KPM Hotel & Residences

Founded by King Frederick II in 1763, Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM) is a porcelain manufacturing factory with a royal pedigree. Each piece is a work of art — it’s common for 25 artisans to work on a single coffee cup before it's stamped with KPM’s signature orb and scepter — and the brand brought the same level of precision to bear when the time came to design its first luxury hotel. KPM Hotel & Residences is located on the factory grounds, occupying a privileged position on the edge of Berlin’s leafy Tiergarten park, but the architecture has little in common with the property’s stately original buildings. The work of Axthelm Rolvien, a prize-winning German architecture firm, the hotel is striking and sculptural, featuring a slate-gray steel facade and a cubist silhouette.

The sleek, monochromatic interiors follow a similar aesthetic, but elegant art objects in white porcelain, made at the adjacent factory, pay subtle tribute to the site’s history. Rooms and suites are minimalist with wide-planked wooden flooring, cutting-edge lighting systems, bespoke furnishings, and ultra-modern stone bathrooms. Downstairs, an elegant breakfast is served on KPM china, the on-site restaurant serves Asian-inspired cuisine, and a stylish communal pantry and kitchen offers complimentary Nespresso and cold drinks around the clock. Take a coffee up to the rooftop; there’s no bar, but the open-air terrace is a lovely place to relax.

The location is a bit removed from Berlin’s beating heart, but a fleet of bicycles and e-bikes is available for a casual pedal through the park, while the hotel’s electric Porsches are ready to whisk guests away to museums or dinner reservations. If time permits, a tour of the porcelain factory, with an optional hands-on workshop, is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon.