WILDLY GOOD! THE NEW 25HOURS HOTEL: BIKINI BERLIN

BERLIN

Right next to the iconic Elephant Gate of Berlin’s Zoological Garden, 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin has opened its doors with a bang, with not one, but two opening parties last week. Its prime location between Tiergarten, the shopping boulevard Kurfürstendamm, and the ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church offers guests the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Its location and the surrounding buildings inspired its interior design. The Werner Aisslinger design team dubbed their concept “urban jungle.” Half of the 149 rooms offer views of the apes and elephants of the zoological garden, while the other half offers views of some of West Berlin’s most iconic buildings. Respectively, the design is warm and welcoming in the zoo-view rooms, with extensive use of natural building materials and colors. In the city-view rooms, the design is urban and sparse, a nod to Berlin’s raw creativity.

The 10th floor with its expansive rooftop terrace is the crowned jewel of the building—20-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling windows give unparalleled panoramic views of the city. The Monkey Bar keeps true to its name, with direct glimpses of the romping primates (as long as they’re still awake). In Neni Berlin, the hotel restaurant, offers a culinary mosaic of eastern Mediterranean specialties by Viennese cult-chef Haya Molcho, from sabich, tartar, and hummus, to caramelized eggplants and baked okra.

The 3rd floor lobby is just as inviting as the rest of the hotel. Aside from the reception, guests will find a kiosk, the Woodfire Bakery, hammocks, and plenty of sitting areas, perfect for enjoying a coffee, catching up on some work, or just kicking back. From the Jungle Sauna in the 9th floor, guests can look right into the eyes of the neighboring giraffes.

The hotel is an ideal basecamp for embarking on your own safari through the Berlin’s urban jungle. Some of the best shopping in the city is just a few blocks away, as well as the Zoologischer Garten train station. And let’s not forget the Brandenburg Gate, less than two miles away.

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