Louisa's Place

Given its rooms are suites, most with kitchens, Louisa's Place tends to attract upscale couples with children as well as business travelers in Berlin for extended stays. Housed in a white masonry building with a red tile mansard roof that dates back to 1904, the hotel projects an old-fashioned, solid elegance. Its front door is always locked, requiring guests to buzz in and greet the staff at the reception desk. The library is a throwback to refinement, paneled in glossy wood, with Oriental carpets, a marble fireplace, and Suzani fabric. The hotel bar, Vesper -- named for the James Bond femme fatale -- is a bit of a departure with its gilt-lined pendant lights and sixties-era dark furnishings. The mood at the Balthazar restaurant is considerably brighter with peach walls, white trim, and chandeliers. Breakfast is served in a pleasant room with striped cotton chairs and long windows overlooking a garden courtyard. Even the hair salon is boutique-style, its waiting room offering seating beside a marble fireplace with caryatid columns and surrounded by pink striped wallpaper. But some of the decor could be seen as fussy or unfashionable, depending on perspective.

Guests at Louisa's Place will require transportation to reach almost all of the popular tourist sites in the city. Located in the western part of Berlin in the popular Kurfurstendamm area, the hotel is near shopping, including some luxury stores, but a bit far from historic sites. Fortunately, the Adenauerplatz U-Bahn stop is in front of the hotel. Some business travelers will appreciate the proximity of City Cube and ICC, both a 10-minute drive. Attractions like Charlottenburg Palace, the Berlin Zoo, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and KaDeWe, the biggest department store in continental Europe, are all about a 10-minute drive, or 10 to 15 minutes by public transit. Other major sites like the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Potsdamer Platz, the East Side Gallery, the Reichstag Building, and Checkpoint Charlie can be reached in 15 to 25 minutes by car, or 25 to 35 minutes by public transit. Berlin's Tegel Airport is a 10- to 15-minute drive or 20 minutes by public transportation, while Schonefeld Airport is about a 25-minute drive or 55 minutes by public transportation.

There are 47 suites at Louisa's Place, most with full kitchens, living areas, and balconies. Many guests report that the hotel feels like an upscale apartment rental in an old-fashioned building. The ceilings are high, the floors fine wood, and the balconies are sometimes glass-enclosed and large enough to accommodate a table and chairs. Fully equipped kitchens (with microwaves on request) are small, nearly galley-style with white tile backsplashes, and include Bosch coffeemakers, electric kettles, fridges, dishes, and cookware. There are plain wood dining tables and chairs, while living areas are furnished with sofas and armchairs, often in red velvet, and ginger jar lamps. Earthy tones dominate, with pea-green walls contrasted by crimson accents like area rugs and sofas, as well as crisp white bedding. Bedrooms are spare with old-fashioned wooden armoires and elegant silk drapes. The rooms are climate-controlled, but there is no air-conditioning (guests can request a portable unit). Amenities include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, DVD players, digital music players, safes, and irons/ironing boards. The bathrooms feel spacious, especially due to their high ceilings. They're tiled in white with some accent mosaics and trimmed in honey-colored wood, adding an Art Nouveau touch. Guests who want a tub should request one since most of the rooms have glass-door rainfall showers. There are magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, robes, and slippers, plus toiletries are provided. Wi-Fi and newspapers are free. Free bottles of Badoit and chocolates are a nice touch. 

Louisa's Place manages to be both an extended-stay property and a classic hotel, and its features reflect that. Guests can prepare their own meals in their units, have room service, or dine throughout the day, beginning in the breakfast room overlooking a courtyard garden, and later in Vesper bar or the Balthazar restaurant. There is a well-stocked, wood-paneled library. The hotel has a basement pool with a softly lit bar and cushioned loungers. Sometimes classical music is played through a sound system, enhancing the elegant atmosphere. The mustard-yellow fitness center offers Cross-Training machines, treadmills, free weights, and exercise balls. But compared to the pool area, space here is cramped and lacks charm. The property also has a sauna with a cold plunge pool and spa rooms that feature aromatherapy, body wraps, facials, and massages, plus there's a hair salon with a well-known stylist. A laundry room is available for use (for a fee). The front desk, open 24-hours, provides free luggage storage and a safety deposit box. A concierge will arrange tours and tickets as well as a hired car or limousine. Airport transfers are available for a fee. There is no on-site parking. Wi-Fi and newspapers are both free.