Hotel Bristol Berlin

Even the glitterati are amazed! 

Directly on the City West’s famed Kurfürstendamm boulevard, the Bristol Berlin has been an integral part of this landmark cityscape for over 65 years. Opened in 1952 as the Hotel Kempinski, this was Berlin’s first new luxury hotel after the Second World War. In the years of Germany’s economic miracle, it quickly became a byword for glamour and international high society. Located on a corner block of the Kurfürstendamm’s 3.5 kilometres of luxury, the Kempinski hosted a glittering array of Hollywood stars, intellectuals and politicians – from Sophia Loren, Liza Minelli and Ava Gardner to Sir Alfred Hitchcock and Sir Peter Ustinov and renowned world leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt.

For twenty years, the Kempinski was in a league of its own as West Berlin’s undisputed premier hotel. Moreover, its many innovations set new benchmarks in the hotel industry across Germany. For instance, in 1966 the hotel introduced air conditioning in all its rooms. A sensational new feature was added in 1972, with Germany’s first hotel swimming pool – requiring an investment of the incredible sum at that time of over one million Deutschmarks! So when today’s guests relax in the pool, they are in a genuinely legendary setting – now complete with three saunas and a gym.

Today’s Bristol Berlin has retained some of the extravagant flair of the 1950s – the historic exposed golden columns, pages dressed in the classic Berlin flat cap, and a long tradition of café and restaurant culture … a combination allowing every guest to enjoy the best of both past and present. On request at the Bristol Bar, the expert mixologists prepare the favourites of the glitterati at the hotel for a shorter or (preferably) longer stay. The Bristol Grill still continues a culinary tradition going back over 65 years with roasts wheeled to guests to select their cut, and the flambé an event celebrated at individual tables. Restaurant manager Dirk Hoffmann is the soul of the Bristol Grill. For thirty years, he has been graciously preparing and serving his famous Crêpes Suzette directly at guests’ tables – with the added spice of a few anecdotes about this legendary hotel.