach the apartment. Or a taxi will take 30 mins. We don’t recommend driving around Berlin, as public transport is great and cabs are reasonable; but if needed, parking can be arranged in advance.

By Train:
Daytime trains from London St Pancras via Brussels and Cologne take 10-11 hours; or you can take an overnight sleeper train leaving London mid-afternoon. And Berlin is easily reached from many other European destinations via rail. See Seat 61 for details.

Getting Around:
Both the nearest stations – S+U-bahn Yorckstrasse and U-bahn Mehringdamm – are about a 10 minute walk away.