The Residenz is described as a 'boutique' hotel. This is a vague term which often means small, but also carefully themed. The Residenz is not large, but is realistically old-fashioned, with narrow corridors and the standard rooms are small. But we got a decent deal between Christmas and New Year and paid a small amount to upgrade to a much better Superior room.
It is very well located, close to the Kurfurstendamm, the main shopping street and near the S-bahn railway station at Zoo, and the underground system. It offers free wi-fi - a big plus and one which other hotels which rip off their customers should note.
We did not try the restaurant as the breakfast was €15 and 100m up the road was a tavern offering an excellent breakfast at half the price. The Residenz was friendly and good value.

Like a previous reviewer, I stayed here for 3 nights a conference, and felt the hotel was excellent value for €65 a night excluding breakfast. The staff are really friendly and helpful with advice and even travel adapters. I used the fast internet service for which they lent me a cable as mine was too short, and they seem to have wifi in the lobby area. I didn't bother with the gym, instead going for a run in the snow round the nearby Zoo.

Selected this hotel because it was close to a conference I attended. It has been my first trip to Berlin, and I felt very much at home at this hotel. The staff was great. I don't know much German, and didn't have time to learn much before I arrived as the trip was not planned too far in advance, but almost all of the staff spoke both English and German and were very friendly. They taught me a lot about the city I would not have otherwise learned, including good restaurant recommendations, museum advice, and accurate instructions on how to use the train. (The U bahn stop is not far away and once I made my initial ride I spent several days hopping all around Berlin.) They also answered my questions about the history of Berlin. In short, their dialogue made me feel more like I was visiting friends rather than staying in a commercial hotel.

My room was indeed small, but not cramped. The structure is beautiful with 14 foot ceilings in my room. Bathroom was indeed "gleaming" as another visitor said. Nice courtyard, which is common on this street. There were two breakfast options, and I only tried the full buffet once, and it provided a good range of options even if it was a bit pricey.

The single room was a great price at around 80 euros. The internet service was free, though it was structured to charge 12 euros a night (I don't know if they once did charge for it and changed their minds).I went to the fitness center and it was plenty clean; I did not go in to the spa, as the other reviewer noted, but there were three gentlemen in there already who seemed to be having a fine time.

I am looking forward to coming back!

Excellent location, right on Kudamm, close to shopping center. Very nice, always very clean rooms, gleaming (shining) bathroom. And all for a reasonable price. Even the rooms with windows on the street are very quiet. Superb restaurant right next to the hotel - Diekmann. Not easy to find parking place