The best hotels in Düsseldorf

This urban charmer offers 31 minimalist-chic rooms outfitted in cool grays and crisp whites, enlivened with subtle patterns and playful graphic elements. Modern bathrooms are small but well-designed, with rainforest showers and luxe amenities from CODAGE Paris. Frosted glass panels separate the bathroom from the sleeping area, which may be a privacy concern for some. High-quality bedding—including all-natural Swiss mattress toppers and bamboo duvets—give it an edge over other three-star design hotels. The free minibar stocked with refreshments (including bottles of Veltins Pilsner) is a nice touch. Amenities are few—there’s no gym or sauna—but it does boast the Michelin-starred Fritz’s Frau Franzi, where you can feast on beautifully composed seasonal mix-and-match plates in a stylish setting.

A rarity in Dusseldorf, this small historic hotel is housed in a classic villa just a few steps off the beaten track. With 27 conservatively-decorated rooms, there's tranquillity in abundance, and a friendly atmosphere and personalized service that puts you immediately at ease. Plus, it's just a hop skip and a jump away from some of Dusseldorf's fab attractions, like the Rheinuferpromenade (River Rhine promenade) and all bookings come with a complimentary (and tasty) breakfast buffet. Tucked away in a corner of the Old Town, Hotel Orangerie is a breath of fresh air in a neighborhood that can make you feel lost in a crowd. 

Sliding wood walls, paper lanterns and waving cat figurines add an Asian-inspired touch to the 177 rooms of this hotel—a nod to its location in the heart of the Japan Quarter. Bamboo-patterned glass panels decorate walk-in rainforest showers in the generously sized bathrooms, which feature large windows overlooking the city. The Far East theme continues throughout the hotel, from the anime murals in the lobby and courtyard to the deep-red walls and oriental lamps gracing the sleek 11th-floor lounge and restaurant. In addition to the nicely kitted-out gym, the stairwell features a “vertical parcours” fitness route up 11 flights of stairs.

An inviting lobby outfitted with botanical wallpaper, tin ceilings, vintage furnishings, board games and a billiard table sets the stage for this hip hotel stay. The whimsical retro theme continues into its 65 rooms with designer furniture, industrial lighting, cool graphic posters and Crosley record players, plus a cheeky basketball net with a ball-shaped pillow in some rooms. Petite white-subway-tiled bathrooms have showers, hair dryers and Dutch-brand Dead Clean products. Though the square footage is limited—even the “Large” rooms are relatively cozy—high-quality box-spring beds with Max Brown signature mattresses and linens give a plush feel. The lobby snack stand—which resembles an old-fashioned candy store—stocks local drinks and bites, which makes up for the lack of a minibar in the rooms.

This large corporate hotel is one of the city’s top properties, with 287 spacious, modern rooms outfitted with all the essentials—soundproofed windows, flat-screen TVs, desks, coffee- and tea-makers and marble bathrooms with heated floors. The Club level rooms include turn-down service and Agraria-branded products, plus access to the lounge, which features free snacks, drinks and a nightly open bar. What the hotel lacks in character, it more than makes up for with top-notch service and stellar amenities, including free access to the adjacent Holmes Place Health Club, with an indoor pool, gym, sauna and spa. Along with a solid restaurant, PÉGA, the hotel draws plenty of well-heeled locals to its Königsallee-fronting Bar Fifty Nine. 

Sixteen stories of candy-colored windows and a bright red roof jutting out over the harbor make the Colorium building one of the city’s most striking new architectural monuments. Inside is this slick 134-key hotel, operated by the Spanish chain Melia, which boasts seriously jaw-dropping views of the Rhine, the TV tower and surrounding contemporary architecture. The large, modern, light-filled rooms feature open bathrooms with rainforest showers, free minibars and shades that close over the floor-to-ceiling windows at the touch of a button. Spring for a suite, which occupy the higher floors, and you’ll get separate living and sleeping areas plus a bathtub. The aptly named top-floor bar and restaurant The View Skylounge is a hotspot for after-work drinks, especially among the fashionable crowd. There’s also a Finnish sauna and fully equipped gym. 

Nestled within a former monastery in the Altstadt, the De Medici is a unique overnight experience perfect for those who enjoy elegant decor injected with contemporary flair. With a private art collection, the renovated apartments are unabashedly luxurious, with only the masonry left reminiscent of the building’s once-barebones history. For all of your food fantasies (peppered with some joie de vivre), head to the rural-inspired, rustic Grütznerstube restaurant for superior gastronomy featuring French cuisine. Whether you're on a business trip, or a particularly picky tourist, there's also a choice of serviced apartments where you can enjoy the creme of the hotel crop.

Adjoining the Atelier Kino cinema and Savoy Theatre—which hosts top music, comedy and theatre acts—this artsy boutique hotel stays true to its theatrical roots, naming the 27 rooms and suites after famous German actors and performers. But what's more impressive is the casually extravagant interior: classic stripes, a muted colour palette as well as black and white detailing, and floral accents which include vases full of delicate red roses. Don your best outfit, pour a glass of wine and dim the lights for an ultimate moody-movie atmosphere.

One of only a handful of five-star hotels in the city, the Hyatt Regency stands out for its stunning architecture and location—inside one of two complementary glassy cube-like towers set on the tip of a peninsula overlooking the Rhine. The 303 contemporary rooms maximize the spectacular views through floor-to-ceiling windows, but the open concept might not be to everyone’s taste, with entry doors opening directly into the bathroom. All categories feature separate showers and bathtubs, separated by glass from the sleeping area (which can create privacy issues). A 24-hour gym boasts excellent Rhine views, and the Rive spa, with its large treatment rooms, uses all-natural Organic Pharmacy and SkinCeuticals products. There’s no pool, but a large whirlpool and wet and dry saunas offer plenty of space for relaxing. Other amenities include a top-notch restaurant, DOX, and two bars.

While the basic exterior is neither exciting or extravagant, behind lies one of the city’s coolest stays: 40 individually designed rooms with themes as varied as James Bond, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and the rock-n-roll Musik room, lined with cassette-tape wallpaper, vintage music posters and including, of course, a turntable. Four categories range from single-stay #Smallfriends rooms to the two-bedroom family room and all feature modern bathrooms with showers and Rituals products. The groovy ‘70s vibe of the common spaces attracts hipster locals, who come for cocktails at the vintage-style Klassentreffen bar and to play foosball and watch sports on the flat-screen TV in the Sporthalle lounge. In place of a full restaurant, there’s a generous breakfast spread and a 24-hour snack bar, which also stocks essentials like razors and toothbrushes as well as retro gifts like candy cigarettes and water pistols.