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Château Royal Berlin is perfect for the contemporary, design-led traveller – cool, modern, but with a healthy dose of history to keep you interested. Essentially it’s an aesthetic art hotel in a central area with a great restaurant – what more could you want?
Why stay at Château Royal Berlin?
First off, you might recognise the ‘Royal’ part of the hotel’s name. It’s a nod to a boutique hospitality brand co-owned by Stephen Landwehr, which began with Berlin’s Grill Royal in 2007. Envisioned as a casual but elegant steak restaurant, it attracted a fashionable crowd thanks to Landwehr’s interest in art, lining the walls with an impressive collection. Since then, (alongside other investors) he’s opened a smaller Berlin address, as well as a wow-worthy restaurant in Hamburg, before delving into the hotel business.
The Grill name is a bit of an institution here, by the way. As for the space, the hotel is made up of two listed buildings, dating from 1850 and 1910, which offer a beautiful, cream-toned façade and original features. It was originally a publishing company but during extensive renovations, architects discovered evidence that this may have also been a spy base during the Cold War (it’s giving: ‘if these walls could talk’). The design is a huge (if not, the) selling point here, with a concept by Studio Irina Kromayer inspired by Berlin’s 20th century heyday. Loosely, you could say it feels retro, but it’s actually an authentic interpretation of design at that time, with gorgeous wooden wall panelling, low seating, nickel finishes and plenty of vintage-sourced pieces, alongside contemporary art works from over a hundred artists.
What are the rooms like at Château Royal Berlin?
With 93 rooms and suites, Château Royal Berlin fulfils the upper-end of a medium sized hotel, but what’s more interesting is that across these rooms are nine categories with options such as small, medium and large, maisonette, family rooms and a selection of suites – which gives you loads of choice. I stayed in a ‘small’ room which, as the website says, was perfectly fine (and still included a cute velvet armchair). Bathrooms enjoy rainfall showers decked out in rich-toned tiles, and the beds are simple but comfortable. Negatives are that they are a little plain – which feels like a shame when staying at a hotel known for its design. It totally depends what you’re looking for; with rates from €195 a night, if you’re keen to stay somewhere trendy this is a solid and accessible option.
What’s the food like at Château Royal Berlin like?
Genuinely worth it, even in a city as foodie as Berlin. Start in Restaurant Château Royal’s cocktail bar with its huge windows and playful scrawlings, order the signature: Negroni Sous Vide; using the sous vide process, mixologists extract the essential oils of Amalfi lemon and Sicilian blood orange peel to infuse the cocktail, mastering a very special flavour. For dinner, wander into the bohemian-chic dining room, pausing over its rustic, rug-covered floor and mid-century furniture; and peek into another space, filled with rose-toned banquettes and colourful, stained glass inserts – it took a good 10 minutes to decide where to perch. The team, however, ushered me outside – keen to show off their open air dining in the brief sunshine – where you can really appreciate the building’s architecture, set against industrial furniture and juxtaposing white tablecloths. It’s all very Berlin.
Oh, and the food – the food! To start, crisped King Quail, grilled over natural volcanic stones. Moving on, considering the brand’s reputation I went for steak; a Heifer fillet served with cream of black Urwald pepper and cognac, with a side of what tasted like 90 percent butter (read: perfection) potato purée. Incredibly rich and suitably decadent – although I would have liked to see a few more steak options from a collective that does this so well. If there was any winning over to do, they sealed the deal with a dessert of warm, freshly-baked madeleines, served with lashings of cream. For now, it seems like the restaurant is somewhat of a secret with tables to spare on a Thursday evening, but it really shouldn’t be so get in there before the rest of Berlin realises.
What’s the service like at Château Royal Berlin?
The team is helpful, friendly and engaged so whether you need your bags stored, an iron sent up to the room, a dinner reservation or tips for the area, they’ll absolutely do the job. Of course, we are in Berlin – so perhaps, don’t expect too many warm fuzzies. A young crowd, the in-house gang tend to be stylish and curated, with an air of ‘I know I’m cool’ but they will absolutely help you in any way they can. And, anyway, it’s all part of their charm.
What are the facilities at Château Royal Berlin?
Château Royal Berlin doesn’t have a spa or on-site facilities that you desperately need to see – but the dine-and-drink offering does extend to a nice rooftop, which guests might easily miss. Whizz up to the top floor and you’ll find a terrace with artfully-distressed, wooden furniture and a bar serving cocktails and wines. It’s a great, little sun-trap with killer views of the skyline. Another tip is to ask the team about their tour guide services – they’ve got food tours, art tours and more on offer. Finally, if you can’t live without the gym (could never be me), Château Royal Berlin has a partnership with a premium health club, Holmes Place Fitness Gendarmenmarkt, which is just a ten-minute walk away. Or, a five-minute jog, if you’re one of those people.
What’s the area like around Château Royal Berlin?
Good news – Château Royal Berlin is based in Mitte, so you’re not too far from anything and the neighbourhood surrounding the hotel has lots to offer. Close by there’s art and culture institutions like Akademie der Künste and the Alte Nationalgalerie, while the hotel recommends The Boros Collection – an imposing contemporary art gallery set in a giant, grey bunker. Highsnobiety’s flagship shop and chic concept store The Square are both within walking distance. In summer, take advantage of being so close to the river, which is a gorgeous place for a stroll lined with buskers, cafes and bars and Museum Island on the other side of the water.
Why should I stay at Château Royal Berlin?
Château Royal Berlin is a beautiful place to just be. Not only is the cocktail bar and restaurant straight outta the pages of a design magazine, I haven’t even touched on the conservatory with its twirly garden furniture and array of plants, or the 70s-style snug, which blends low seating with a cosy fireplace and textured walls. One for the art lovers; there’s an Art and Culture Package which offers a two-night-stay with breakfast, tickets for the Neue Nationalgalerie, Boros Collection and Hamburger Bahnhof, as well as free bicycles (usually between 25 and 50 euros). If budget allows, I’d opt for a larger room so as to maximise the artwork and furnishings in the space – though perfectly functional, the small rooms are more bland.
DETAILS
Address: Neustädtische Kirchstrasse 3 10117 Berlin
Price per night: starting from €195 per night
Closest transport: Here, you’re surrounded by train stations but Unter den Linden is just a street away.