Grand Hotel Esplanade

With an entry wall of gushing water lit overhead by glittering lights, this is one of Berlin's better luxury hotels, overlooking the Landwehr Canal and close to the Tiergarten. The lobby is equally grand, spacious and beautifully decorated, while the rooms are tasteful and gratifyingly free of frilly decor. There's also a fitness centre and a triangular swimming pool, plus three restaurants and a Harry's New York Bar.