Mercure Hotel & Residenz Berlin Checkpoint Charlie

The Mercure Hotel & Residenz Berlin Checkpoint Charlie is an old villa in a quiet side street, two blocks from Checkpoint Charlie in the middle of Berlin. I got a huge, almost suite-like room on the seventh floor, a homemade cookie and a lime that is worth 10% off at the bar, and a sauna with a terrace on my floor. The bed was not comfortable, the shower was weak and the work corner has no daylight.

Quick verdict: A beautifully renovated villa in a great location, with an attentive check-in, a huge room, a charming welcome gift and a sauna with a terrace. The bed was not comfortable and had only two pillows, the water-saving shower gave a weak jet, and the work corner has no daylight. JCI Score 3.4 out of 5.

Location

The hotel is in a quiet side street, two blocks from Checkpoint Charlie, in one of the busiest and most popular parts of Berlin. It is right where Mitte meets Kreuzberg. In the evening I walked around the neighbourhood, and you are in the middle of everything here. For a stay in Berlin, this is a super base.

Getting There & First Impression

The building is an old villa, a classic old Mercure city hotel, but beautifully renovated. It stands in a quiet side street, although the area around it is so lively.

Signs all over the hotel point to the "Residences", the former serviced apartments. I followed them and got completely lost. At the reception I learned that the apartments are no longer part of the hotel. The name and the signs are misleading, and I hope this gets fixed at the next renovation.

Check-In & Loyalty Experience

Three receptionists spoke to me at the same time, which was a very attentive start. The check-in itself was efficient. They offered me a late check-out until 3 pm right away, and they pointed out my welcome drink, which I can pick up at the bar with the ALL app, and my status benefits without making a fuss. They did not welcome me with a big ceremony as a status guest, and I like that even better.

The receptionist told me he was sorry, but he had no upgrade for me. I had booked a Large Room with Double Bed, and the room was huge anyway.

In the room I found a homemade cookie with a personal welcome card for me, and a lime with a small card in Berlin slang. It says that I got lost and should bring myself back to the bar. I did, and I got my welcome drink there. The bartender explained that you get 10% off all drinks if you hand in the lime, and he said he would remember my face, so I can use it later. A very sweet and friendly touch.

The Room

An older elevator took me up to the seventh floor. Room 705, the Large Room with Double Bed that I had booked, was far bigger than a standard room: a king-size bed, a sofa, an extra seating area, a small separate dressing room with wardrobes, a small entrance hall and a large bathroom. It felt close to a suite. The room was very clean.

The bed is big, but it was not comfortable. There were also only two pillows for the double bed, one per person. I know that differently from other hotels.

The TV is small and old. There is no way to connect anything to it, and it has no smart features, no Netflix and no streaming. There is also no Nespresso machine in the room, only a kettle and instant coffee. I am used to more by now.

The work space is a small corner with a desk next to the TV. It has no daylight, which is the big drawback, and the power outlets are well hidden. It is not a nice place to work. When I first connected to the free WiFi on the evening I arrived, it was very slow. After I logged in with my ALL account the next morning, a speed test showed 65 Mbps download and 91 Mbps upload, which is fine for video calls and everyday work. I can't say whether the login or the quiet morning made the difference.

The bathroom is large and comfortable, and the shower looks stylish. But the water pressure was weak, the jet was poor and the temperature fluctuated. It is one of those water-saving showers that annoy me everywhere. The towels were medium fluffy, nothing special.

On my floor there are a sauna and a gym. The sauna area is the highlight of the hotel for me: a Finnish sauna, an infrared cabin and a few showers. After a sauna session you can step out onto the terrace, which is a lovely touch if you like that. The gym has a treadmill and a cross trainer, which is probably enough for the number of guests who use it.

Food & Drink

I did not have breakfast here. The welcome drink at the bar is described above.

Digital Customer Experience

I pick up the welcome drink at the bar with the ALL app. In the room, the TV is small and old, with no casting, no streaming and no smart features.

The Bill & Value

One night cost €128.68 (about $144). I booked the app offer, with my member rate and the offer already included: €119.70 for the room instead of the reference price of €142.98, plus €8.98 city tax. I earned 493 Reward points and 280 Status points. You can check current rates and availability on the official Accor page for the Mercure Hotel & Residenz Berlin Checkpoint Charlie.