While in Berlin, I had the pleasure of staying at 25 Hours Bikini Berlin Hotel and it was hands down one of my favorite hotel experiences ever! If you’re design-obsessed or a nature-lover with wanderlust, this hotel is right up your alley. I was in Berlin because I wanted to move there, but the thought of getting my dogs overseas, finding insurance (I later found Expatriate Health Plans), and being that far from my family was daunting and I wanted to make sure it was a city I really loved before making that decision.
Bikini Berlin is an ultra-modern, hybrid of nature and culture, wrapped into a giant shopping center. This urban hub is both an oasis and social gathering spot. It’s nestled among the Berlin Zoo, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, high-rises, an aquarium, and the famous Tiergarten Park. Bikini Berlin is home to the world’s first concept shopping mall, complete with boutiques, gastropubs, and modular pop-up boxes. The shops are super chic, and the dining options are the farthest thing from “mall food court” imaginable. Office spaces fill the top floors, but the green rooftop terrace is open to everyone, and offers sweeping views of the capital and the zoo below.
The zoo, constructed in the 50’s, really is central to everything built afterward, and this is definitely reflected in the theme of the 25hours Hotel on site (though I can’t imagine having only 25 hours to enjoy this awesome space). Jungle rooms overlook the monkey and elephant habitats of the zoo, while Urban rooms overlook the city. All of the rooms are sleek, contemporary, and have an edgy, industrial feel, but with bamboo finishes, live plants incorporated into the décor, and massive windows letting the outside in, they’re the perfect amalgamation the two worlds. Some of the rooms are cozy, with twin beds and bay windows. Others are the size of a large studio apartment, boasting rain showers and soaking tubs. Some even have hammocks hanging at the floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views! Sigh…
Housed within is one of the coolest restaurants ever: Neni. A self-proclaimed “culinary mosaic of Persian, Russian, Arabic, Morrocan, Isreali, Turkish, Spanish, German, and Austrian influences,” this restaurant allows guests to sample a little of everything with its Haya Molcho concept. Pots and pans are taken directly from the kitchen to your table.
For bar food and cocktails with a view, stop by Monkey Bar. Head to the top floor after dark, and choose from international drinks and fine wines, as a DJ or live music plays.
The scent of freshly baked bread and pastries throughout the entire hotel is thanks to Woodfire Bakery on the third floor. Equipped with a wood-fire oven, this cozy yet modern café serves interesting coffees supplied by local roasters, as well as fluffy brioches, hand-churned butter, organic cream cheese, and homemade jams. (Hungry yet?)
Stop into the Jungle sauna to relax in total serenity after a busy day. The dry sauna has is really peaceful, with stunning views of the zoo.
25hours is well equipped for business, too, with iMac workstations, professional conference rooms, and a unique lounge-meets-work-lab space (which is exactly what it sounds like: sofas intermingled with desks and, of course, a DJ in the corner).
Getting around is easy (not that you’ll need or want to leave), thanks to bike and MINI rentals! If you’re heading to Berlin soon, I definitely recommend staying at 25 Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin.
A big thank you to 25 Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin and the Visit Berlin tourism board!
