Hilton Berlin

The full buffet breakfast was a hit with all of us, especially the pretzels. The room worked well, and I liked that a little light came on in the bathroom when you opened the door. The pillows, though, were uncomfortable enough that even our son complained. We stayed five nights on points and were welcomed with treats in the room, with more for our son’s 16th Birthday, which was lovely. The executive lounge is too small. One night they opened a larger extra space, and that was the only time we didn’t have to ask for somewhere to sit. Another night we ended up in the restaurant, which felt awkward. I’d seen comments about children being there, and we found that too, though the children we saw were well behaved. Because of construction, our room was 300 steps from the elevator according to my step app. That was fine for us, but anyone with mobility issues might want to ask for a room near an operating elevator. Also, check the mini bar, you can get a piece of the Berlin Wall!

The restaurant was nice, and the room was pleasant with daily cleaning available. The pool happened to be closed during my visit, but the sauna was open to all hotel guests, which was a nice compromise. Like others have mentioned, the personal section in the fridge is very small because the rest is taken up by the mini bar.

The new Executive Lounge has a great view of Gendarmenmarkt, but the setup and service disappointed me. It’s part of the main restaurant now, divided only by simple barriers, so anyone can walk in. There’s no key card check and staff don’t seem to manage access consistently. On New Year day morning, I heard the manager ask a group of airline crew to leave because they weren’t members. The tables are packed close together, and during happy hour kids were running around freely, which didn’t feel right in a place serving alcohol. There were plenty of staff, but the lounge service felt disorganized and not fully ready. The old lounge felt more private and cozy. The best part is still the location on Gendarmenmarkt, perfect for the square and the fireworks. After a disappointing stay in November, we came back for a couple of days over New Year’s Eve. This time our newly renovated room was modern, clean, and comfortable. The hotel had left red wine and popcorn as a thoughtful festive surprise, which isn’t something you see everywhere. Thanks to Lisa and Johanna (sorry if spelling is wrong) at the front desk for being friendly and helpful at check-in.

Breakfast turned out better than I expected after reading the negative reviews. We went around 8-9am and it never felt crowded, the selection was excellent by European standards, and the omelette station was fantastic. Definitely worth having breakfast there. At reception, Anil gave very good service. The room was clean and comfortable, though the corridor had a hostel-like feel. We paid extra for the executive lounge hoping for a light dinner, but it was mostly ham and cheese and a real letdown. The cramped room was full of people and children, with none of the feel of an executive lounge. It seemed more like a cafeteria without much food, so we left.