Review: Telegraphenamt

Why book?

With an exceptional location on Monbijoupark in Berlin’s Mitte district, a grand neo-Baroque building once housing the city’s vast telegraph office has been meticulously restored and transformed into a posh destination for discerning travelers.

Set the scene

The airy, open plan lobby with an industrial look (exposed brick walls, concrete beams, metal ceiling dividers) invites lingering. Beyond the lobby is the expansive bar—an especially popular place to co-work, with loads of people in their 20s and 30s tapping away on laptops—and the glamorous restaurant beyond that. Remnants of the original pneumatic tube system throughout the hotel remind you of what this building once was. Adding to the cultured vibe, part of the property is a member’s club, and while mostly exclusive to dues-paying members, it does include a phenomenal gym also open to hotel guests.

The backstory

The Telegraphenamt, built between 1910 and 1916, was at one time the most sophisticated postal building in Germany. Its basement contained a pneumatic mail tube system—one of the largest in Europe, a revolutionary way to deliver mail at that time. The tube system stayed in operation until 1976, and then after the post office shut down in 1992, the building sat empty until the Freiburger Holding company purchased it in 2001. Roland Mary, the well-known proprietor of Berlin’s sceney traditional German eatery Borchardt, helped to spearhead the transformation of the post office into a hotel, restaurant, and member’s club, and is still running the show. The revitalization project was a lengthy one, taking the better part of a decade, with construction beginning in 2012 and lasting till the hotel opened in late 2022.

The rooms

The 97 guest rooms all have an industrial look, with brick barrel vaulted ceilings divided by metal beams and exposed brick walls. Art Deco design elements like illuminated glass capsules, which display the room numbers, nod toward the building’s history, and hanging lamps adorn each side of the bed like a movie star’s chandelier earrings. Bathrooms have a weathered look, with distressed tiles and long metal trough sinks. Room categories range from “Cozy,” which snugly fits a king-sized bed and desk, to “Roomy,” with slightly more space, to the bi-level “Maisonette,” with a bed downstairs and a couch and TV upstairs. I stayed in the highly comfortable “Roomy” style, with a daybed at the foot of the bed. If you’re looking to spread out even more, there are also two very large two-level rooms: Mabel’s Place, with two bathrooms, a soaking tub, and a dining table that seats six, and Graham’s Residence, with a French balcony and dining table for eight.

Food and drink

Restaurant ROOT is oversized and swanky, with brick walls, plush banquette seating, and a high glass ceiling strung with glowing globes painted in a graffiti style. The food on offer is a diverse mix of Asian and European dishes. Start with some nigiri sushi or a creative sushi roll—their signature roll is black tiger prawn, avocado, cream cheese, and panko—followed by an Asian-inflected tartare, curry, or steak. The vegetarian options are also on par; I’d return to have the tofu with a wild herb salad and asparagus many times over. Breakfast is also served in the same groovy space—and it goes until 3 pm, so there’s little chance of missing it, even if you’ve stayed out late at Berlin’s legendary clubs. Continuing with the Asian theme of the restaurant, a Japanese bakery and sushi bar just off the lobby is coming soon. Though occupied by digital nomads during the day, the bar at ROOT buzzes after dark, and a DJ spins techno beats nightly starting at 8:00 pm—this is Berlin, after all.

The spa

Hotel guests have access to the nearly 13,000-square-foot gym, part of the hotel’s member’s club, which also includes several saunas. People staying at the hotel can also take part in one of the 15 group fitness classes held each week.

The neighborhood/area

You’re in one of the best parts of Mitte here, very close to a huge selection of trendy restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as the old courtyards-turned-commerical spaces of Hackesche Höfe. For culture, Telegraphenamt is just steps away from Museum Island, and it’s just a short stroll to Fotografiska Museum Berlin and the galleries on Auguststrasse and surrounding streets. Monbijoupark itself is also a terrific place to chill, and it abuts the Spree River, a perfect place for strolling and people-watching.

The service

There’s no concierge, but the staff are supremely friendly. That said, service overall, in both the hotel and restaurant, is rather low-key and a bit haphazard, and hopefully will tighten up a bit more over time.

For families

Since the hotel’s right on the park (with both a playground and a water park open in the warmer months), the location is wonderful for families. Some of the rooms are simply too small to accommodate kids, though cribs are available for free and extra beds can be added for €50 per night. The only room that already includes a sofabed in addition to the king-size bed is Mabel’s Place, which is on the pricey side. Also bear in mind that children age 4 and up are considered to be “adults” here, so you’ll have to pay extra for their stay.

Accessibility

Seven of the rooms are accessible, with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Three of the seven rooms also include automatic doors.

Anything left to mention?

For lovely views onto the TV Tower and Rotes Rathaus (City Hall), opt for a “City” room (Cozy City, Roomy City, etc.) or one of the suites.