lyf East Frankfurt

The advent of apartment-sharing has had an effect on the hotel business, to be sure, but anyone who thought it meant the end of the line for hotels would have to be surprised. Some hotels have suffered, others have raised their game to compete, and some, like Frankfurt’s extraordinary lyf East, have managed to create a synthesis of the best of both worlds. They’re threading the needle by calling it a “guest community,” which means the occupants of its 100 suites and its various social spaces are as likely to be long-term tenants as they are overnight guests.

It’s an impressive piece of architecture by Franken Architekten, with colorful, varied interiors by Studio Aberja, featuring furniture and design pieces by carefully selected suppliers, as well as a vast amount of work by local contemporary artists. And it’s a good thing — you’d go mad spending a week in some hotels, but this one never stops feeling lively and stimulating. The comforts, too, are intended to be long-lasting, from the upscale Fennobed mattresses to the Bang & Olufsen sound systems.

Equally welcoming are the lyf East's many common spaces, from the Parlour, with its library and record collection, to the rooftop terrace, with its view over Frankfurt and the Main basin. Community kitchens allow for self-catering, with a little help from the hotel’s indoor farm, and a bar, a bakery, and an all-day restaurant are on hand when you’d prefer to leave it to someone else.