A neon red sign, glowing through the freezing fog, is the sleaze-tinged welcome any visitor to Berlin should seek when looking for somewhere louche (and if you’re not looking for louche, what are you doing in Berlin?) to shelter from the elements.
The Chateau Royal sign gracing the grand period buildings just off Unter den Linden is a beacon drawing you in to an expertly created world channelling the glamour of Wilheminian Berlin (in the mid-19th century) and the 1920s, the two eras the hotel’s listed buildings date from.
Opened in late 2022, the hotel has serious Berlin pedigree: it is run by the group behind the fabled Grill Royal – one of those starry spots that a grungy art crowd might love to sneer at but might equally love to get invited to. David Chipperfield Architects oversaw the new building additions.
The group have also taken over the Einstein café in the same building as the hotel and have joined forces with Icelandic chef Victoria Eliasdóttir, who is running the on-site dottir restaurant, to create what they describe – accurately – as a classic grand hotel with a contemporary feel.
Style
Throughout the hotel, materials typically found in Berlin’s more historic buildings have been used, creating a beautifully local atmosphere and referencing a decadent, luxurious era.
Designers Irina Kromayer, Etienne Descloux and Katariina Minits drew on Berlin’s subway stations with their use of colourful glazed bricks and tiles, while warm orange, green and brown stained glass elements reference other West Berlin period interiors.
Rooms have parquet flooring and warm oak storage and room dividers. Bathroom areas have a sultry Seventies sleekness thanks to dark green Art Nouveau tiles and dark red marble sanitaryware.
Much of the furniture was designed especially for the hotel and crafted in and around Berlin as well as in Portugal, which Kromayer says fits with the earlier Berlin interiors referenced, which were “steeped in craftsmanship”.
Meanwhile additional pieces and decorative objects were sourced at vintage markets across Europe, adding individual touches and design depth to each guest room.
Broader artistic influences include Bauhaus, Expressionism and New Objectivity paintings. Indeed, Berlin remains a city of artists to this day, and the hotel’s art curation is another of its trademarks. Kirsten Landwehr and Krist Gruijhtuisen curated over 100 contemporary artworks displayed throughout the hotel, as well as in each guest room. You could be sleeping under an Anri Sala, an Anne Imhof or a Daniel Richter.
Local design gem
This is Berlin, so art and design are everywhere. Conveniently though, you don’t have to leave the hotel to pick up some gems.
The vegan, organic toiletries are available to buy at reception – the large, apothecary-style bottles of shampoo or body lotion would make a fabulous gift or souvenir for 49 euros. Branded t-shirts, sweaters and caps are also up for grabs.
Good to know
Do not miss the fantastic Icelandic-inspired breakfast available to order a la carte. It’s heavy on fish, rye bread and vegetables and will set you up in wholesome style for a day of galleries.
A stiff evening cocktail at the bar will do the same (less wholesomely) for a night of clubbing – although it would be a shame to miss out on an intensely restful night in the dark, quiet comfort of your bedroom. Besides, although brilliantly located for transport and shopping, the area immediately surrounding the hotel is a bit of a desert late at night.
How to book
There are 93 guest rooms including 26 suites and one apartment with rates starting from 195 euros per night
Château Royal, Mittelstrasse 41-44, 10117 Berlin; chateauroyalberlin.com
