Oranienburger Strasse 52, Berlin, Germany | (618) 248-8274
Located within walking distance of restaurants and some attractions
Simple rooms with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and ample sunlight
Studios have kitchenettes and patios
Bar with changing themes and outdoor patio
Breakfast buffet (not included in all rates)
Meeting space available
Free property-wide Wi-Fi
Limited parking (for a fee)
Interiors, including room decor, are bland
Some rooms have open-floor bathroom plans that lack privacy
Noise from street can be an issue in some rooms
No restaurant or gym on-site
Varying reports on Wi-Fi signal
Not all rooms have tea/coffee-making facilities
The three-pearl ARCOTEL Velvet is conveniently located in the city center, close to restaurants, public transportation, and within walking distance of some top attractions. Its 85 guest rooms are fairly basic and bland, equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi, while Suites add kitchenettes with two-burner stoves and sinks. Guests complain about the Wi-Fi, however, and noise in street-side rooms. Take note that some rooms have open-floor bathroom plans with only a curtain separating the facilities, meaning little privacy. Breakfast isn’t free, and there’s no on-site restaurant -- just a bar with evening hours. While the rates are reasonable for the location, travelers can also check out Ellington Hotel Berlin, which is near Kurfurstendamm and has an on-site restaurant, fitness center, and meeting facilities.
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Scene
Modern mid-range hotel with a bland atmosphere and a clientele made up of mostly couples
ARCOTEL Velvet has a modern but sterile business ambiance without the business features to match. The lobby is decked out in red and black, with glossy black floors, leather couches and chairs, a coffee machine, and Andy-Warhol inspired Pop Art pieces on the walls. The hotel bar has a similar look, with dark wooden floors, chairs with red leather padding, and a red-and-black bar. Overall, the atmosphere is a bit bland, but couples seem to appreciate the property for its central location to tourist attractions, despite its lack in amenities and basic guest rooms.
Location
Within walking distance of some major attractions, restaurants, and public transportation
The hotel is conveniently located for sightseeing tourists. Surrounding streets are filled with restaurants and bars, while the Spree River is only a five-minute walk away. The Pergamon Museum is a 12-minute walk from here, while other museums on Museum Island are 20 to 25 minutes away. Many top sites are within a 20-minute walk, like the Bradenburg Gate, the Reichstag building, and the Berlin Wall Memorial, but others can be a bit of a hike, like the Holocaust Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie, which are about 25 minutes on foot, though six to 11 minutes via public transportation. There’s a U-Bahn station and tram stop around the corner from the hotel, and a bus stop is a three-minute walk away. It’s a 20- to 25-minute drive to Berlin's Tegel Airport, or 25 minutes via public transportation. Schönefeld Airport is around a 30- to 40-minute drive, or around 45 minutes via public transit.
Rooms
Simple rooms with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free apples
The hotel's 85 rooms are decorated in a simple, contemporary style. With red carpets, red headboards, white linens on beds, and dark wooden furniture, the contemporary furnishings are all tidy and well maintained, but bland and lacking in character. All of the amenities guests would expect from this level of hotel are present, including free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and well stocked minibars. Free apples are a nice touch, while Superior Rooms also include free bottled water and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Suites are more spacious and have living rooms as well as kitchenettes with two-burner stoves and sinks, plus some also have balconies. Bathrooms vary, but are fairly spacious. Rooms with open-floor bathroom plans have simple curtains separating the bedrooms from the bathroom facilities, which don't offer a lot of privacy and might be an issue for some, though toilets are in a separate vestibule behind a door. Showers or shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and Eco toiletries (some in wall dispensers) are provided. Note that some guests complain of street noise, especially in rooms on lower floors.
Features
Limited facilities include bar, breakfast buffet, patio, meeting space, and free Wi-Fi
The hotel doesn't have a proper restaurant, though there is a bar on-site where a breakfast buffet is served every morning for a fee. The bar provides a different selection of drinks under a central theme that changes every couple of months -- past themes have included black tape art, Spanish tapas, and Mexican Mezcal. Guests can enjoy a drink or breakfast on the outdoor patio. Other facilities include business suites available to rent as meeting space, plus free Wi-Fi throughout the property -- though some guests complain of a slow/patchy signal. Limited parking is available for a nightly fee.
