The Berlin Wall may have fallen in 1989 but in the Nineties and Noughties the city still seemed divided by its ghost. With its nightclubs and grungy fashion, the East embodied the phrase ‘poor but sexy’, famously coined by Berlin former mayor Klaus Wowereit. In comparison, the more industrial West was characterised by weighty landmarks, such as Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Brandenburg Gate.

When the Waldorf Astoria Berlin opened in 2013 within the Zoofenster skyscraper designed by German architect Christoph Mäckler, it became the area’s first five-star hotel. Its striking limestone silhouette towered over the city’s skyline like a way marker signposting a new era.

The hotel itself looks to the past as much as the future. Built on the site of the Berlin Palace, it preserves the façade of the original 20th-century structure. Hidden messages are woven intriguingly into its design. The spiral staircase connecting the Roca Restaurant to the Lang Bar is inscribed with the notes of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

Lang Bar, named after Fritz Lang, one of the city's most influential and vibrant figures, was an Austrian-born filmmaker who was a trailblazer of German cinema before achieving legendary status in Hollywood. With its sophisticated ambiance, Lang Bar offers the ideal setting for a quiet drink, creative cocktails, or a light bite from the snack menu, served late into the night. The ambience and decor is reminiscent of a luxury liner—a subtle historical nod to the group’s founder, Jacob Astor IV, who perished aboard the Titanic.

Much like the revitalised surroundings of the City West, Lang Bar balances a connection to the past with an eye on the present, making it a symbol of Berlin’s ongoing reinvention.

Arguably it's from the Serenity rooftop bar that one can really see how this extraordinary hotel has rewritten the story of Berlin’s City West’s area. What was once a collection of 1950s office blocks has been transformed into a vibrant hub, where flagship stores of luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès, stand shoulder to shoulder with art-house cinemas and trendy malls. It’s a true happy ending, if ever we heard one.

Of course, you can explore all of our luxury hotels in Berlin and beyond at ASMALLWORLD Collection, where you will receive VIP benefits such as a room upgrade, hotel credit and more at no extra cost.