The Crowne Plaza Berlin Potsdamer Platz hotel only opened in 2013, and has already gone through a name change (it was formerly the Wyndham Grand Berlin). It was originally the sprawling five-story Berlin Postpalais, and something of the 1930s post office remains in the wide corridors, high ceilings, and natural stone floors. In the bright monochrome lobby, pod-like Art Deco reception desks curve dramatically in black and gold. Further inside, a stylish staircase spirals with organic irregularity from the restaurant and bar to the top of the hotel. Overall the atmosphere is welcoming and polished, and both business and leisure travelers should be happy here.

The Crowne Plaza Berlin Potsdamer Platz is across from the Tempodrom event venue in the hip neighborhood of Kreuzberg. Though the hotel is not in the heart of Potsdamer Platz as the name suggests, the square can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot. Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror are also within easy walking distance to this hotel. To get to other areas of the city, there are a U-Bahn and S-Bahn station, both under a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It’s about a 25-minute drive to Berlin Tegel Airport or a 45-minute commute via public transportation.

All 256 rooms (and 19 suites) have a Japanese cherry blossom theme -- a departure from the Art Deco feel elsewhere. They have a color palette in gray, pink, and light blue, as well as light wood floors and dark wood furniture. Each has a large-scale cherry blossom motif depicted on the wall above the bed. The pink armchairs and throw pillows add pops of color that match the theme. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls for optimal viewing, and there are work desks and roller chairs in every room. Minibars and electric kettles are included, but guests have to spring for suites to get Nespresso machines. The bathrooms have heated towel racks and large walk-in rainfall showers, with suites adding separate soaking tubs and twin vanities. There is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi.

The Crowne Plaza's centerpiece is its stylish eatery and attached bar. The Post restaurant styles itself after a French brasserie, with an open kitchen surrounded on all sides by the dining room. The menu is Mediterranean-focused with bread salads, lots of seafood, and hearty dishes like braised ox cheeks with a parsley puree in port wine jus. A seasonal terrace provides outdoor seating for those who prefer to skip the kitchen show. The Post Bar, connected to lobby and restaurant behind a round glass wall, serves burgers along with its craft cocktails. 

The hotel has a full-service spa with a steam room, sauna, and relaxation room, as well as treatment rooms for massages. A small mirrored fitness room stays open 24 hours with a few treadmills, steppers, and cardio bikes. Business facilities include eight different modern meeting rooms, some of which can be combined to accommodate events for up to 250 people. There's also a quiet, enclosed business center, equipped with several Macs and printers on separate desks with phones and roller chairs. Wi-Fi is only free in the public areas.