Review: Hilton Berlin (2026 Renovations) [Germany]
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Centralized location with easy access to U-Bahn | Most guest rooms have outdated feel |
| Great value stay and particiaptes under Amex Hotel Collection | Stingy water bottle policy |
| Renovated rooms are gorgeous, but limited | Slow service at Beletage restaurant |
For my visit to Berlin, I planned to stay for 5 nights to get a feel of Berlin’s capital. My choice with Hilton Berlin was a good place to stay in for my first time there.
The hotel recently finished their renovations, albeit only on the 6th floor, so I was intrigued to check how it is now and compare the old and the new rooms which I was able to do!
Hilton Berlin- Booking
I booked 2 separate bookings of 2 night stays to use up all of my hotel credit I got from across 3 Amex Platinums through the The Hotel Collection which Hilton Berlin is a part of. The third Platinum’s used at The Ritz-Carlton Berlin in-between my Hilton stays so I can take advantage of getting the $100 property credit twice. If I booked 4 consecutive nights in a row, I’d only get the credit once. Both of the bookings costed just a little bit under $300 so it was free!
The hotel hop was very easy between the two hotels as they’re just two U-Bahn stations away from each other, with both being in front of their nearest station.
Hilton Berlin- Location
Hilton Berlin is located in the center of the capital at Mitte district. It’s in front of the Gendarmenmarkt that has the German Cathedral, which some rooms inside the Hilton provide frontal views of. It’s also close to many of the city’s landmarks like Berlin Cathedral and Checkpoint Charlie.
It’s also in a very convenient spot for public transportation where it’s just a minute away from the Stadtmitte U-Bahn station where you can easily get to other parts of Berlin by metro.
Hilton Berlin- Check-in
I arrived to Berlin at 6pm from London. I took the FEX Line from BER airport to Potsdamer Platz and then take the U-Bahn to Stadtmitte Station right in front of the Hilton.
Hilton Berlin- Amex Hotel Collection Benefits
Amex’s Hotel Collection benefits in Hilton Berlin are room upgrades (if available), 95 EUR hotel credit applicable to the restaurant and bar on the first floor. The credit amount means you’re getting more than the expected $100 value.
Keep in mind that they won’t work towards in-room dining including the minibar. They could be used for parking fees as well if you came in with a car, though you get free internet access regardless just by being a Hilton member.
Hilton Berlin- King Guest Room with Dome View
For the first two nights of my stay, I was assigned to the old unrenovated standard King room on 2nd floor with a frontal view of the German Cathedral. It’s showing its age, but the size was very adequate and more than average for a European hotel.
The closet area provides a luggage rack, ironing board, hangers, safe, and bathrobes and slippers.
The room comes with a glass desk by the window.
Behind the desk is a relaxing chair with small round table next to it and a backdrop of the German Cathedral.
Fortunately, noise wasn’t too much of an issue with me being just on 2nd floor, though I might just be lucky.
The pantry can be found across the bed and next to the TV where you can get some cofee and water. Unfortunately, the stingy part about this hotel is that you only get 2 water bottles per stay for elite members (cost extra as regular Hilton members or non-members).
The minibar’s behind a cabinet with chargeable drinks and snacks.
The bathroom also has a dated look, but the lighting by the sink’s quite good.
I wasn’t a fan of the tub setup because the surface was too high, and yet the shower head also was too low.
Overall, the non-renovated room definitely needed an overhaul, but it did its job just fine as a quiet place to sleep.
Hilton Berlin- King Executive Plus (Renovated Room)
On my second stay, I’m happy to report that I was able to secure an upgrade to a renovated room on the 6th floor. 6th floor is the highest floor for guest rooms and is the only floor currently that has the renovated rooms.
It’s such an improvement over the old rooms! The royal blue really pops here!
The bathroom’s more appealing
Finally, they got rid of the awkward tub and replaced it with a walk-in shower with better water pressure too. But it still comes with the annoying half-glass cover.
Regardless, one should strive for an upgrade to the renovated room. As long as you’re not picky about the view, Hilton Gold & Diamond members should have good chances to be upgraded into one.
Hilton Berlin- Breakfast
Breakfast takes place at the Beletage restaurant on the first floor. It’s buffet style consisting of western hot food, cold cuts, cheese, yogurt, fruit, cereal, bread, and egg station.
It’s very typical of a hotel buffet breakfast and nothing stood out, but it was fine to fill the stomach.
Hilton Berlin- Dinner
To use up my hotel credit from Amex’s The Hotel Collection benefit, I visited Beletage again for dinner.
For my first visit, I got to sit at the dome with a beautiful view of the cathedral.
Dinner comes with free serving of sliced bread and butter.
For the first dinner, I got the iced matcha, steak frites, and creme brulee.
For second dinner, I got the beef tartare, coq au vin, and creme brulee.
Both dinner costed around 70 EUR each which are way overpriced, but is to be expected from a hotel restaurant. The taste were fine. Service was also slow even though the restaurant’s a bit empty. Still, I gave the rest of what I had left as tips since they’re use-it-or-lose-it anyway.
Hilton Berlin- Executive Lounge
The executive lounge is also on the first floor right next to Beletage. It was mostly quiet except for the evenings where there are canapes. Though you can help yourself to soft drinks and coffee and tea here.
Hilton Berlin- Pool
The pool is also on the first floor towards the end of the building from Beletage, and is a part of the hotel’s health club. I find it quite nice actually with the lighting.
Hilton Berlin- Gym
The gym’s another part of the health club located by the pool. It’s very spacious and is the one with the most complete gyms compared to the hotels I’ve stayed at in Berlin.
For convenience, there’s an elevator on guest room floors around the back. Just follow the sign to it so you don’t have to pass through the restaurant to get to the health club that includes the gym and spa.
Conclusion
Hilton Berlin is a solid hotel with centralized location and ease of access to public transportation. The rooms on most floors are showing their age, but the renovated rooms are quite beautiful which I hope will extend to all the guest rooms in the future. If you have Gold or Diamond/Reserve status, you should have good chances in getting upgraded to one as long as you’re not picky about the outside view.
There are certain services that are miss like only having free 2 water bottles per stay and the overall slow services at the restaurant. Even so, the low prices reflect that so I wouldn’t put it too much against them. It’s one of the hotels under Amex’s The Hotel Collection where you can stay under $300 or just a bit above that which is already rare in itself that makes it a great value stay. But, I wouldn’t do it to chase the hotel’s dining credit.
