Mitte / Oranienburger Strasse

Generator Berlin Mitte

★★★★★

Generator Berlin Mitte is the budget choice for travellers who want to be in the middle of things. It stands on Oranienburger Strasse in the old Scheunenviertel quarter of Mitte, close to the gilded dome of the New Synagogue, and from the door you can walk to Hackescher Markt, Museum Island, the galleries of Auguststrasse and the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. Generator is a European brand that pioneered the design hostel, and the Berlin Mitte property is a good example: shared spaces built around a historic courtyard, an outdoor terrace, a library chill-out area and lounges that make it easy to meet other travellers or simply relax between sightseeing. The range of rooms is unusually wide. At the budget end there are four-, six- and eight-bed dorms, including women-only rooms, and single sleeping pods with shared bathrooms, which give a little more privacy than a bunk. Private rooms include deluxe twin and king rooms, private four-, six- and eight-bed rooms for groups, and a family room for four with two single beds and a bunk, while at the top end there are junior suites, one with a private terrace, and a superior suite for up to four. The Gen Cafe and breakfast room serves food and coffee, and Bar Box, the hotel bar, comes alive later in the week with cocktails, resident DJs and velvet sofas. Booking direct brings perks such as free breakfast, a discount on food and drinks and late check-out. Trams on Oranienburger Strasse and S-Bahn stations at Oranienburger Strasse and Hackescher Markt connect you quickly with the rest of the city.

Who it suits: young travellers, solo travellers and groups of friends who want a sociable, central and affordable base with a good bar; budget-minded couples who book a private room; and families who want to save money with a family room for four in the very centre. It is a lively place, so light sleepers and anyone looking for a quiet hotel may prefer a more conventional property.

Living in it: book direct on the official site to get the free breakfast and the other perks, and choose a private room or pod if you want more privacy than a dorm. Spend your first evening at Bar Box, which is busiest from Wednesday to Saturday, and use the courtyard and terrace for a quiet coffee during the day. Walk to Museum Island and Hackescher Markt in the morning, and to the Berlin Wall Memorial and Mauerpark at the weekend. The trams on Oranienburger Strasse are the easiest way to Alexanderplatz and Prenzlauer Berg, and the S-Bahn links you to the rest of the city.

Value: dorm beds and pods are among the cheapest central options in Berlin, and private and family rooms are good value for Mitte. Berlin adds a City Tax of 7.5 percent of the net room price, so check whether your rate includes it. For a sociable, design-led budget stay within walking distance of Museum Island and the best of Mitte, Generator Berlin Mitte is a strong choice.