History meets hip at the Telegraphenamt, a stunningly restored property in the reinvigorated German capital.
The newly opened Hotel Telegraphenamt occupies one of the most esteemed locations in Berlin. A stone’s throw away from Museum Island on Monbijou Park in the central Mitte district, this exceptional property was once, as its name suggests, the city’s main telegraph office. Originally built in 1916, this stunning neo-Baroque building has been restored from a derelict state following World War II and subsequent decades of Cold War neglect into a modern classic with an intelligence that conscientiously reflects its dramatic past in a city where the scars of history are still writ large. Within walking distance of the hotel are some of Berlin’s most iconic sights, including the Neues Museum, with its vaunted collection of Egyptian antiquities, the gargantuan Berlin Cathedral, and the space-age Fernsehturm TV tower. The chic contemporary art galleries and bustling cafes and bistros along Auguststrasse are five minutes on foot away.
On entering the hotel, you emerge into a wide, airy lobby with vintage seating and numerous pieces of art. The style is robustly industrial chic but with soft touches – brick walls and exposed beams abound – and there are many antique treasures referring to the property’s past as a telegraph hub. The lobby was very busy with arriving weekend guests on a very hot summer’s day in the city. The extremely friendly and reassuringly efficient staff checked us in swiftly and were more than helpful.
Cosy Cool
The 97 guest rooms all have a similar industrial look to the lobby. The rooms come in several categories, from the standard 34 square meter ‘Roomy city’ to the 140 square meter ‘Graham´s Residence’ – a penthouse spread across two levels with a spiral staircase, a dining area for eight, a kitchenette, and a lounge and panoramic views over Berlin. Our very impressive Cosy City room occupied two levels and was beautifully designed. The sleeping area and attached bathroom sat on one, and below was a lower floor seating area accessed by a short flight of steps. A delightful French balcony overlooked the building’s courtyard below. The room was furnished with an eclectic mixture of designer and antique furniture, including a stunning opal blue Raj-era Indian trunk. There was a Marshall stereo, a smart television, and a large art deco work desk. We slept on a very comfortable super king-sized bed that had large hanging lamps on each side. The extensively equipped bathroom was designed around distressed rustic tiling and a large, heavy metal sink. The spacious walk-in rainforest shower cooled us off after a hot day exploring the city.
Fine Dining
ROOT Bistro, located in the lobby of Telegraphenamt, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The bistro menu includes classics from tasty Porterhouse steak with soy glaze and yuzu carrot cream to super fresh North Sea Sole with dashi beurre blanc. It is, however, very well regarded for its extensive sushi dishes courtesy of Chef Ryota – a standout is the flamed sea bream sashimi. The daily breakfast includes a German continental buffet, à la carte, vegetarian, and of course, vegan choices. The glamorous ROOT Restaurant occupies the large covered courtyard of the hotel and has booth-style banquette seating. The gourmet menu is very impressive with starters ranging from soft shell crab with green papaya som tam and roasted peanuts to mains of orange chicken with pineapple, mandarin, and ghoucress. There is a long, mouthwatering steak list. A highlight of the beautifully presented desserts was the Crème Brûlée with tangy sorbet.
As one can imagine, the ROOT Bar attracts the crowds and has a DJ every night. The cocktail menu alone is vast. The chatty, knowledgeable mixologists will gladly whisk you up a refreshing ginger ghio with Ingwer vodka, lime cordial, and saké before you venture out to indulge in Berlin’s legendary nightlife.
The hotel has a cavernous Dr. Emi Skin Spa and sauna accessed through the winding bunker basement of the building. There is also a large well well-equipped fitness centre and gym, where you can take training and yoga classes, and a private members club. From top to bottom, a stay at Hotel Telegraphenamt was an invigorating experience—a stunning retreat in the heady heart of this extraordinary city.
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Rooms start from $375pn and are bookable via the hotel’s website. Breakfast included.
Address: Monbijoustrasse 11, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone: 0049 30 994 05 90
Email: contact@telegraphenamt.com
Website: www.telegraphenamt.com
