The historic Hotel am Steinplatz, Berlin, – the first Autograph Collection hotel in Germany – has opened following an extensive restoration. Originally designed by August Endell, architect of Berlin’s celebrated Hackesche Höfe complex, Hotel am Steinplatz has captivated passers-by since its completion. With its striking olive-green facade and arched windows reminiscent of Moorish architecture and stucco features, the building is a local landmark in the elegant residential area around Charlottenburg’s Savigny-Platz.
“Meeting the requirements of a distinguished and modern luxury hotel in a landmarked building was an exciting challenge,” says the architect in charge, Claudia Dressler. “We worked closely with art historians and architectural preservationists during the project. And it was also enormously valuable to have the advice of the hotel founder’s daughter, now over 90 years of age.”
The building first opened as a luxury hotel in 1913 and soon took its place in Berlin’s cultural timeline. Following the October Revolution, many Russian aristocrats and intellectuals occupied the stately suites, while the hotel became a meeting point for prominent Berliners and travelers such as Vladimir Nabokov and Zarah Leander. During the Second World War, it was business as usual at the hotel, albeit in an improvised fashion – complete with tomato patches on the roof and a herd of goats in the courtyard.
1950 saw the opening of the voguish basement bar, when Steinplatz became a rendezvous and private stage for artists, actors and intellectuals. Literary greats such as Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass, as well as film stars like Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider, were regular guests.
Throughout its 84 individually-designed guest rooms, one Junior Suite and two Spa Suites, the hotel boasts exceptional interior design – a contemporary interpretation of 1920s flair, with a particular focus on natural materials. Restaurant am Steinplatz sources the finest regional products to create classic Berlin dishes conceived by Michelin-starred chef, Stefan Hartmann, while offering a fresh interpretation of German cuisine. This philosophy is also reflected in Bar am Steinplatz, which offers classic cocktails, as well as its own recipes using spirits produced in Berlin. On the top floor is Spa am Steinplatz, offering spectacular views over the city’s rooftops.
