Grand Hyatt Berlin

Clean lines and sharp angles intersect in this monument to modern Berlin in its city center. The lobby opens up into a massive, cedar-paneled space featuring an inverted vaulted glass ceiling, with guests able to relax in a mod seating area on geometric carpeting. Modern art and sculpture -- including a metallic bear with paws outstretched -- decorate the otherwise minimal common spaces. Gray stone floors and black walls sharpen the already clean-cut image this upscale Hyatt wishes to present.

The hotel is located at the historic Potsdamer Platz in Berlin’s Mitte district, making it an ideal base for exploring the city. Most of the popular sights and political institutions are located within the Mitte, especially around Unter den Linden, Berlin's primary tree-lined boulevard. Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, and Tiergarten park are all within walking distance of the hotel. Berlin is Germany’s capital and largest city, best known for its lively nightlife (restaurants and bars stay open late), cafes, museums, palaces, street art, and historic sights. Berlin Tegel Airport is about an 18-minute drive northwest and Berlin Schönefeld Airport is about 30-minutes southeast.

Even the Standard Rooms here are large and luxurious, with cherry wood furniture set in a gray, black, and white color scheme. Most spaces have either a king bed or two twin beds with a linen arm chair and ottoman. There's also an elegant glass-topped table and chair on which housekeeping leaves fresh fruit daily. General amenities include a minibar and coffeemaker with a Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TV that comes MP3 ready, with an attached adapter for guests to patch into the sound system. The bathrooms are where the advertised five-star rating feels justified: Decked out in marble and cherry wood, they have heated floors along with full tubs and separate rain showerheads behind sliding glass doors. Room windows showcase views of the downtown area or Tiergarten park.

The rooftop terrace -- part sun deck and part garden -- is incredibly chic, but the indoor pool is rather small, contrary to the hotel's claims. The stylish spa also overlooks the surrounding Mitte district, and has a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, and solarium. (Note: Some guests may be surprised by the mixed gender, shared facilities.) The attached fitness center is bright with almost wall-to-wall windows and equipped with plenty of treadmills and cardio bikes. Various meeting rooms as well as a ballroom with parquet wood floors can host up to 850 guests. Vox Restaurant has endeared itself to the Berlin food scene with an open show kitchen, seasonal menu, and well-regarded sushi bar. Other dining and drink options on-site include the more casual mesa Restaurant and the eclectic Tizian Lounge.