Regent Berlin

"Start us off with an overview and an entrance.From the moment you step inside the Regent's handsome marble-clad lobby, with its opulent chandelier, antique furniture, landscape oil paintings, and grand piano, you know you’re in one of Berlin's most luxurious hotels. The lobby lounge, which doubles as a spot for its famed afternoon tea, oozes old-school sophistication, with plush rose-colored seating, thick carpeting, silk drapes, and a working wood-burning fireplace. The beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square, with its historic cathedrals and regal Konzerthaus, is just outside. Who can you expect to find here on an average day?Weekdays: well-dressed business travelers. Weekends and holidays: affluent guests from Britain, Germany, and the United States. Is the hotel easy to navigate?The staff at reception is remarkably warm and friendly. Rooms are pleasantly low-tech; lighting and temperature controls are simple to locate and you don't even need to insert a key card to turn on the lights. Tell us a bit more about the rooms.The 156 rooms and 39 suites have a timeless, classic feel, decorated in rose, gold, or green hues with elegant Biedermeier furnishings and antique writing desks. The higher-priced Premium rooms are on the sixth to eighth floors, and many offer direct views of the cathedral domes of nearby Gendarmenmarkt. The suites are remarkably spacious, and the Linden Suite in particular takes it up a notch, with gorgeous wood paneling, a nice-sized balcony with views of the iconic TV Tower, a gas fireplace, and a kitchenette. Marble bathrooms all have separate tubs and showers and L’Occitane products. Okay, give us the lowdown on the food—especially this afternoon tea of which you speak so highly.Breakfast (not included in room rates) is served in Charlotte & Fritz, the casual in-house restaurant, starting at 6:30 a.m. There's also a Nespresso maker in every room. Afternoon tea (daily, from 2pm to 6pm) is a grand affair, with infusions prepared by Roland Pröh, who holds the distinguished title of Tea Master Gold. Along with an assortment of bite-sized sandwiches and tarts, the Regent serves authentic Devon clotted cream with its scones, baked in the in-house patisserie. The cozy, salon-like Regent Bar has a nice selection of rare whiskeys and cognacs; from May to September, take your drinks al fresco in the Summer Lounge Orange, complete with a Veuve Clicquot bar. Anything else we should check out while staying here?The intimate spa offers massage services and separate men and women's saunas—a good thing if you're a little more inhibited as most German saunas are mixed. How about the staff?There are many luxury properties in Berlin, but the Regent distinguishes itself with its top-notch service." - Jennifer Ceaser