Opened in 2015, Titanic Gendarmenmarkt Berlin is housed in an 18th century structure that was formerly a storage space for the German State Opera; its facade and green patinaed roof points to that past. The property is part of a chain of Titanic hotels, known for their ship-shaped concept hotels in Turkey. The brand has three Berlin outposts, and the Gendarmenmarkt one is the most elegant of the bunch. Though the ship theme is shed here, the hotel has plenty of opulence in common with its namesake luxury liner. The lobby offers a cultivated melange of styles, pairing parquet floors with grand marble columns and fashionable Art Nouveau accents. Gold-cage French canopy chairs, Chesterfield sofas, and armchairs upholstered in velvet or leather add another layer of polish. Its an elegant, pull-together look that attracts all manner of well-heeled guests, from business travelers to tourists. 

Titanic Gendarmenmarkt Berlin is situated in Berlin's central Mitte district, on a quiet street just a minute's walk from Gendarmenmarkt, an elegant square of architectural renown. Within a four-minute walk, guests can reach Friedrichstraße, a boulevard lined with upscale restaurants and shops like Galeries Lafayette. The closest U-Bahn station is just a minute's walk farther. It's an incredibly central location: The hotel is almost as close to the UNESCO World Heritage sight of Museum Island as it is to the famed Unter den Linden, the main boulevard leading to Brandenburg Gate. 

• Five-minute walk to Museum Island
• Six-minute walk to Unter den Linden
• 12 minutes to Alexanderplatz via public transit (20-minute walk)
• 13 minutes to Potsdamer Platz via public transit (20-minute walk)
• 15-minute walk to Checkpoint Charlie
• 15 minutes to Berlin Central Station via public transit
• 17-minute-walk to Brandenburg Gate
• 25 minutes to Kaiser Wilhelm Church via public transit 
• 40 minutes to Berlin Tegal Airport via public transit
• One hour to Berlin-Schönefeld Airport via public transit

Guest rooms are sleek, sophisticated, and pristine with dark wood floors and cream colored walls (plus mirrored accent walls). Throughout, vivid red details play off a behind-the-bed photo mural -- an image of theater curtains referencing the hotel's origins as the opera's costume warehouse. Scalloped headboards and Louis XV chairs are paired with more modern furnishings like lacquered surfaces and desk chairs on casters. Amenities also reflect the property's luxury status: individually controlled air-conditioning, safes, Samsung tablets, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi come standard. Minibars offer one bottle of sparkling water for free, and electric kettles with instant coffee. Bathrooms, clad in marble, are outfitted with magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, individual Barbor toiletries, plus plush bathrobes and slippers. Rooms face either the street or a quiet inner courtyard, and some rooms have French balconies.

At 215 square feet, entry-level Classic Rooms can feel snug for an upmarket property, but they're smartly arranged. Bathrooms here can be particularly compact, with glass shower stalls and little space for moving around the sink. Higher-category rooms have larger walk-in showers -- but only the highest category rooms (Sezen Aksu Suites) have separate tubs. Rooms in higher categories also add extra space with lounge areas, multiple bathrooms, stereo systems, and other extras. The 16 suite-level rooms swap out electric kettles for Nespresso machines. There are four duplex suites, and the largest suite is over 1,000 square feet. 

One of this hotel's biggest draws is its enormous two-story, 10,000 square foot BeFine Spa, which is open to guests for free and features a large Turkish hamam, a dry sauna, a steam bath, a wood-floored gym with a range of modern cardio and weight-lifting equipment, locker rooms with rainfall showers, and luxury relaxation areas -- think private cabana-like nooks. There are also three treatment rooms for beauty services and massages, though these are pricey. The hotel doesn't have a swimming pool, though, and the spa can be difficult to find from within the hotel. (It's easier to go in through the exterior entrance.) 

Dining here is also high-end. Shinkel Bar, which has entrances from the street and through the hotel, features a wood floors and exposed brick walls. It's open from mid-afternoon until late, with an extensive drink menu, including whiskey, rum, and gin lists as well as wine, beer, cigars, coffee, and light dishes. The hotel is also home to the high-end Beef Grill Club by Hasir, a quality steakhouse open evenings six days a week during dinner hours. Tables spill out into an outdoor courtyard in warmer months. The hotel's daily breakfast buffet is extensive and well-liked among guests, but it costs a pricey extra fee. 

Concierge and room service are on offer, along with morning newspapers, luggage storage, and valet parking (for an extra fee). Pets are allowed for a base cleaning fee plus an extra nightly fee. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel is free. The property also has two meeting rooms and a ballroom that can host up to 250 guests.