Hotel Q! ★★★★

Call me old-school, but often when I hear someone talking about ‘futuristic design’ I will roll my eyes ever so slightly, picturing soulless white hallways, weird angular furniture and abrasively clashing colours, the kind of wacky style which would look great on the walls of a modern art gallery, but not necessarily conducive to a comfortable living environment. The Hotel Q! however, is certainly not one of those supposedly ground-breaking yet ironically ‘same old same old’ creations…

This is a warm and alluring take on cutting-edge futuristic style. We walked through the door and instantly sensed a feeling of romance and glamour in the air. Rich shades of red and gold were atmospherically illuminated, filling the lobby with an ethereal, iridescent light - it was as if we had stumbled into the glowing heart of Berlin. Rather than harsh angles there were slanted walls which fluidly merged into benches and tables, like the whole room was delicately hewn from one giant red ruby. Everything was smooth lines and soothing curves, a design based on the concept that a right angle is a wrong angle.

What does all this mean in practical terms? It means that the Hotel Q! is one of the trendiest, most desirable hotels in town, as evidenced by the savvy crowd of locals, tourists and, of course, VeryChic customers who gather every evening in the swanky Fox Bar. We were surrounded by Berlin’s most glamorous guests and treated like film stars with the bar and the hotel’s outstanding service - it wasn’t just the same team of designers employed by Brad Pitt which made us feel like Hollywood’s most famous couple!

It started with the welcome we received when we first entered, as warm as the fire which was flickering in the corner, our first glimpse of the personal, friendly and unpretentious service. We were handed the keys to our room and sent on our way to our beautiful cocoon of luxury and design. In the rooms there is a sleeker, black and white colour scheme, but no less character. Desire and passion may not be kindled by the same red and gold found downstairs, but they are still there in abundance; with seductive murals subtly printed on the walls and ceiling, and a voyeuristic, open plan shower room, we gave ourselves over to a weekend of unrestrained romance. Meanwhile, the furnishings maintained the same elegant curved edges as in the lobby, and the facilities provided a faultless level of luxury.

Fatigued from a stressful journey, when we arrived we headed straight to the ‘Wellness Oasis’ spa to fully energise ourselves for the action-packed city break ahead. Just like everywhere else, the spa’s ultramodern design is complemented by the very best state-of-the-art facilities, as well as various creative and innovative services. In addition to a traditional Asian ambiance and some more classic options such as a Finnish sauna and sumptuously soothing massages, the spa boasts one of Berlin’s most unusual and eccentric services, the sand room. This minimalist space is a chance to relax on a sun lounger with your feet in the sand, for those guests who did not realise that Berlin was 200km from the sea. We managed to resist the temptation of a spot of indoor sunbathing and made do with a stress-relieving massage for two.

In no time at all, we felt ready and eager to head out into the streets of the German capital. In the city which was the stage for some of the world’s most fascinating, shocking and momentous moments during the 20th century, there are so many historic sites to visit – the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust memorial, the Berlin Wall… While we could not miss these, some of Europe’s most thought-provoking monuments, the Hotel Q! had inspired us to focus most of our energy on discovering the youthful, modern side of Berlin. We stumbled upon galleries with eye-catching contemporary artworks, cool bars offering free concerts, the multicultural and alternative vibe of the Kreuzberg district, energetic nightlife and chic shopping centres.

Though every day was completely different, not a single evening passed when we did not head into the Hotel Q!’s Fox Bar at some point. The chilled-out music played by the DJs and the trendy, young after-work crowd created a sophisticated, exclusive atmosphere, which we felt very much a part of. Offering the chance to nurse a German beer on a cosy fireside sofa in winter, or while away a summer evening with a refreshing cocktail on the outdoor terrace, the Fox Bar is one of Berlin’s coolest night time hangouts all year round. Combined with the city’s most stylish contemporary hotel, I could imagine no better way to make sure you head up to bed every night filled with the lively, fun-loving spirit of modern Berlin!