Words by Christopher Rosa
The Berlin chapter of Soho House occupies an imposing location on the border of buzzing Mitte and boho Prenzlauer Berg. Soho House Berlin has been an exclusive destination since opening in 2010 and is renowned for its stylish interiors, chic dining, frisky bars and a very impressive Cowshed spa. The property also boast’s Berlin’s only rooftop pool, with dramatic panoramic views across the city and an exclusive seventh floor private members’ club.
Hotel
The eight floor Bauhaus-era building has an extraordinary history. Originally a Jewish-owned department store, it was seized by the Nazis and used as the headquarters of the Hitler Youth and then subsequently occupied by the DDR era regime during the Cold War. The wide, spacious interiors are a dramatic blend of stark concrete walls (many of which are still peppered with bullet holes), restored wooden floors and long wallpapered corridors.
The industrial design aesthetic of the large lobby area has an imposing spiral staircase, original artwork by Nineties enfant terrible Damien Hirst, cosy sofas and an in-house branch of Cecconi’s Italian restaurant. Soho House Berlin has its own cinema for screenings and even a library.
The building is a short walk from Rosa Luxemburg Platz U-bahn and the boutique shops, eclectic bars and restaurants of Mitte. Alexanderplatz, where the scars of recent German history are writ large, is a short stroll away, while the cultural hubs of Hackescher Hof and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Museum Island is 10 minutes by tram.
Room
Soho House Berlin boasts 85 rooms and four lofts, the largest of which is 250 sqm, sleeps six and has three bathrooms and a fitted kitchen.
We stayed in a very spaciously, beautifully fitted out 80 sqm room with vintage furniture and delightfully indulgent touches such as retro switches that control light and ambient temperature. The king-sized bed was extremely comfortable. The bath area had a large free-standing tub, a gorgeous Art-Deco-esque sink in between and a walk in rain shower all set on a heated floor. The range of toiletries provided is an indulgent buffet of luxury Cowshed products, from shampoos and conditioners to lotions and lip balm.
A quaint nod to Soho House’s British roots are the inclusion of a kettle, tea and freshly baked cookies. A very well stocked mini bar comes with local beers as well as spirits, but if you want to really indulge you can request a bartender to come to your room and fix a cocktail in front of you.
Food and drink
Soho House Berlin has three restaurants, each one with its own bar. The ground-floor Cecconi’s and coffee shop are open to the public, while the member’s-only House Kitchen on the seventh-floor serves hearty English breakfasts with terrific Bloody Marys as well as lunch, supper and snacks. The cuisine is seasonal gourmet European – the local veal schnitzel holstein served with Galician padron peppers were particularly good.
The U-shaped Club Bar is a lively hangout and busy throughout the day and night. In the summer the rooftop pool bar serves impressive cocktails – The Zimtso cocktail made with Bacardi Carta Negra, orange sherbet and green apple is a perfect accompaniment to watching the sunset over the metropolis.
Spa
Located on the lower ground floor, the Cowshed spa is a tranquil escape from the busy city above. There are comfy mani-pedi chairs and private treatment rooms and relaxation pods, and the sauna, hammam, cold room, and hot tub are all textile free.
We chose the 60-minute Cowshed Signature Facial, which left our skin glowing and was followed by a moisturising massage of the face, neck and shoulders. The spa offers a full menu of treatments from Lava Shell massages to pedicures, just be sure to book treatments in advance as the spa is very popular.
Located above the main club area, the gym boasts cutting-edge Technogym equipment, a personal training room and a studio space.
In a nutshell
Soho House Berlin is one of the chicest hang-outs in the German capital. The service throughout was impeccable, the friendly concierge service is first class and are more than happy to go the extra mile to assist you in your stay in this extraordinary city.
Factbox
Rooms start from £300pn and are bookable via Soho House’s website.
Address: Torstrasse 1, Mitte, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 0049 30 40 50 440
Email: info@sohohouseberlin.com
Website: sohohouse.com
Photography courtesy of Soho House.
