Friedrichshain / Warschauer Strasse

Michelberger Hotel

★★★★★

The Michelberger Hotel has been one of the defining hotels of creative Berlin since it opened in 2009 in a converted factory building at Warschauer Strasse 39-40, in Friedrichshain, right next to the Warschauer Strasse S-Bahn and U-Bahn station and the Oberbaum Bridge. It was created by a group of friends with a do-it-yourself spirit, and it remains independent, relaxed and full of personality, with a lobby that doubles as a cafe and meeting place, and a crowd of musicians, artists, designers and travellers. Its 119 rooms come in seven types, each with its own character: Cosy rooms are compact and clever, Loft rooms have sleeping platforms, Band rooms sleep groups of friends, and the larger Luxus, Hideout and Big One rooms are more theatrical, with unusual layouts and details. Design throughout is handmade and inventive, with recycled materials, wood and raw walls, and the hotel has been listed in the MICHELIN Guide and named a Lonely Planet Top Choice. The restaurant is a highlight, serving elevated comfort food made with seasonal ingredients, many of them from the Michelberger Farm, a food forest in the Spreewald region of Brandenburg, for brunch, lunch and dinner; reservations can be made online. The cafe opens early every morning, and the wine bar opens daily at 5pm. The location is ideal for nightlife and for the East Side Gallery, which begins a few minutes' walk away across the station bridge, while the bars of Simon-Dach-Strasse and the RAW grounds are around the corner, and Kreuzberg is just across the Oberbaum Bridge. Prices are moderate, varying with the room type, and the hotel is popular, so book ahead for weekends and festival periods.

Rooms and noise: the Cosy rooms are small but smartly designed and good value for solo travellers and couples who plan to be out a lot. If you want space, book a Loft or one of the larger signature rooms. Because the hotel is on a busy road next to a major station and in the heart of a nightlife district, some rooms can be noisy; request a room away from the street if you are a light sleeper. The style is informal, and the service is friendly and helpful rather than formal.

Eating and drinking: even if you do not stay, the restaurant is worth a visit for a lunch or dinner built around produce from the hotel's own farm, and the brunch is popular at weekends. The wine bar is a relaxed place for an evening drink before heading out to the bars and clubs nearby, and the lobby cafe is a good spot to work or plan the day.

Location and fit: Warschauer Strasse station connects you to Alexanderplatz, Museum Island and the main station in a few stops on the S-Bahn, and the U1 runs along the elevated line into Kreuzberg. The East Side Gallery, the Oberbaum Bridge and the riverside are on the doorstep. This is the right hotel for young-at-heart travellers, music lovers and nightlife fans; families with small children or travellers seeking calm and luxury will be happier elsewhere.