Hotel California

California am Kurfurstendamm draws mostly tourists thanks to relatively affordable rates and a prime location on its namesake shopping street. The hotel sits in a brick building and has a large outdoor patio with plastic white chairs and Haagen Dazs-branded umbrellas that provide shade. The lobby aims for traditional elegance, with glossy brown floors, golden chandeliers, antique paintings, and wooden armchairs and couches with black leather padding. It's a look that works well under the lobby's molded ceilings or by the carved fireplace, but it veers toward tired and drab in the hallways and meeting rooms, which could use a refresh. The breakfast room, however, is pleasant enough with large abstract paintings and plain wooden tables and chairs with black seat cushions. 

The hotel's location is perfect for the tourist who likes to shop, as it sits on the touristy and popular shopping avenue of Kurfurstendamm, which is filled with high-end boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. The Berlin Zoo is a 17-minute walk from the hotel, but most of Berlin's top historic sites and other attractions are not within walking distance, though they can be easily reached by public transportation. The nearest U-Bahn stop is a two-minute walk from here and gives access to places like the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Museum, Museum Island, the Reichstag building, and Checkpoint Charlie in 25 to 30 minutes. Berlin's Tegel Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive or around a half-hour by public transit, while Schoenefeld Airport is a 30- to 40-minute drive, or around an hour by public transportation.

The hotel's 163 rooms try for elegance but fall short, with dated decor that includes red carpets with gold fleur-de-lis designs, gold curtains, black leather armchairs, and streamlined wooden furniture. Tall ceilings, chandeliers, and abstract chain-like art pieces can be found in some of the rooms, but they don't pull together into a unified look. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi (though guests complain of a slow connection), flat-screen TVs, minibars, and safes, but no coffee- and tea-making facilities. Only Superior Rooms and Suites have air-conditioning. Suites are spacious and have living rooms, plus some have multiple bathrooms. Some rooms also have furnished balconies. Tan tiled bathrooms are clean and appealing, with glass showers, shower/tub combos, or separate showers and tubs, as well as hairdryers and an array of toiletries. 

The hotel offers a decent set of amenities, including a modest spa with a sauna, showers, and massages. There’s also a fitness room, but it has just one exercise bike and a few weight machines. A breakfast buffet is provided in the mornings, but it's not included in Standard Rooms rates -- only in Superior Rooms and Junior Suites. The hotel's other dining options include the California Grill and the Bridge Bar, which offer international meals and drinks throughout the day, while the Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Cafe has a good selection of ice cream and desserts, as well as an outdoor patio. Note that room service is not available. The hotel also offers some business facilities, including four meeting rooms, but they're dated, as are the two desktop computers in the business center. Free Wi-Fi is available, but some guests have complained of connectivity issues. The parking area has limited spaces (so book in advance), and it incurs a daily fee.