Hotel Zoo

Berlin and I didn’t always have the best relationship. It took me a while to fall for the city and all it has to offer (especially when it comes to food). But once you find your way around town and get to know certain areas, it’s hard not to develop a sincere appreciation for the German capital.

While I usually stay somewhere in Mitte, I had heard so many great things about HOTEL ZOO BERLIN on the famous Kurfürstendamm, that I decided to venture out of my usual Berlin ‘hood during Fashion Week. Best idea ever! So here comes my Hotel Zoo review:

What I liked about HOTEL ZOO BERLIN

• Interior: how could I not? Infused with New York flair and London townhouse elegance, I love how the old brick walls, super (super!) high ceilings are met by modern touches, lots of greens (hello palm leaves) and sophistication.
• The bed: my sister and I stayed in a deluxe double room, and the bed is easily the biggest I have ever slept in. Wider than long and with 6 cloud-like pillows, we never even touched as much as an arm. Sweet dreams are a guarantee and room no. 528 is highly recommended.
• Breakfast lover: it is hard to think back to a time where I left the house in the morning without having breakfast. That’s why now, I have all the more appreciation for a good hotel breakfast that includes a great buffet but also a la carte orders like eggs benedict, omelette (my go-to) and half and avo (cliché, but so good).
• Location: for first-time Berlin visitors, Kurfürstendamm in the city’s West is definitely the place to be. Aside from the KaDeWe in walking distance and the famous Berlin Zoo is right behind the hotel (as the name would suggest), there are also plenty of bars and restaurants in close surroundings, as well as the Apple store right next door. Other cultural attractions include the Kaiser Wilhem memorial church and the restored Theater Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz. Both of which I have yet to visit.
• Grace: The restaurant Grace, located on the ground floor of the hotel, Grace has become a popular destination since opening in 2015. Especially during Fashion Week, a lot of parties take place there, which is why we weren’t able to get a table until our last night in Berlin. But SO glad we did. I had one of the best salads I have ever had and Mike was super impressed with his rib-eye. The interior of the restaurant is great, just like the rest of the hotel, the service super friendly and the food was absolutely incredible – although I do want to mention that the prices are rather steep, especially for Berlin, but at least you get the quality you pay for!
• What about the hair dryer? I failed you this time! Ever since I was gifted my Dyson supersonic, I have been bringing it everywhere with me. Which speaks for the supersonic, but makes it hard to give you feedback about the hotel’s hair dryer. In this case, I will lean out the window and place my bets on it being really good, especially since the hotel also provides it’s own line of hair care products (which I used and loved) and the bathroom was equipped really well otherwise.

What I would change…

• Honestly, the hotel is amazing and a 100% worth a recommendation if you are looking for the best hotels in Berlin. The only thing I would have personally preferred was a tiny bit more light. As a huge fan of natural light (probably because it makes taking photos so much easier), I found the lobby and bar area to be a bit too dimly lit. But of course, that is just personal taste.

*thank you for hosting me during Fashion Week, HOTEL ZOO BERLIN. (Invitation)