This Schwarzer Baer hotel in Jena is zero star hotel. Four star hotel with receptionist who speaks english worse than receptionist in any hotel in Europe I visited. Wi Fi NOT working (I started speedtest and results I received is worse than in any undeveloped country in Africa 0.17 Mbit/sec Download and 0.15 Mbit/sec Upload speed) and I had problem to check email, to chat through Skype... I know that speedtest.net is not 100% accurate, but...Breakfast was OK, but double room for 2 persons is hundred euro per night. To expensive for 0 star hotel.

I have stayed here many times. Sometimes you get a very large room (at either end of the corridors), sometimes a much smaller one. This is an ancient historical building and parts of it are consequently somewhat gloomy. The restaurant has a rather staid, stuffy atmosphere, but the food and drink are usually to a high standard. For a touch of German humour, take a look at the mural in the gents’ lavatory - it might put you off your business. The hotel is conveniently located for the Planetarium (Germany’s oldest), the Botanical gardens and the University and Market Square. In winter you can park your car for free on the forecourt - in summer there are tables here and you have to pay a few euros to park in an inner yard. Breakfast is good and the rooms are quiet unless you are next to the tram lines. Free wi-fi is also available.

This is definitely a very nice hotel, nice view of trams running in the middle of the roads and beautiful natural scenes. A wide variety of options you will get in the breakfast. It will find all the range in the breakfast from low calories to high fat contents.

I was very puzzled by the previous bad reviews. I found this place to be an excellent value for the money, and definitely on a par with good hotels in other small German provincial cities (this isn't going to be the Berlin Ritz, folks: you're in Jena!). It was quaint, charming, quiet, and clean, and the heating was still on and working (adjustable) despite its being June- a touch I definitely appreciated! The breakfast was outstanding, and actually better than the one I ate the following week in the Kempinski Four Seasons in Munich. My German colleague concurred and continually houses his conference attendees here. In short, quaint, atmospheric, and I found everyone to be polite and helpful as well.