Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

"Start us off with an overview and an entrance.With a prime setting on Under den Linden, just a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate, this Berlin landmark certainly has the most glamorous address of all the city’s five-star hotels. Coffered arched ceilings in its opulent lobby, overhauled in 2017, now feature updated lighting, which brightens and dims depending on the time of day. A mix of cool gray and rich gold velvet seating and glass tables lend a modern feel to the vast, white-marbled space. There are still plenty of classic details, though, including the enormous stained glass and gold leaf cupola, and the iconic elephant fountain, which was presented to the Adlon in 1930 by India's Maharajah. What’s the crowd like?Upscale leisure and business travelers, many of them American. You'll also see well-dressed families and, in the lobby, tourists galore. How seamless is checking in, getting into your room, and all that? With a comfortable number of receptionists manning the front desk, check-in is a breeze. The hotel is enormous—occupying an entire block—so you'll be escorted to your room by an immaculately outfitted Lady or Gentleman in Red, one of the hotel's dedicated team of brand ambassadors. Tell us more about the rooms.There are a whopping 385 rooms, 78 of them suites, that vary in size and layout—and you'll pay a premium for those with Brandenburg Gate views. But the aesthetic throughout is classic and timeless, with wood floors, and traditional wood furnishings. The marble bathrooms are generous, with separate rainforest showers and bathtubs and, in the suites, a seated mirrored vanity. The Pariser Platz Suite is an apartment-sized space (900 square feet) with separate living and sleeping areas, and direct views of the Brandenburg Gate through tall windows. The three presidential suites, 2,000-square-foot setups, come with bullet-proof glass windows, a full kitchen, and 24/7 butler service. Of the three, the Royal Suite (where Queen Elizabeth II once stayed) wows with its wood-burning fireplace and grand piano. Any amenities of note?We we appreciated the ability to control everything—even the temperature—from a bedside console. And what about the food? What do they have here?There is one bar and two restaurants in the hotel: Quarré, with French and German cuisine, and the outstanding two-Michelin-star Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, with chef Reto Brändli at the helm. But if you'd rather skip the formalities and hang out in your bathrobe in your giant suite, the Adlon does a small, but excellent, room service menu, complete with rolling warming carts, linen napkins, silver plate covers, and proper silverware. If you've never had lowly currywurst embellished with gold flakes, now's your chance. Another don’t miss: Afternoon Tea in the Lobby Lounge & Bar, served on weekends in the second-floor Bel Etage. If we've got an afternoon to spare at the hotel, where should we spend it?Squeeze in a massage at the Adlon Spa by Resense, a calm, tri-level space with custom therapies and treatments. There's a pool and sauna in another part of the building. Bottom line: Why come here?You'll get to experience what's arguably Berlin's best hotel." - Jennifer Ceaser