What’s the draw

The Hoxton’s first German outpost is awash with the boutique hotel group’s characteristic luxe-yet-welcoming allure: think cool collabs with local brands, and a forward-thinking food and drink offering that serves as destination dining in its own right.

It’s found a home in the Charlottenburg neighbourhood, a stone’s throw from central shopping avenue the Kufürstendamm – this is an area of Berlin known more for glitz than for grit, so it’s no surprise the hotel looks to the city’s Golden Age in the 1920s rather than its present, ahem, techno chic when it comes to design. You’ll find locally inspired twists throughout: in the corner of the bar you’ll spot a tiled kamine, or Berlin-style chimney; while the plant-filled winter garden area, a bit like a small conservatory, is a nod to a feature found in typical German flats. The interiors blend 1920s arthouse nouveau style with a nod to Bauhaus design, creating an atmosphere that’s both convivial yet sophisticated. In the rooms, the muted pinks, greens and dark woods continue, with beautiful scalloped headboards upholstered in velvet come with a side effect: extreme interior design envy.

The Roomy

What to eat and drink

An aperitif in the Tea House makes for the perfect jumping off point, whether you’re planning to eat at on-site restaurant The House of Tandoor or beyond (more on that later). The white-tiled space sits in the atrium to the dining room, with floor-to-ceiling windows ideal for drinking in Berlin’s beautiful summer evenings. You’ll find a tightly-curated cocktail menu full of light and fragrant North Indian-inspired drinks characterised by the use of tea and spices – case in point is the Cloud Cover, made with Broken Cloud iced tea, St Germain, Suze and Perrier Jouet champagne, and gently sweetened by pandan. Delicate and refreshing, it’s the perfect foil to a bowl of the house-made Bombay mix: moreish, spicy crunchy bits that are undeniably effective at activating the palate.

Walk through to the all-day restaurant, and you’ll find no less than three glinting copper tandoors – one for bread, one for meat and one for vegetables – taking centre stage. This is a strong hint for what you should order: anything and everything that comes out of these magical ovens, all burnished and flavoursome. The naans are a no-brainer: we chose the one topped with deeply flavoured spiced beef, fresh tomato and pickled onion to kick things off, and paired it with the freshness of a pea samosa, served with a forest-green, coriander-rich sauce. On to larger plates, and enormous crispy lamb chops (with more of that green chutney) were messy and indulgent; while a whole-roasted masala cauliflower was beautifully spiced (albeit mysteriously not caramelised) and scattered with tiny bursts of freshness in the form of ruby-coloured pomegranate seeds. If you’ve got space for something sweet, the tandoori pineapple with mango ice cream is an easy winner.

The Biggy

What’s nearby

If there were one slight criticism of the hotel, it would be its location: it’s easily reached and centrally perched, but the touristy enclaves of Charlottenberg don’t quite match up with The Hoxton’s understated cool. That being said, a walk to nearby Savignyplatz will take you to the heart of West Berlin in the 70s and 80s, still full of bars and restaurants. Today, there’s a kneipe (a classic Berlin bar or pub. Be warned: they’re usually smoker-friendly) called Zwiebelfisch; Bücherbogen, a brilliant, extensive bookshop under the railway arches, and plenty of chic boutiques (those who are gastronomically minded will love Küchenladen, an Aladdin’s cave of kitchen treasures). You’re also right by Kantstrasse, famed for its Asian restaurants: walk along here and you’ll be hard pressed to go wrong.

Elsewhere, Kufürstendamm, locally known as Ku’damm, is one of Berlin’s central thoroughfares, with big-name shops to match: here you’ll find the iconic blown-out building of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church, and around the corner is the KaDeWe (think Harrods but, well, German) for champagne, oysters and an astonishingly good food hall. And, OK, so this isn’t really ‘nearby’, but you can take the U6 underground line straight down to Kotbusser Tor, the epicentre of Kreuzberg — just so you don’t miss out on that infamous Berlin grit.

The Hoxton, Charlottenburg, Meinekestrasse 18-19, 10719 Berlin, Germany; thehoxton.com