Hotel de Rome has got history. A nineteenth-century manse, originally built as the headquarters of Dresdener Bank, was transformed in 2006 by Rocco Forte into what is now probably the grandest hotel in Berlin. Part of the Leading Hotels in the World, you don’t really get better than this in terms of location; it’s on Bebelplatz, one of the city’s most beautiful squares, which is oddly peaceful even when it’s crammed with tourists and tour guide groups. You’re waking up to a serious view if you get a front-facing room.
The 145 rooms are flat-out plush with polished wood, marble and velvet, complete with huge, sprawling, cloud-like beds, Irene Forte toiletries, thick, heavy bathrobes and underfloor heating in the bathroom. Having left my multiple chargers strewn out on the desk, I came back to find them wound up neatly with a Hotel De Rome branded velcro cable tie. It’s that kind of turn down service.
For dinner, head to onsite restaurant Chiaro for upscale Milanese dishes – scallop ceviche, linguine al limone, cacio e pepe with lobster – or opt for the €38 lunch deal. The restaurant space extends out into a leafy garden, filled with plants and fairy lights. Mornings are particularly peaceful out here, and the breakfast buffet is spectacular: the dedicated smoked salmon station features a whopping great tin of Forellen caviar, so big that I couldn’t help but imagine a group of men prizing it open with spades each morning.
At the very top, find Hotel de Rome’s rooftop bar, with pretty insane views over Berlin, moreish Italian bar snacks and out-there cocktails (like the whiskey, limoncello, cream, chamomile and chocolate combo for €16). But the real magic happens at the very bottom, below ground level, which is accessed by a beautiful old staircase. That’s where you’ll find Hotel De Rome’s spa, where you can pass a number of old vaults from the building’s bank days, some of which they’ve never found the key to and remain locked forever, which feels a bit like being in Harry Potter (but much more relaxing).
Neighbourhood
You’re quite literally in the thick of it here, in Mitte at the heart of central Berlin, one of the city’s best neighbourhoods. The whole area is good for tourists – it’s probably best known for its many, many museums and number of luxury hotels. Deutsche Staatsoper (Berlin’s Opera House) is on your doorstep, but you’re only about a 20-minute walk from Berlin’s best sights, including the Reichstag Building, the Topography of Terror and the Natural History Museum.
Nearby
1. Jewish History Museum: A 25-minute walk from the hotel (but a very pretty one), it’s well worth visiting one of the best and most important museums in Berlin.
2. LIU 成都味道面馆 Nudelhaus: A lip-smackingly good spot serving up saucy, spicy Sichuan noodles, dumplings and more. For the hard nuts, rumour has it you can request an off-menu level four spice, guaranteed to blow your socks off.
3. KW Institute for Contemporary Art: A non-profit gallery space that’s been around since the 1990s. Perfect for when you’ve done enough of the history museums and fancy a bit of art.
Time Out tip
For anything further than a 20-minute walk, hop on one of Berlin’s many, many E-bikes. You’re a 10-minute cycle from Tiergarten, where you should spend an entire day.