Hotel Palace Berlin is a modern, upscale hotel housed in a rather unattractive, generic-looking building. But once inside, things change. The lobby area is done up in beige and brown with hints of orange and red. The front desk is sleek and marble, and there’s a large seating area with velour chairs and couches and ceilings with geometric patterns and fiber-optic lights that trace the edges. The red-and-tan hallway carpeting, though, could use a refresh. The warm tones continue in the lobby lounge, which is filled with  green, red, and tan velour chairs and wooden tables, while the hotel’s bar, with its wood-paneled walls, dark leather chairs and booths, and pop-art portraits on the walls, calls up images of an old cigar bar. The breakfast room has a casual atmosphere, with tan leather chairs, red-and-tan carpeting, and colorful ceiling displays. With its extensive event space and meeting rooms, the hotel is a natural draw for business travelers and convention-goers, but given its convenient Europa Center location, tourists find their way here too -- especially on the weekends and holidays.  

Hotel Palace Berlin has a superb location for both tourists and business travelers. It’s connected to the Europa Center, a shopping center with more than 70 shops and restaurants. For more shopping, travelers can head to popular Kurfuerstendamm Street, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The hotel is nestled between the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium -- a five-minute walk away. The Bradenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial are best reached by U-Bahn (seven minutes away) or by bus (a one-minute walk). Berlin Tegel Airport is an 18-minute drive from the hotel. 

Hotel Palace Berlin's 278 rooms range from somewhat dated to sleek. The more modest rooms have a slightly dated decor with polished medium-to-dark-wood furniture, white linen beds with red accents, wooden floors, gray rugs, and cream or blue velour couches and chairs. Updated rooms are sleeker, designed with modern flair that includes black-and-gray accents, beds with tufted white headboards, black-and-white photographs, and velour tan and gray armchairs. But even here, some of the decorative touches feel less than elegant, such as the flashy neon back-lighting along the edges of the headboards. While the decor can feel hit or miss, the amenities are top-notch including little luxe extras like a sewing kit, shoe polish, and adapters. Desks are decked out for business travelers with phones with dual lines, a port strip for USBs and other plugs, and a keyboard. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, minibars, kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Club Rooms get access to the Club Lounge, while upper-level Suites can include two TVs, trouser presses, and locations on high-security access floors. The marble bathrooms vary in size but include shower/tub combos or separate showers and tubs (some are jetted whirlpools), hairdryers, and Noir toiletries. 

The centerpiece of Hotel Palace Berlin is its wellness center, which features an indoor pool, gym, and spa. The gym has Technogym cardio equipment and free weights, while the spa features saunas, baths, a solarium, and massages and treatments. Keep in mind that use of spa facilities comes with a fee, but the pool and gym are free. There’s also a bar that serves drinks and light snacks in the wellness area. The hotel lacks a full-service restaurant on-site, but Bon Dia serves a varied breakfast in the morning (for a hefty fee), which includes a tea bar, pastries, meats, cheeses, and a live cooking station. The lobby lounge offers light bites and drinks throughout the day, while the House of Gin, the hotel’s bar, offers more than 150 types of gin. Room service is available 24/7, and there’s a smokers' lounge in the lobby. For guests staying in Club Rooms and Suites, the Club Lounge provides snacks, breakfast, and drinks throughout the day at no additional charge, as well as business services. There's 25,833 square feet of event space, and 17 fully equipped meeting rooms. There’s also a business center, and free Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but connection speed can vary. Valet parking is available for a fee.