Ibis Hotel Mitte

As far as chain hotels go, we’ve always appreciated the reliability and affordability of ibis, one of Europe’s largest budget chains. And with its adept service, convenient location (steps from a tram that will whisk you to either Prenzlauer Berg or Alexanderplatz) and spotless rooms, the two-star ibis Hotel Berlin Mitte doesn’t disappoint.

The 198 guestrooms at the ibis Berlin Mitte overlook either busy Prenzlauer Allee or a cemetery. They are attractive and streamlined, with parquet floors, sizeable beds, and curvy desk chairs. As is typical for ibis, the rest of the furniture (a desk, closet and bench seat) is built-in and market-research functional.

Rooms are equipped with a phone, satellite TV and, notably, air conditioning (which is often absent in Berlin budget hotels).

The private bathrooms are tiled, tiny and functional. A hair dryer is provided.

Sure, the ibis Berlin Mitte is not the most charming hotel you’ll find in Berlin, nor is it the cheapest. But ibis has a reputation for providing comfortable accommodations and friendly service, and the Mitte property holds up on both counts. Those looking for an affordable, central sleep will find this place to be a solid pick, especially when rates drop (as is standard for the business-oriented chain, this usually happens on the weekend, or if you book more than 20 days in advance).

One gripe we have about ibis is that the “extras” are usually, well, extra. That means that where a number of smaller hotels will serve up breakfast for free, at the ibis the breakfast buffet costs extra (and isn’t necessarily cheap).