Review: Three Nights at the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin

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TO THE POINT: The Michelberger is a trendy hotel for those looking for a cool, authentic Berlin experience. The pros: convenient location, sleek design and friendly staff. The cons: very few amenities, small rooms, no air conditioning and it's not connected to any major loyalty programs.

While the Michelberger isn't technically a points-hotel option, it was still a fun place to use as a base for exploring the city on a recent trip to Berlin.

Booking

I booked my three-night stay directly through the hotel's website (rates were from 220 euros or ~$246 per night, plus 5% city tax) and used my Chase Sapphire Preferred, which earned me 2x points on travel and dining and 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases. If only I'd had my Chase Sapphire Reserve card by then, I would have earned 3x on travel and dining during my time there.

Check-In and Lobby

After arriving at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF), we hopped in a cab for a 30-minute ride to the hotel. The check-in staff were extremely friendly and immediately offered my partner and me a glass of the hotel's branded Fountain of Youth coconut water. There was a small café as well, which served a mix of coffees, teas, small desserts and alcoholic beverages.

The lobby is designed to resemble a lounge and offers tons of comfortable seating. One standout design element was the thousands of books on shelves around the room, which are free for guests to browse through and read.

There were plenty of reading materials available for anyone who wanted to chill out in the lobby.

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The Room

What attracted us to the hotel in the first place was its four Luxus Rooms, all of which have different themes: The Wooden Chalet, The Gold Room, The book-covered "Clever" and "The View." All four rooms feature a large bed, bathtub, shower and TV. Other room types include the Cosy, the Loft, the Hideout, the Band (a large, family-sized room) and The Big One, which comes with six single beds, perfect for larger groups traveling together.

We chose The Gold Room, which, as you can imagine, was entirely covered in gold (although sadly, not real gold). Everything from the walls to the bathroom to the bedding to the light fixtures and the furniture was decked out in gold. While the room was very small, it was certainly one of the coolest ones I've ever stayed in. Gold wallpaper brought the room to a whole other level, as did the golden palm tree bedside lamps.

The gold bed and its coordinating bedding were flashy but super comfortable.

One of my favorite features of the room was the gold bathtub, which was located directly next to the bed (and separate from the bathroom).

The TV was hidden behind a large mirror above a working fireplace, which can be seen on the right, below.

The toilet and sink areas were gold-tiled as well. There was also a separate shower available for those who prefer to use that to bathe instead.

Food and Other Amenities

The bathroom featured shampoo and shower gel products by Orla Kiely, which were very nice.

Our room overlooked the hotel's courtyard, which was filled with a mix of locals and hotel guests enjoying cocktails each night. A wedding even took place while we were there and the hotel encouraged its guests to join in the festivities.

The hotel's restaurant served a buffet breakfast for 16 euros (~$18) per person — meals are not included in the room rate, unfortunately. Offerings were fairly traditional with eggs, yogurt, coffee, salads and pastries. A standout was the rice pudding, which was served with homemade granola.

I opted for some granola with rice pudding, jam, fresh coffee and the Michelberger's Fountain of Youth coconut water.

Overall Impression

The hotel truly captured what I imagined the ethos of Berlin would be like. For those looking for a luxe hotel experience full of posh amenities and the ability to earn major hotel points, this may not be your cup of tea. But for my first trip to the city where my goal was to experience the bustling nightlife and cultural landmarks Berlin is famous for, this was the perfect hotel for me to stay in.

Have you stayed at the Michelberger Hotel yet? Tell us about your experience, below.