Ellington Hotel Berlin

"Give us a little bit of background.This circa-1928 Bauhaus building was once home to Berlin’s most famous jazz hall, where the likes of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and the hotel's namesake, Duke Ellington, all played. Many of the historic details remain after its conversion to a hotel in 2007, including the original foyer with brass-framed doors and green-and-white ceramic wall tiles. Today the interior is mostly a contemporary, all-white affair, with black-and-white photos of jazz greats scattered throughout the lobby. The location can’t be beat: around the corner from the famous KaDeWe department store and Kurfürstendamm, a posh shopping street. Beautiful. Who do you see in the lobby?International guests and inveterate shoppers. You've checked in and are heading to your room. What can you expect?Huge windows brighten the 285 rooms, which are all white and minimally furnished, with cleverly integrated sleeping and bathing areas that maximize the compact space. Such a layout isn’t ideal for those who want privacy; sinks are behind the bed and showers or tubs are right in the open—even in the larger suites. (Not to worry, the toilets are always separate.) Most importantly: Wifi?Wifi is free. And if we're a bit peckish—what are our room service options? Or do we need to venture beyond our front door?Only the suites have coffee- and tea-making facilities. A buffet breakfast (20 euro, or $23 extra) is served from 6:30 a.m. in a somewhat stark windowed room. The upscale Duke Restaurant does traditional French cuisine using regional products; its Sunday brunch with live jazz, popular with locals, books up a month in advance. In the Duke Bar & Lounge, bartenders shake up jazz-inspired cocktails like Minnie the Lady, a mix of gin and orange sorbet, which pays homage to Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher." There’s also a cigar lounge and a seasonal garden terrace. Anything else you have to be sure to visit while staying here?This building was once home to the city's financial administration and its original vault, with huge steel doors, now serves as Duke Restaurant's wine cellar. You can arrange to dine inside the vault, surrounded by 300-odd bottles. Bottom line: worth it, and why?If you don't mind the open bathroom concept, this hotel is totally worth it."