The Hilton Berlin is the largest five-star hotel in the capital and has an interesting history. Shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the GDR hotel chain Interhotel began construction, and in November 1990 it was opened as the Domhotel. Just one year later, Hilton bought the hotel. So we were curious to see what luxury would await us at the Hilton Berlin.
Booking, arrival and check-in
In mid-February, we thought about where we wanted to spend our child-free weekend at the end of March. In the end, the choice fell on Berlin – more precisely, on the Hilton Berlin. We were able to find a price of 130 EUR/night for the weekend and booked immediately.
After leaving the office routine behind us, we got in the car and drove about 2 hours north. By the way, we didn't park our car in the hotel garage for cost reasons, but one block away in Quartier 205 (Friedrichstraße multi-storey car park). Here it cost 24 hours with the P-Card (mein-contipark.de) only 9.50 EUR instead of 38 EUR in the hotel. From the multi-storey car park it was only a 2-minute walk to the lobby of the Hilton Berlin.
At the reception in the lobby, we were served very quickly at the Hilton Honors counter. Via the Hilton app, I had already received an upgrade from the Hilton King Guest Room to a King Executive Room 4 days earlier. At the reception I asked if an upgrade to a suite was possible and after a short consultation with the supervisor this was unfortunately not possible. However, we got a King Deluxe Room, which is in the room category below the Executive Room, but is much larger.
Where is Hilton Berlin located?
The Hilton Berlin is located opposite the German Cathedral on Gendarmenmarkt in the Mitte district. This prime location offers guests an ideal base from which to explore Berlin's diverse sights. In just a few minutes' walk you can reach places worth seeing such as Checkpoint Charlie, the Museum Island or the imposing Brandenburg Gate. The Stadtmitte and Hausvogteiplatz underground stations are also just a few minutes' walk away, making exploring the city even more convenient.
What are the rooms (King Deluxe Room) like at Hilton Berlin?
The King Deluxe Room presents itself in an attractive interior. When we arrived in the evening, we found the room to be a bit dark, as there were only different ambient lights. However, the room is pleasantly spacious and is divided into a cozy living area and a sleeping area.
In the living area there is a comfortable sofa with a coffee table as well as a desk on a sideboard. This is also where the only TV in the room is located, which is a bit small due to the distance between the bed and the TV. The king-size bed in the sleeping area is very comfortable and is complemented by another sideboard with an integrated minibar. However, some of the furniture in the room is already worn, such as the sideboard on which the TV stands. Another thing that detracts from the overall experience is the volume of the ventilation/air conditioning system, which we found annoying. In the summer months, this can interfere with your night's sleep.
Das Badezimmer ist klein, wenngleich ausreichend groß für zwei Personen, und renovierungsbedürftig. Es verfügt lediglich über eine Duschwanne, die nicht mehr zeitgemäß ist. Zudem sind an verschiedenen Stellen kleine Roststellen zu finden, die den Gesamteindruck beeinträchtigen. Die Pflegeprodukte sind, wie in fast allen Hiltons weltweit, von Crabtree & Evelyn, die in großen Pumpflaschen an der Wand befestigt sind.
How is the breakfast at Hilton Berlin?
Breakfast is served in the BELETAGE restaurant on the first floor of the hotel. Breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 06:30 to 10:30 and at weekends from 07:00 to 11:00. The Hilton Berlin's breakfast restaurant is large according to the number of rooms. The seats at the large window front and especially in the magnificent conservatory with a view of the cathedral are very nice. In the rest of the restaurant area, we found the ambience a bit dark. For the hotel guests from the executive rooms, there was an extra separate seating area at the back of the restaurant. Here we found a cozy and quiet place by the window and enjoyed our breakfast with a view of the German Cathedral.
The buffet area occupies a large part of the restaurant. The selection is correspondingly large and there are many delicacies. There was a wide variety of cereals, yoghurt and fruit, as well as fresh breads and pastries, cold cuts, cheeses and the usual hot items that make up an English breakfast. There was no à la carte offer, but you could have an omelette or other egg dishes prepared to order. The range of lactose-free, gluten-free and vegan dishes was also very extensive.
A personal highlight was that there was also sparkling wine at the breakfast buffet or an alcohol-free alternative for the children with Robby Bubble. We had never experienced this before in a Hilton hotel, that you can enjoy a champagne breakfast together as a family.
What is the Executive Lounge like at the Hilton Berlin?
The Executive Lounge of the Hilton Berlin is located in the lobby of the hotel. Access is possible during opening hours from 06:00 to 23:00 with a special card. During the happy hour, the room number will also be checked.
The spacious lounge offers an area of 360 square meters of various seating options from sofas, armchairs, normal chairs with tables to bar tables. There is also a small private room and PC workstations with printers. Despite the many different seating options, we had to wait for a free seat during our stay at happy hour.
During opening hours, free coffee, tea and soft drinks are offered in the lounge. Breakfast is not offered in the Executive Lounge. For this purpose, a separate area is available to guests in the Beletage restaurant. Happy hour on the first evening was served with mini meatballs and fish soup. In addition, a large and delicious selection of salads, vegetables and cheeses. On the second night we had carrot soup and chicken nuggets. The hot food was ok on both nights, but not the hit. In addition to soft drinks, there were various wines, sparkling wines, a good selection of local beers and some spirits.
What does Hilton Berlin offer for recreation?
The Hilton Berlin offers its guests a swimming pool, a fitness area and a sauna area. However, access to the sauna is subject to a fee for most guests, except for Hilton Diamond members. The swimming pool was unfortunately closed during our stay. So I was only able to take a quick look at the pool on the way to the sauna. The sauna area consisted of a Finnish sauna, a bio sauna and an aroma room. For the size of the hotel, both the sauna and the pool were much too small.
Did you like the post? Then share it on the social networks! This way you support our work a lot. We are also happy about your opinion in the comments.
Review of the Hilton Berlin
- Location
- Room
- Cleanliness
- Service
- Food
- Price/performance
Summary
The Hilton Berlin stands out for its excellent location. It is the perfect starting point for business, sightseeing, shopping or cultural destinations such as the Friedrichstadt-Palast or the Museum Island. The large lounge also makes the hotel a good choice for Hilton Diamond members, who have free access. Also the breakfast was very good and was what we expect from a five star hotel. The downside is that the hotel is no longer up to date, especially when it comes to the rooms. The bathrooms are in need of renovation and the shower tray also looks a bit out of date. The cleanliness in the rooms was fine, but especially in the bathroom we had a bigger layer of dust here and there.
