lux1109

Berlin is no stranger to good press. As one of Europe’s older yet newer cities, its construction boom has received much attention in the years following the reunification of Germany. Despite the city’s blossoming tourism industry resulting from international accolades, Berlin has been slow to pick up the über-popular boutique hotel trend. One pioneer in the industry in East Berlin’s fashionable Mitte District is Lux 11.

The German people have always been known for their impeccable efficiency and utility without frills and fuss. Upholding that philosophy, Lux 11 caters to an independent or low-maintenance type of clientele. Unlike most mid-size hotels, they do not have round-the-clock service, daily housekeeping or room service. Instead each apartment-style guestroom is equipped with a full kitchen, dishwasher and washer and dryer.

London-based architects Giuliana Salmaso and Claudio Silvestrin designed Lux 11, which opened its doors in mid 2005. “The interiors of Lux 11 play with opposites: warm and cold, smooth and rough,” says Salmaso. “Interiors in Berlin are mainly in concrete and wood, so we chose concrete in China green and warm wood.”

As for the décor in room, the look is minimal, but warm and appealing. Furniture and fixtures features sharp, 90-degree angles in varying neutral tones. The elegant washrooms offer angular, concrete sinks and glass-encased rain showers, as well as alter-type tubs in certain rooms.

Lux 11 entertains guest on a nightly basis at their acclaimed restaurant Shiro i Shiro. The restaurant serves a fusion of Italian and Asian cuisines by Chef Duc Ngo. The menu at Shiro i Shiro offers fare like skate and scallops on rhubarb with orange chili and salmon caviar. The hotel also plays home to an Aveda Spa and Salon, as spa popularity is just beginning to gain ground in Berlin.

The hotel’s name—some might assume it is short for luxury—stems from its location on Rosa-Luxemburg Street or”Strasse”, located just steps from the famous Fernsehturm Television Tower in Alexanderplatz. Lux 11 is also just minutes away from Museum Island and Hackesche Höfe, a popular shopping neighborhood made up of independent designers, bars and cafés.

Lux 11 is a member of Design Hotels. Reservations available at designhotels.com