Art meets considered comforts at Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof hotel

Arrive, take a deep breath and relax – in the very heart of Berlin. Berlin Zoo and Tiergarten Park are right on the hotel’s doorstep, and many of the 377 rooms and suites offer views of the countryside, especially beautiful in summer. In the evening, it’s sometimes so quiet we wonder whether we’re really in the capital. In the morning, you can hear the calls and chatters from the zoo’s residents. It’s the perfect backdrop for our city trip to Berlin. With its creative vibe, warm and courteous staff and relaxed atmosphere, Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof, designed in an elegant Bauhaus style, is easily the right choice for our temporary home in the capital.

The hotel’s sleek exterior belies its true size. We only realise how spacious it is when we get inside. The hotel stretches all the way across to Burggrafenstraße, where there are more rooms and a large wellness area. We absolutely have to check out the latter, but first things first: there’s an enormous giraffe in the foyer. Not a real one – a seven-metre-tall giraffe sculpture that’s clearly a quirky nod to the zoo next door. Nicknamed Zoosana, she graces the entrance to the lobby and is the first to greet hotel guests, including us.

We walk under her long neck as our gaze wanders through the open, spacious lobby: elegant Bauhaus décor meets animal motifs. Rich, warm tones mingle with geometric patterns, polka dots and zebra stripes. To our right, a wide staircase leads upwards, surrounded by cosy seating areas in shades of tan and turquoise. It’s occupied by hotel guests engrossed in conversation. To the left, we look into the stylish hotel bar, from which soft beats float out, and an impressive light sculpture hovers above our heads. There’s so much to see we almost don’t know where to look first. But Albert, a porter who’s known as ’the hotel’s good soul’, is here to help us with his warm smile.

We go to one of the reception desks, where we’re also warmly welcomed and immediately start chatting. What’s that pleasantly fresh scent that’s wafting in the lobby and permeating the entire hotel? We learn that many guests have already wanted to take this signature Pullman fragrance home with them, but it’s unfortunately not for sale. We also find out that we can use the Fit and Spa Lounge, including the sauna and pool, free of charge. Plus booking a massage is simple, with the QR codes in the hotel. Checking in is quick and easy – and Albert tells us that there’s a Pullman Happening social event this weekend with a small art exhibition and a live DJ set, which we’re welcome to attend. All we have to do is bring a good mood, and everything else is taken care of. No problem, we think, as we check into our room.

We take the lift up to the eighth floor, where our spacious Premium Superior room with a view of the zoo awaits us. In the hotel corridor, the creative flair from the lobby continues – we feel as if we’re walking through a Berlin gallery. Albert tells us that Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof regularly collaborates with art academies and local artists. During our stay, Berlin artist Vera Kochubey’s colourful, punky abstract canvases and psychological portraits hang in the corridors. We can’t help but take a seat on one of the brightly coloured benches to gaze at the pictures. We’re definitely going to be amazed at some of these hotel corridors during our weekend in Berlin.

Our room door opens with a soft buzz. The rooms are much simpler than the entrance area, but that doesn’t detract from the feel-good factor. There’s everything we need for a relaxing weekend: a cosy bed, a comfortable armchair and a spacious bathroom, all in warm, light tones. We particularly like the fact that the desk faces the window. We’re immediately drawn to it – and wow! There’s a view of the zoo and the neighbouring Tiergarten district. It makes us want to unpack our laptop right away, or better yet, just settle down and enjoy the view.

Even though Kantstraße, well known for its high-quality Asian restaurants, is right around the corner, one thing’s certain: we want to stop in at BLEND - berlin kitchen and bar at least once. Why, you ask? Because the food is reputed not only to be delicious, but also ‘genuinely Berlin’. We find out what that means when we look at the menu. It reads like a journey through the colourful, international neighbourhoods of Berlin. While choosing the dishes, the chef was inspired by the multicultural character of the German capital and incorporated the many culinary styles that can be savoured throughout the city. The result? Dishes that sound both familiar and surprising, like Asian carbonara or a poké bowl with Frankfurt sauce.

The kitchen always uses seasonal ingredients – so we’re delighted that it’s asparagus and rhubarb season when we visit. We order several creative asparagus combinations to really welcome spring, then use the short waiting time to have a look around. Like the lobby, the bar-restaurant was designed by the internationally renowned Sundukovy sisters, and here, too, an animal neighbour is skilfully showcased: Blenda the Zebra (who’s also a great spot for a souvenir photo with a difference). Warm, unobtrusive wood and green tones create a beautiful contrast, the guests are a vibrant mix and the atmosphere is relaxed. And then the friendly waitress arrives and places our food in the centre of the table, perfect for sharing.

Le Bouveret next door is just as cosy and stylish, serving a lavish breakfast buffet in the morning (complementing the vegan options at BLEND). Warm baked goods from the local bakery, fresh fruit and vegetables, juices and smoothies, and hot dishes prepared right in front of guests. It’s the perfect way to start the day.

As this isn’t our first time in Berlin, we want to take it easy and get to know the area around the hotel better. We pick up a map of the Tiergarten at reception and hire bikes. Straight after breakfast, we set off towards the Brandenburg Gate. On our list are the elegant Unter der Linden boulevard, the Holocaust memorial and a detour to the historic Reichstag parliament building.

There’s also plenty to discover on the way back. Our tour takes us through Tiergarten Park, past the Victory Column and from there back to Charlottenburg in Berlin’s upscale west. Our destination is Ku’damm for shopping and the sixth floor of KaDeWe department store. For years, this floor has been considered a foodie paradise, and after all the cycling through the capital, we feel we’ve earned it. It doesn’t disappoint: around 25 bars and restaurants indulge their guests here until well after closing time.

If you don’t feel like exploring the neighbourhood by bike, the public bus line 100 takes you to plenty of city-centre sights. And best of all, Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof is so conveniently located that you are just a few minutes’ walk from Zoologischer Garten station, where the line departs, so you have a good chance of getting a coveted window seat.

• Friends or couples looking to explore the capital together and enjoy a relaxing weekend in a central, chic hotel with a view of the zoo.
• Business travellers who have meetings in the city or who want to arrange an event in one of the 18 bright and modern venues.
• Families visiting the zoo and other popular sights.
• Art and culture enthusiasts seeking to be inspired by the creative flair of the hotel, to go on a museum tour or to visit Berlin highlights like the Berlinale, Fashion Week or Pride.
• Shopaholics and foodies heading for the nearby KaDeWe department store.
• Fitness buffs who like to take a morning dip in the hotel pool or jog through Tiergarten between business meetings, or who want comfortable accommodation for the Berlin Marathon.

1. For environmental reasons, the rooms are only cleaned on request. This not only reduces the hotel’s daily water and energy consumption, but also a traveller’s own carbon footprint.
2. A zero-waste concept is in place across the whole hotel. In the hotel bar, banana peels are even boiled down into syrup and reused for delicious cocktail creations such as the Banana Bread Old Fashioned. There’s only one word for it: Cheers!
3. The ingredients at the restaurant are sourced from Berlin and the surrounding region, and seasonal, so it’s more sustainable.
4. The hotel is committed to producing as little plastic waste as possible and is in the process of switching its key cards from plastic to wood.
5. In general, the hotel endeavours to operate as sustainably as possible and is working towards GreenSign certification.

Address: Budapester Straße 25, 10787 Berlin
How to get there: From Potsdamer Platz and Zoologischer Garten S-Bahn and U-Bahn station, take bus 200 to Budapester Straße