Linnen

Rooms

All ROOMS have restored wooden floors and stylish mix of vintage furniture. The ceilings are particularly beautiful, with faded frescoes and ornate plasterwork, while the ensuites (with a walk-in shower or tub and handheld shower) are clad in Turkish limestone tiles.

Room 4 is the smallest, and the only one facing the rear. Its walls are panelled in reclaimed wood complete with quirky bird sculptures; it sounds cheesy, but it’s surprisingly charming. Note that the shower is integrated into the bedroom, though the loo is separate.

The other 3 rooms are larger and face the street. Room 2 has an industrial-chic vibe, with a leather Pierre Cardin sofa set in a bay window, a long desk, and a huge light fitting that looks like something from an operating theatre. Room 3 is painted in a deep peacock-blue, with oriental artwork and paper lampshades. We stayed in calming, minimalist Room 1, which is dominated by a vast and blissfully comfy four-poster bed set on a raised platform, and has a small balcony. There’s also a 2-bedroom suite, decked out in rich purples and elegant velvet chairs.

Of their APARTMENTS, bright and airy Cuba (sleeps 6), in the same building, has 3 double bedrooms plus an open-plan living-dining-cooking space and a balcony. On the ground floor and opening onto the street is Lego Studio (sleeps 2), a quirky mixed use space which includes a living/reception area, double bedroom (cosy but no windows), galley kitchen and shower room - plus a small gallery which is usually closed off.

The third apartment, Luxx (sleeps 4-6), is in the Mitte neighbourhood near Alexanderplatz, on the first floor of a building on Rosa-Luxemberg Straße: you're within 15 mins' walk of the Dom and the Museumviertel. It comes with 2 bedrooms (one with a double bed, the other with two double beds), a lounge with Chesterfield sofa and parquet floors, and a separate kitchen.

Features include:

• Central heating
• Hairdryer
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Downstairs is a lovely place to linger, with mismatched tables and chairs, stacks of magazines to browse, and a wall covered with 50s-style pink display cases. There's no breakfast as such, but there is a coffee machine and some cereals which you can help yourselves to (free of charge), as well as an honesty bar with beer, wine and organic sodas.

Prenzlauer Berg is packed with restaurants, and Bodo and Antonio will happily recommend their favourites. Just next door is Kochu Karu, which serves Spanish-Korean fusion food; it sounds odd, but the menu of oriental-inspired tapas really does work. Also within an easy stroll are the Italian Cotto e Crudo and the French Les Valseuses (both are very popular with locals, so you may need to book), and lively beer garden Prater. If you want to splash out on something special, jump on the tram and head a couple of stops to Mitte, where you’ll find Michelin-starred Pauly Saal, set in the gymnasium of a former Jewish school.

Features include:

• Coffee maker
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Explore Prenzlauer Berg with its leafy squares and independent shops and cafés. The best areas for browsing are the streets around Kollwitzplatz and Helmholzplatz
  
• Head to the huge Sunday flea market in nearby Mauerpark. In summer the atmosphere is almost carnivalesque, with street artists, open-air karaoke and locals gathering for impromptu picnics. There's also a smaller and less hectic flea market on Sundays around the corner from Mauerpark on Arkonaplatz
  
• Linnen is almost right beside where the Berlin Wall used to divide East from West, and the interesting Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Centre are just a 15-minute walk (or 2 tram stops) away on Bernauer Strasse
  
• Four stops on the M1 tram takes you to Hackescher Markt, the heart of hip and trendy Mitte. The warren of little streets off Rosenthaler Strasse is packed with galleries and boutiques
  
• From Hackescher Markt, you're also within walking distance of Museum Island (whose highlights include the Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum), Friedrichstrasse, the Brandenburger Tor, the Reichstag and the Holocaust Memorial
  
• Check out Berlin’s nightlife - take the M10 tram (referred to by locals as the 'party train') east to the final stop, Warschauer Strasse, where you'll be within walking distance of famous clubs such as Berghain

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Linnen is an intimate space and sound carries, so it's not ideal for children. The suite and Cuba apartment have 2 and 3 bedrooms respectively, but all are doubles (no twins), and there are no baby cots or rollaway beds.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Linnen is located in Prenzlauer Berg in the former East Berlin, just a couple of minutes' walk from the U-Bahn station at Eberswalder Strasse and near several tram stops.

One of the apartments is in Mitte - and if staying there, Bodo and Antonio will send you separate directions.

By Air:
Fly to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. You can take a taxi from the airport, but it's easy to reach Linnen via train, bus and U-Bahn.

By Car:
There is little point in having a car here because public transport is so good. However if you are driving or hiring a car, it is possible to park on the street nearby - ask Linnen about local permits and the environmental badge.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Berlin and getting around