Berlin's Art Hotels

Some have rooms designed by artists, while others follow the grain of a particular design concept or theme. Boutique hotels and individually run guesthouses have certainly spearheaded the trend, but hostels and business-class hotels are also jumping on the art-hotel train.

Berlin, in particular, has eagerly embraced the concept of the art hotel and added to its evolution. This makes sense: Berlin is the bulls-eye of Germany's art scene. The city's edgy sensibility and affordable housing have attracted artists from around Germany and abroad for decades. Along with an impressive array of museums, Berlin is home to innumerable galleries, with new ones popping up all the time in neighborhoods such as Mitte. And then there are the artsy shops throughout Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain.

Art hotels can be very expensive, many running more than €200 night for a standard double room. But there are some affordable options. Here are a few of our favorite Berlin art hotels, ranging from a bit of a splurge (Classy Cheapo) to downright Super Cheapo (with a Classic Cheapo in between).

ackselhaus & bluehome
Neighborhood: Prenzlauer Berg
Cheapo Category: Classy Cheapo

Situated in two restored 19th-century townhouses and run by a group of architects, the ackselhaus & bluehome offers tasteful rooms with themes like “Safari,” “Movie” and “China,” but its lovely garden area is the real treat. Despite the touches of playfulness, the décor never strays far from the pages of Architectural Digest. Doubles from €120

Art Hotel Charlottenburg Hof
Neighborhood: Charlottenburg
Cheapo Category: Classic Cheapo

The spunky Art Hotel Charlottenburg Hof offers basic budget rooms splashed with color in the spirit of favorite artists like Kandinsky and Mondrian. There is also a pleasant café and a peaceful courtyard. Doubles from €56.

art'otel berlin city center west
Neighborhood: Wilmersdorf
Cheapo Category: Classic Cheapo

The art'otel berlin city center west is an example of a hotel that celebrates the work of one artist, in this case pop-art star Andy Warhol. Reproductions of his work decorate the brightly colored halls and four-star rooms. Standard Doubles from €69

art'otel berlin mitte
Neighborhood: Mitte
Cheapo Category: Classic Cheapo

Run by the same company as the art'otel berlin city center west, the art'otel berlin mitte offers nods to German artist Georg Baselitz and interior designer Johanne Nalbach. Their styles filter into the flawless guest rooms, inspiring décor from furniture to carpets. Doubles from €59

baxpax Hostel Mitte
Neighborhood: Mitte
Cheapo Category: Super Cheapo

For those on a stricter budget, there's the baxpax Hostel Mitte. One of Berlin’s original art hostels, the baxpax Mitte offers themed rooms—including one with a pink Volkswagen Beetle for a bed! It’s a fun spot with a friendly vibe, and several of the usual “hostel perks” (including free Berlin walking tours). Doubles from €21

Michelberger Hotel
Neighborhood: Friedrichshain
Cheapo Category: Classic Cheapo

The funky-fab Michelberger Hotel is hotel, lounge and concert venue all in one. Its rooms are unusual, to say the least, with inventive designs and unique descriptions. This spot may be the height of cool. Doubles from €70

Odyssee Hostel
Neighborhood: Friedrichshain
Cheapo Category: Super Cheapo

One part hippie, one part chic, the Odyssee Hostel is a lodging with a sense of humor. Its common areas may resemble a medieval castle or a kitschy haunted house, and no two guest rooms are alike (many are artist designed). Doubles from €39

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