I stayed in this hotel everytime I went to Berlin. its my second home out there.
love their style, mix of modern and cozy, the staff are so friendly, breakfast was very good. rooms were always clean even when I got really small ones.
It has the best locations in Berlin, this one is walking distance from several Uban stations, main bus stop is 5 minutes away, the Belrin Zoo, the BEST doner is right next door, shopping central area is very close. Its also very affordable. totally recommended.

My German friends used to leave their house and come stay with me

Definitely worth a shot. Will stay at another Motel One in Koeln this summer. Clean but small. Definitely ok if you're out exploring all day. TV practically non-existent - if that's how you need to unwind @ the end of the day. Free wi-fi in lobby. Quick elevators. Nice staff. Decent breakfast - but for almost 7 Euro.

This place doesn't offer all the aspects of luxury, but the very important one - the air-conditioner. All the other things are necessities, and the package is most satisfying - there is everything you need for a good night rest and a cheerful start of a new day. The building faces the S-Bahn (city railway) station, but you don't hear a sound from the outside, when in your room.
The hotel is clean, comfy, conveniently located and not expensive.
They serve good breakfast, too.
The staff is friendly and helpful.
I'll definitely return there, when I am in Berlin next time.

I had a good experience overall in this hotel. This is because I knew more or less what to expect and was pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed. First of all, the hotel looks out over the train line, almost just above Zoo station, so you do hear the trains. However, the soundproofing is amazing. You can't hear anything of the traffic on the streets at all. I am very fussy about sleep, but I found the dull shush of trains to be non-intrusive. The view might be a bit depressing, just over train lines, but that didn't bother me so much either in the context of a business trip. The bed was pretty comfortable and I had a good sleep. You can't expect the usual luxuries in the room - no phone, no mini bar, no kettle, no iron, no shampoo, etc etc. But the shower is great, and the hairdryer is good too. It feels new, clean and fresh. The staff were friendly, the lobby bar was laid-back (no food though). I would recommend the hotel overall, but not for all visitors.