Regent Berlin

Last renovated in 2004, the Regent Berlin may be due for a good polishing soon, but its classic decor is timeless -- if perhaps a bit staid for some tastes. The lobby is covered in wall-to-wall pink and gray marble, with crystal chandeliers hanging from gilded ceilings. Traditional Biedermeier furniture with fine upholstery and ornate woodwork give the interiors an appropriately German flair. The air of exclusivity continues even into the paneled corridors, and up eight floors of hallways that are carpeted so thickly guests cannot hear each other's well-heeled footfalls. Impressive flower arrangements are a nice touch. Overall the atmosphere is refined and upscale.

Most of Berlin's popular sights and political institutions are located nearby within the Mitte district -- especially around Unter den Linden, the city's primary boulevard, which is just three blocks north of the Regent Berlin. Gendarmenmarkt Square, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Topography of Terror are all within easy walking distance. For other areas of the city, there is a U-Bahn station right around the corner from the hotel. Checkpoint Charlie and Potsdamer Platz Square can be reached in under 20 minutes on foot. Berlin Tegel Airport is a 20-minute drive northwest and Berlin Schönefeld Airport is about 30 minutes to the southeast.

The Regent Berlin has 156 rooms and 39 suites, all furnished with classic Biedermeier-style furniture, thick patterned carpets, and varying palates of pale yellow and cream. Even the standard rooms are on the large side with an antique writing desk and large armchairs. Many have great city views, or overlook Gendarmenmarkt Square, and some have small Juliette balconies. All rooms have iPod docks, fax connections, a DVD player, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi. Stocked minibars with glassware and free bottled water are included, but there are no coffeemakers. Suites add Bose entertainment systems and fresh fruit and flowers upon arrival. The ornate marble bathrooms have large walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs. There are some smoking rooms and suites, which smell accordingly, but the otherwise top-notch housekeeping services take place twice a day.

The elegant, wood-paneled Fischers Fritz Restaurant is one of Berlin's top restaurants, with two Michelin stars for its inventive international cuisine. The menu is seafood-heavy, with highlights such as roasted monkfish with caramelized chicory and Japanese radish in Pinot Noir jus with a veal bone marrow, or the Atlantic turbot with preserved winter truffle, chestnut cream, and parsley jus. Foodies with means should note the restaurant's "Kitchen table at Fischers Fritz" experience, a bespoke dining service that puts guests at the best seat in the house -- right in the action at a table inside the kitchen with a personal chef and sommelier duo, who serve up a customized tasting menu and wine pairings. The standard breakfast buffet is pricey given that it includes only a basic selection of croissants, fruit, fresh squeezed juice, and cereal; those considering a morning meal here may do well to pay slightly more for the full cooked-to-order hot breakfast. The Regent Bar features changing seasonal cocktails, local spirits, and soft drinks such as the regionally produced Adler Gin and Rollberger Bier. A late night bar menu is served out of Fischers Fritz's kitchen and a seasonal patio adds outdoor seating, complete with a big champagne list and wool blankets for chilly evenings. Finally, the Tea & Lobby Lounge is a refined place to relax by a fireplace with live piano. An extensive tea list is accompanied by finger sandwiches, scones, and confections, with a High Tea service presented in the finest porcelain and no shortage of Devonshire clotted cream.The hotel's health club has a full-service spa with separate women’s and men’s facilities, saunas, and treatment rooms with the usual range of body therapies and massages. An attached fitness center has several steppers, treadmills, and stationary bikes as well as free weights. Sophisticated event spaces include an Art Deco venue with state-of-the-art IT and media facilities, espresso machines, and wood-paneled meeting rooms with that can accommodate 180 guests. Among the other services that the Regent provides, are a 24-hour concierge, full laundry service, and private limousines. Wi-Fi is free throughout.