By Prof. Barry Goldsmith
Photography Prof. Goldsmith and courtesy of Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Hotel Adlon Kempinski
Under den Linden 77
10117 Berlin, Germany
(49-30)2261-0
What is 100 years old, one of a kind, historic and new, all at the same time? Yes, I’m beginning a review of what’s probably the most luxurious hotel in Berlin with a riddle. And the answer is? The Hotel Adlon Kempinski!
The original Adlon Hotel opened its doors in 1907. While they’re not the exact same doors, the new Hotel Adlon Kempinski opened similar doors in the same location 90 years later in 1997.
And for my second riddle… what theory is very important to where hotels are built? “Location! Location! Location!” My reply is: “The Hotel Adlon Kempinski! The Hotel Adlon Kempinski! The Hotel Adlon Kempinski!” By far, the Hotel Adlon has the best 
location in Berlin.
From the ground floor of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski you can see almost all the city’s most important sites, more than from any other hotel in Berlin. That really says something!
From a higher floor, you can see the building that perhaps best symbolizes the Berlin of 2010 – the Reichstag -- with its architectural wonder, Norman Foster’s glass and mirrored dome – making the Reichstag roof one of Berlin’s top sightseeing attractions both literally and figuratively. Behind the Reichstag, the Chancellor’s modern offices span and unite both the West and East sides of the River Spree – symbolically uniting western and eastern Berlin. And, in the background is Berlin’s huge, new and dazzling main train station, echoing the large great rail palaces of the 19th century but constructed in 21st century materials of steel and glass and representing the new “openness” in German society.
In another direction from the Aldon, you can see the late 20th and early 21st century modern architectural wonder – Potsdamer Platz – the ultimate in the urban re-planning of one of Europe’s busiest pre-World War II city centers. Readily identifiable from any of the hotel’s rear guest room’s windows is the “Big Top” of Sony’s entertainment center, which is the leisure hub of Potsdamer Platz. Restaurants, cinemas, even a film museum reside under its massive roof, which 
encompasses several city blocks.
And, as far away as you can get from entertainment, looking out over the Adlon’s rear entrance is the deeply moving “Holocaust Memorial” by the New York architect, Peter Eisenman. In a series of dark gray, unadorned, slab-like sarcophagi of differing heights, it creates an emotional maze that covers over an entire city-block in prime Berlin real estate.
You don’t have to be an architectural history professor to be in love with this historic hotel. Entertainment history also passed through the Adlon’s doors… and almost its windows! This is the hotel in which that photo of Michael Jackson -- dangling his child outside his suite’s window -- made front-page headlines around the world.
Political history also was created here when in 1987, President Reagan looked east and said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” He was not just talking to Gorbachev; he was also talking to the city council of East Berlin to tear down the walls of the ruined Adlon Hotel and allow rebuilding of the new more glamorous one that finally arose, (literally) from the ashes of the old.
This middle-aged, architectural history professor also loves to be pampered and looked after. And no one does it better than the Adlon. The staff not only jumps at your every request… they anticipate your needs! There is no better example than the doorman keeping a supply of Adlon golf umbrellas ready for their guests.
The concierges are “key” to your enjoyment and sightseeing. And, unlike too many other deluxe hotels, they wear a traditional concierge uniform complete with “key lapel pins.”
From the moment you enter the understated lobby at the Adlon, you are embraced by old world subtle and refined elegance. You not only see the center of attention, you hear it -- the sitting area is centered around a fountain that is from one of the old Adlon’s winter gardens. A Tiffany-like luminescent glass dome dominates and defines the fountain centerpiece.
If you compare photos, you’ll see that the 1997 lobby is a light and airy reinterpretation of the 1907 lobby, with its dark brown Edwardian wood paneling. Similar paneling decorates the gourmet Lorenz Restaurant – recreating the atmosphere of an exclusive private club, with Michelin-star haute cuisine that’s accessible even to non-guests. The Lorenz has food you can’t find anywhere else in Berlin combined with a view of the Brandenburg Gate that you can’t find 
anywhere else in the world!
Not only can you stay in the Hotel Adlon and see many of Berlin’s top sightseeing landmarks without leaving the premises, you can experience multi-national cuisine without leaving Berlin’s top hotel. In addition to the exclusive Lorenz Restaurant, the Adlon has gourmet Italian cuisine at its Restaurant Gabrielle. Award-winning Chinese cuisine is offered at its MA Tim Raue Restaurant. What could an Italian and Chinese restaurant have in common? Both these dining bastions also have a Michelin Star, bestowing a total of three on the Hotel Adlon – more than any other hotel in Berlin. And if you want to travel the world for even more cuisines, look no further than the Adlon’s elevator to take you there. Uma Restaurant is the Aldon’s Japanese eatery. And if you want to party, no need to go downtown, just go downstairs to the chic, celebrity-filled Felix Club Restaurant.
Even breakfast is an event in the Restaurant Quarre on the ground floor – where the breakfast buffet is an international feast from oat cuisine to haute cuisine. The Quarre’s French windows reveals view of the Brandenburg gate as seen through its garden and splashing fountain.
If you’re traveling with children, the Adlon has one of the best children’s menu this adult has ever experienced. The ice cream sundae comes in the shape of a clown with two cones attached as ears and M&M’s as eyes. Coming back very late from a performance of Lohengrin at the Staatsoper, I felt in the mood for spaghetti Bolognese. An adult ordering from a children’s menu… no problem! The impeccably discreet room service didn’t question this request. They merely filled it, post haste. I appreciated this attention to my needs as too many luxury hotels have declined my children’s menu request by qualifying an age limit or imposing condescension if my order is allowed. The mark of a luxury hotel is not only the beautiful chandelier in the lobby but the desire of staff at all levels to please the guest whatever the request.
With such compelling views from every guest-room window, when you finally get around noticing your room, you’ll see a tasteful combination of traditional and modern décor.
All of the Adlon’s 386 rooms and suites come with flat-screen HD television, individually controlled heat and air conditioning. Your ubiquitous marble bathroom has a heated floor (in winter only), and a separate toilet, separate shower and separate bathtub. (If the Adlon can give each bathroom fixture its separate compartment, I can give them each their own separate adjective of “separate”).
There’s another rarity: To a print and broadcast journalist who has to recharge batteries for many video and digital cameras, every Adlon guest room has more electrical outlets than you’ll ever need – with many that can accommodate America’s 110v.
How sweet are suites? For a hotel that was opened in 1907 by a King and opened in 1997 by a President, there’s both a Royal Suite and Presidential suite, amid many luxurious suites of different sizes. The Royal suite is furnished traditionally while the Presidential suite is the latest in modernity.
With two winter gardens, ballrooms and meeting rooms, you can hold any event from a wedding to corporate meetings. And if you’ve sampled all the restaurants, just swim a few laps in the luxurious heated indoor pool, workout in the state-of-the-art gym. Or lose some steam with steam in the sauna. The wellness center offers yoga, Ayurvedic and even acupunctures treatments.
You’ll always want to come back to your Berlin home -- the Hotel Adlon Kempinski.
© April 2010 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
Issue:
January
2012