Derag Livinghotel Koenigin Luise

The friendly service and nice breakfast were a bright spot, and the hallway was lovely. I also really liked the building itself and especially the elevator. It still has some charm, though it feels like a once-fancy hotel where time has stood still in places. There were a few things in my room that could use attention: the main light didn’t seem to work, or perhaps there wasn’t one; opening the door took a firm push with my hip; the carpet had several stains; and the shower had issues. None of that spoiled the stay, but some maintenance and updates would go a long way toward bringing back the elegant feel it must once have had.

The spotless, comfortable bathtub was a real plus, and the room cleaning was great, including washing our dishes. We also appreciated the complimentary water, although the little bottles weren’t very practical. There’s a supermarket nearby, and the tram stop is a ten-minute walk away. Reception tried to find us another room when we reported the cold, and they removed breakfast from the bill after we shared our feedback at checkout. That was fair. Still, I wouldn’t recommend the hotel in its current state. The room was tiny, though the bed itself was comfortable. We were given a small double or queen bed presented as king size, with even their chart calling a 160 cm bed a king. Maybe that was true in the nineties. The furniture also feels stuck there and needs refurbishing. Heating was the biggest problem. The room stayed cold, and the AC wouldn’t warm it up. We raised it after the first night, and although a technician came, it wasn’t fixed until our final night. It turned out to be a hotel-wide issue, with no proper heating and only a small radiator in the bathroom. Breakfast was below average, not what you’d expect and definitely not a proper German breakfast. Given all this, they’d need to make serious improvements to justify calling themselves four-star.

The best part was the lovely setting around Weissensee. Our room was comfortable, clean, and very nice, with a good kitchen and a pleasant balcony. The reception team were helpful too. We’d love to come back.

We had plenty of room to spread out, with high ceilings, a comfy lounge, a patio, and private space within the family room. Having a kitchen stocked with what we needed made it easy to keep leftovers and prepare or warm meals. We also liked the breakfast buffet and its coffee stations, along with the knowledgeable, friendly service at the lobby bar. We came with family for the Berlin marathon. The hotel isn’t right by the finish-line bustle, but we preferred the quiet, clean family neighborhood, with its space, dining options, amenities, and good service. The Biergarten was a lovely bonus after a long day sightseeing, with a green, family-friendly garden that filled up with locals over the weekend. There were also public transport options nearby, making travel around greater Berlin easy and affordable.