Hotel de Rome

The Scene

Hotel de Rome is scenically located in between the Museuminsel (Museum Island) and the expansive Tiergarten. Palatial historic architecture abounds all around the famous Bebelplatz and surrounding area---St. Hedwig’s Cathedral next door is a frequent view of guest rooms from Hotel de Rome. Brandenburg Gate, one of the entrances to the Tiergarten, is a scenic 15 minute walk west from the hotel and Museuminsel is 10 minutes to the east. Famous plazas (most often platz here) like the Gendarmenmarkt and Potsdamer Platz are scattered around and within an easy walk. Given the size of Berlin it’s also worth knowing public transport hubs are nearby, so nothing is out of reach.

The Concept

Hotel de Rome occupies a very much repurposed piece of East Berlin real estate: the former headquarters of the Dresdner Bank. Just as Berlin constantly moves forward, the bank was swiftly modified to suit the Hotel de Rome. The jewel vault is now the pool and spa area; a conference room and the bank manager’s office are now jaw-dropping suites, and architectural details from its days as a bank flourish. The Italian influence is evident in the hospitality and the design---not to mention the cuisine at Parioli Restaurant and its beautiful al fresco dining option on the rooftop terrace---but otherwise it’s German all the way. Hotel de Rome affords quite a lot of space to its additional features; the Bebel Bar and Velvet Room (named after the plaza on which Hotel de Rome sits)

The Look

The design of the rooms is clean, simple, and decorated in red, blue, and cream. The crisp design with warm, rich fabrics speaks to the evident luxury of Hotel de Rome without having to resort to flash over substance. It feels sufficiently comfortable without feeling like home (because do you really want to vacation at your house?) and you’ll have plenty of room to spread out (the smallest room is 36 square meters, or 387 square feet). The subdued design marries extremely well with the varied details left behind by the bank---like the ceilings where you’ll often find beautiful molding. Deluxe rooms Suites are simply magnificent without crossing the line into gaudy; the Reinaissance Suite, for example, retained the original oak paneling on the walls and exceptionally lofty ceilings.

In Short

Hotel de Rome epitomizes Berlin’s reinvention over the years as well as its comeback from the divided city to the phenomenal capital of culture it is today. Rocco Forte’s modern yet not achingly contemporary style is a welcome addition to a city where there’s a niche for everything---and Hotel de Rome has got understated luxurious style covered.