Brandenburger Hof Berlin, Berlin

Only a stone*s throw from the famous Kurfurstendamm and the Memorial Church, the Hotel Brandenburger Hof, is a historic, deluxe private hotel (5 stars) offering a haven of peace in an ideal city centre location. The elegant design by architects Peter Sauter and Kenji Tsuchiya has produced one of Berlin*s most outstanding and timeless hotels. The original building, a turn-of-the-century mansion, has been reconstructed by carefully chosen specialists using traditional skills to create fascinating contrasts between old and new. The perfect harmony of the various contrasting elements is emphasised by the choice of the finest natural materials such as natural stone, glass, wood, steel, natural fibres and leather. It is generally acknowledged that the architects have succeeded in their intention of creating a pleasing overall effect rather than emphasising individual details. Stylistically the building represents a deliberately restrained approach rather than an accumulation of all the latest design trends. Guests enter through an imposing lobby, from where a sandstone portal decorated with the Brandenburg coat of arms leads to the Wintergarten, a conservatory, which is without doubt the most popular area in the entire building. This is a unique combination of Italian monastery courtyard and Japanese garden, providing an oasis of tranquillity at the heart of the bustling city. The walled garden of the hotel is an ideal place to relax over breakfast, for discussions during a business lunch, for a teatime chat, or for a quiet dinner for two. The tranquil Wintergarten leads to all the ground floor rooms, which have been furnished with taste and simplicity. Most of the furniture and lamps have played a vital part in the history of contemporary design and are already well known, having been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. An evening to remember begins with the gentle sounds of music from the Piano Bar, where guests can enjoy an aperitif...