ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin

My husband and I just returned from a great trip to Berlin, where we spent seven nights at the Arcotel Velvet. We were very pleased with our hotel choice, both for its convenient access to public transportation and its clean, well-designed rooms. There are scores of bars and restaurants in the immediate area, serving just about every ethnic cuisine you can think of: Brazilian, Cuban, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, and yes, even German food. We skipped the pricey hotel breakfast and had coffee and pastries every morning at the little coffee shop right next to the hotel -- very friendly service, with some English spoken by most of the employees. Our room was quiet, thanks to the thermal-pane windows and drapes, despite being right above the busy street below (we were on the fifth floor). I notice some reviewers are bothered by the bathroom design, but we thought it was great. Yes, the shower and sink open directly into the room, but there's a sheer wrap-around curtain (which helps to diffuse glare from the bathroom lights) and the toilet area is completely private (i.e., a separate little room with a door). There were plenty of clothes hangars and a large Ikea-type armoire with conveniently-sized shelves and a room safe. Bed linens were high quality, with separate "his and hers" duvets for each side of the bed -- very clever and comfy. If we return to Berlin (which we hope to do, given how much there is to see), we'll definitely stay here again.