Hotel Adlon

The Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is a luxury hotel located in Berlin, Germany. Situated on Unter den Linden, the main boulevard in the central Mitte district, it is directly across from the Brandenburg Gate.

The original Hotel Adlon, which opened in 1907, was one of the most renowned hotels in Europe. Unfortunately, it was largely destroyed during the closing days of World War II in 1945. However, a small wing of the hotel continued operating until 1984. The current Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, a new building inspired by the original design, opened on August 23, 1997.

History

First Hotel Adlon

In the late 19th century, European hotels began to evolve into social gathering places, offering more than just overnight accommodation. These hotels, inspired by American counterparts like the Waldorf Astoria, featured lavish ballrooms, dining halls, arcades, lounges, libraries, and coffeehouses. Vienna's Hotel Imperial opened in 1873, followed by the Hôtel Ritz Paris in 1898 and the London Ritz in 1906. Berlin, as the capital of the German Empire, sought to keep up with these rival cities.

In 1905, Lorenz Adlon, a successful wine merchant and restaurateur, purchased two properties on Unter den Linden. Adlon, who already ran several coffeehouses in Berlin, including one in the Berlin Zoological Garden, had the vision to build a luxury hotel at the heart of the German capital. He convinced Kaiser Wilhelm II that Berlin needed a hotel on par with those in Paris and London. With the Kaiser's support, Adlon acquired the Palais Redern, a Neo-Renaissance landmark designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1830, and demolished it to make way for his hotel.

Designed by Carl Gause and Robert Leibnitz, the Hotel Adlon was constructed at a cost of 20 million gold marks, with two million coming from Adlon's personal fortune. Behind its modest facade, the hotel boasted modern amenities such as hot and cold running water, an on-site laundry, and its own power plant for electricity. The grand lobby featured large marble columns, and the hotel included a restaurant, cafe, palm court, ladies' lounge, library, music room, smoking room, barber shop, cigar shop, and an interior garden with a Japanese-themed elephant fountain.

The Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin continues to be a symbol of luxury and elegance in the heart of Berlin. With 382 rooms, four restaurants, and five bars, it offers a truly exceptional experience for its guests.