The red and white lobby of Hotel Q!, set just off Berlin’s glittering main drag, the Kurfürstendamm, comes as quite an eye-opener after the low-key, grey-walled façade. The work of the Graft group, who designed Brad Pitt’s Hollywood Studio, it’s undeniably cool: funky tunes play from concealed speakers, backlit walls emit a soft glow, and the hip all-in-black staff seem genuinely pleased to see you. (Want to know the latest clubs and newest boutiques? These guys are the people to ask.) Beyond the curved front desk lie a good Thai restaurant and a members-only bar - all red leather, charcoal suede and chrome - plus a lounge where you can recline on sleek chaises-longues and chill out over cocktails. There’s also a patio for alfresco summer drinks and, in the spa, a tropical sand room and a Japanese wash area for devotees.
Slip upstairs to find low-level red lighting, vibey music set at just the right volume, and corridors lined with a thick burgundy shag-pile carpet that would look unfashionable anywhere else. The 77 all-white and well-maintained rooms flaunt cocoon-like design, with swooping bath-cum-bed combos and barely a right angle in sight; quirky touches like naked prints and ceiling murals add a spot of humour to break up the minimalism. All in all, it’s sexy, stylish and fun - a great Berlin base for couples seeking a good time.
Highs
- An excellent location in one of Berlin’s most upmarket areas, with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby, and close to good transport links
- Service is friendly and unpretentious, and the staff know all the hippest places in town
- Breakfast is one of the best we’ve come across - not normally included in the rates, but worth the extra spend
- During our summer stay, we enjoyed excellent cocktails in the secluded courtyard
- And in winter, the small basement spa has a sauna, steam room and a menu of excellent massages
Lows
- The bold design may not to be everybody's taste, although it was still looking slick on our last visit
- The bath-by-the-bed arrangement looks great, but you’ll need to wash gently or you'll splash your sheets, and you may find it easier to climb out onto the bed than floor
- No twin rooms and bathrooms are open-plan: it’s definitely a hotel for couples rather than friends
- The full-length mirror right by the shower we found a touch unforgiving!
Best time to go
Berlin is a year-round destination. Summers are similar to the UK, perhaps a little warmer and more humid; Tiergarten is wonderful for a stroll and a picnic and is also pretty in autumn when the leaves change colour. Winters can be bitingly cold, but a crisp, clear January day would be perfect for exploring the city without the crowds. It can get busy during fairs (such as ITB in March) and the Christmas markets (late November and December).
Our top tips
The hotel name is pronounced Koo - which is also German for cow, hence its bovine logo. The building is barely marked from the outside so make sure to note the exact address.
If you plan to visit Norman Foster's Reichstag dome, consider booking breakfast or brunch in Feinkost Kaefer perched alongside the dome: not only does it offer bird's eye views and beautifully presented fare, but booking here may allow you to sidestep the often lengthy morning queues into the dome.
If you plan to visit Norman Foster's Reichstag dome, consider booking breakfast or brunch in Feinkost Kaefer perched alongside the dome: not only does it offer bird's eye views and beautifully presented fare, but booking here may allow you to sidestep the often lengthy morning queues into the dome.
- Boutique Hotel
- 77 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open Tue-Sat)
- Over 16s only
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
The 77 rooms share the same flowing, cocoon-like design, with cream-white walls, dark oak floors, slick wardrobes with hidden handles, and grey slate-tiled bathrooms. The comfy beds are also made of oak, with faux ostrich leather on the wall behind. In those with a bath, the tub and bedstead are made from the same piece of wood - you could literally roll from your mattress into the water! It looks ever so sleek, but beware of wetting the bed (as it were). Other rooms have glass-doored showers. Bear in mind that there are no twin rooms, and bathrooms are open-plan ("guests must love each other", explains the manager with a twinkle in her eye), although the loos are separate.
Most rooms are similar in layout and overlook Knesebeckstrasse, a quiet side-street about halfway down the Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm), or the rear courtyard. The Studios on the 7th floor are larger than the standard Doubles and Singles, with a separate sitting area and a Nintendo Wii; there’s also a highly desirable Penthouse Suite.
All rooms have air conditioning, minibars and plenty of Pure smellies. They also come with a few fun touches such as nude prints and subtle murals - only when lying in bed did we realise that the random shapes painted on our ceiling were in fact a young lady smiling down in a coy, Mona Lisa fashion.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
The hotel lays on an excellent breakfast spread , arranged artfully around the bar is a huge array of pastries, artisan breads, smoked fish, meat and cheeses, along with olives, salads, bowls of sweets, and even Asian dishes. It’s a real feast and filled us up until evening.
The restaurant is a seductive space decked out in reds and blacks, with white floor-to-ceiling drapes and little booths for intimacy. Open for dinner only, the Thai-focused menu is tasty if a little predictable, with a range of spring rolls, spicy soups, noodle dishes and curries. We were more impressed with the bar, which is open to members and hotel guests only and serves cocktails, beers and spirits until around midnight. In summer head outside to the patio or watch the world go by from a table on the pavement out front.
For eating out, there’s plenty of choice. We recommend avoiding the somewhat dull offerings along the Ku’damm itself and instead heading right out of the hotel towards the small cafés and restaurants around Savignyplatz (a few minutes away). For more atmospheric eateries, explore the neighbourhoods of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte (a tram, U-bahn or train ride away).
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Ku’Damm is Berlin’s main retail street, and a short stroll along brings you to the famous KaDaWe
- Nearby is Savignyplatz, a small park surrounded by a ring of cafés for people-watching, with quirky bookshops and design boutiques under the old rail arches
- Walk for 20 minutes to the haunting ruins and blue-stained glass of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, whose bomb-splintered tower is a reminder of the horrors of war
- Catch a bus or tram to Mitte, Berlin's historical centre, for many must-see attractions, including the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial and the Brandenburg Gate. Hotel staff can organise private guided tours and bicycle hire
- Browse world-class art and history collections of the "Museum Island", and the churches and concert halls of the Gendarmenmarkt
- Diverse Kreuzberg, to the south of Mitte, has restaurants covering almost every global cuisine. It’s also home to Checkpoint Charlie and the striking Jewish Museum
- Jump on the U-bahn to Nollendorfplatz to visit the small but fascinating Bauhaus museum. Discover how this school of arts and crafts pushed the boundaries of design and was crushed under Nazi rule
- Make the most of Berlin’s fantastic nightlife. Reception can point you in the right direction
- Recover from all the above in the hotel’s spa. Yoga and Pilates can also be arranged
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Pilates
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
Older children (16+) can stay if accompanied by their parent or legal guardian (note, there are no extra beds). Otherwise, it's over 18s only.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Hotel Q! is located on Knesebeckstrasse, a quiet side-street about halfway down the Kurfürstendamm (or Ku'Damm for short). This wide commercial avenue heads southwest from the centre of Berlin, in the former western part of the city, with plenty of bus, tram and U-bahn stops.
By Air:
Fly into Berlin Brandenburg (19km away).
From the Airport
It's a 1-hour journey by the overground S-bahn direct to Savignyplatz, a few minutes away.
By Train:
Increasingly popular with connections from all over Europe, and a viable option from the UK if you're prepared to change en-route - see Seat 61 for more info.
By Car:
There's a car park adjacent to the hotel (extra charge), but as a tourist there would be little point in having a car here.
Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt 19.0 km BER
Other:
- Beach 200.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape