I have been a resident of the Kastanienhof since late November 2010. Today is 12 Dec 2010. The Kastanienhof is truly a home away from home. There are only positive thoughts. The Hotel is an older Berlin structure updated to a 1999 look. Tons of hot water and heat for a winter stay. A staff and personnel to die for. Complete room service and a free morning breakfast buffet. Cash bar all rooms and one smoking room which is aired daily and sprayed daily. Shower up to date and bed is wonderful. Transit facilities at front door and Taxi's within five minutes or less. The DB Ice railroad, 230mph or faster from Frankfurt and to,is 20 minutes away. The M1 Tram connects with every form and type of transportation in Berlin and for those of us who served here in the 1960's serve both East and West Berlin.

Very Important ***********((Should you become lost, which you will,!!!!, stop a TAXI and ask to be taken to Oranienburg Tor. You will find the M1 will be with you shortly and a few minutes later you will be in front of your Hotel Kastanienhof.))*********** Two up to date shopping centers are readily availabe to the hotel. For the Shonehauser Shopping platz ask the desk clerk. For the Rathaus Pankow Shopping center get on the west bound M1 and ride for 15 minutes. Get off at Pankow Rathause and directly across from your Tram is the revolving entrance door. A smiling "Green Mouse" on an outdoor sign will show you the way. Think "Rathaus Pankow'.

You can stay in fully 2010 progressive and ultra hotel if you wish @ 4 times the cost per night which you will quickly realize is sheer stupidity as you are asleep most of the time. Please review all of the other reviews as someone may have a complaint. Disregard all and stay where you are always welcome in "My City" of Berlin. President Kennedy stated "Ich bin eine Berliner" and so am I. Enjoy "My Berlin". One final remark, Leave "The Ugly American" at home and become for a few days a Berliner. The visit and stay of a life time. Thank you for reading this review.

Stayed for a weekend in this great little hotel in Prenzlauer, a charming, youthful neighborhood with lots of cool cafes and bars. Staff is very helpful and friendly, location is fabulous if this is the neighborhood you're after. Very quiet rooms if you sacrifice the view over Kastanienallee. Bathrooms was better than expected from a three star hotel. The hotel does not have a night receptionist, you get an electronic key that opens the front door. Breakfast is excellent and included in room price. Make sure to get an espresso and the apple tart in the cafe across the street, a real gem.
Last tip: Hire a bicycle. This is by far the best way of exploring Berlin, and the hotel has bikes for rent.

We found this hotel on Trip Advisor. The location is central, without being in the noisy part of town. The staff are helpful and accommodating to an extent. One mistake we made was to not confirm a non-smoking room prior to arrival, and by the time we checked in, a smoking room was all they had available. Luckily our room smelled ok, and it was not too cold to keep the windows open a crack and allow air flow to flow in at night. But, traveler be warned! We wont make that mistake again. The rooms are spacious, simple and clean, and we even had a table with two chairs in our room. Although the hotel only offers hard wire Internet ( a little archaic to not offer wireless in this day and age?), there is a laptop available for use in the office, for a small fee. Our stay overall was satisfactory, although we were disappointed at the end when as we were bringing down our suitcases to depart, my partner was growled at by the lady at reception that he must not leave without returning our
room keys. This, without so much as a greeting of good morning from her, and also when it was quite obvious he was not making an attempt to walk put of the hotel just yet. We're just saying, she could have made the request in a more polite manner.

My husband and I were in Berlin this weekend for the marathon. The hotel is situated in a lively district with loads of different types of bar and restaurant in walking distance. The U-bahn (underground) is a 5 minute walk away and that gets you to all the main tourist attractions no bother.

Our room was bigger than expected with a good bathroom and power shower (heaven after running all that way in the rain!). We asked for a double room but it had twin beds, but still comfortable. We didn't have breakfast there but when we asked if it was possible to have tea and coffee making facilities a kettle and cups were quickly provided! Staff also very friendly and helpful.