Above: Hotel de Rome Roof Terrace
When BlackBook’s new CONCIERGE SHOWDOWN feature debuted earlier this month, our eyes were already cast towards Europa. And so it is that we’ve tapped the virtuoso concierges of two very glamorous hotels in two of our most beloved cities, Berlin and Venice—destinations whose only similarity might be their monumental cultural gravitas. Indeed, both have always proudly put art and pleasure before business.
Berlin is at its best in fall and winter, when the chill drives locals and visitors alike into the cultural institutions and nightspots, and the German capital’s artistic and sybaritic frisson is particularly electric. To wit, the European Month of Photography takes over more than 100 museums and galleries from October 16 to November 16, while October 7 to 12 sees the city’s epicures assemble for the new Berlin Food Week.
Both the illustrious Venice Film Festival and the exalted Biennale turn the capital of the Veneto into a paparazzi’s dream at their regularly scheduled intervals. But we recommend a visit this fall to catch the 14th International Architecture Exhibition, which runs through November 23; titled Fundamentals, it is curated by Rem Koolhaas. Venice is also at its most enigmatic and romantic in late autumn and winter…when its quiet back streets take on an air of intrigue.
HOTEL DE ROME, BERLIN
While we certainly love lurking in the Berlin underworld by night, when morning arrives we’d prefer to have our head resting on a pillow at the elegantly sexy Hotel de Rome. It’s a particular standout member of the unerringly urbane Rocco Forte Hotels group (Sir Rocco is sort of a European counterpart to Ian Schrager), which also boasts some of the chicest sleeps in London, Florence, Brussels and other marquee Euro cities.
De Rome’s glittering guest book includes the likes of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington and Sandra Bullock, who surely check into the gorgeous Renaissance Suite, whose vintage bookcase features a sneaky hidden door, or the sprawling Bebel Suite (pictured), which is done up sort of like a Weimar era apartment. A new restaurant and bar, La Banca, will be opening soon; but in the meanwhile, the Opera Court is a swank spot for tea and champers. The hotel’s photo-op-worthy Bebelplatz location is equally convenient to Kreuzberg clubbing and Charlottenburg shopping.
BERLIN INSIDER TIPS FROM HEAD CONCIERGE ANNE RABER
Best Place In Berlin To Snap An Unusual Selfie
“Be cool in the pool” of the Badeschiff and take a pic with either the TV Tower and the Oberbaum Bridge or the Molecule Man.
Best Place To Discover The Next Great Berlin Street Artist
Pictured: Haus Schwarzenberg
Cassiopeia or Haus Schwarzenberg, both are street artists’ hangouts.
Best Place To Meet A Cute German Art Type
Grill Royal
Best Place To Spot A German Film Star
Borchardt, an institution for more than 100 years.
Best Place To Eat Something You’ve Never Eaten Before
Cô Cô – bánh mì deli, amazing Vietnamese subs.
Best Club For Berlin’s Underground Techno Scene
Berghain – who is afraid of Sven? (ed. note: Sven Marquardt is the club’s legendary doorman.)
Next Next Hip Neighborhood After Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain
Red Island, on the verge and close enough to the Akazien Kiez.
Best Place To Make The Scene In West Berlin
Polo shirt meets twin-set with pearl necklace at restaurant Grosz; and for later, go clubbing at Pearl.
Best Lesser-Known Day Trip From Berlin
Unesco Heritage Sites in and around Dessau: beautiful Wörlitz Gardens and the Bauhaus. About 125 km south west. Or the coastal part of Greifswald at the mouth of the Ryck, named Greifswald-Wieck. About 250 km north.
Best Place To Drink With German Football Fanatics
Olympic Stadium of course! Then enjoy a tightly packed S Bahn ride after a Hertha match back to sports pub Berliner Republik. During the Soccer World Cup it was the stadium Alte Försterei of the second league Berlin Union soccer club; fans brought their sofas into the stadium to watch the games.
A Funny Story From The Hotel?
We had to get medicine for camels; in this process we learned that it is important not to get confused with a dromedary.
LUNA HOTEL BAGLIONI, VENICE
Nobody does over the top glamour like the Italians—and Baglioni hotels brilliantly epitomize such stylish extravagance. Their Venetian flagship, Luna Hotel Baglioni, has an absolutely dazzling history: Sean Connery, Elton John, The Dalai Lama, Lindsay Lohan and Anne Hathaway have all traversed its luxuriously marble clad corridors—and probably also snuck across the cobbles to neighboring Harry’s Bar for Bellinis and air kisses.
Even the smallest rooms are awash in opulent splendor; and specialty suites have sprawling terraces with life-altering Lagoon views. The hotel’s Canova restaurant does high concept seafood in a lavish setting, but the casual cool Caffe Baglioni is where the art and film worlds do their schmoozing.
VENICE INSIDER TIPS FROM HEAD CONCIERGE PIERLUIGI SANTINI
Best Place To Take A Glamorous Selfie In Venice
The Island of S. Giorgio Maggiore, on the water side, facing the church. Behind you there will be a wonderful view of St. Mark’s Basin and St. Mark’s Basilica.
Best Place To Spot A Star During The Venice Film Festival
Walking on the beach at Lido Island.
Best Place To See A Masterpiece In Situ
Pictured: Scuola dei Carmini
The Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, where you can admire Titian’s masterpiece Santa Maria Assunta. Also, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, to see the frescoes done by Tintoretto and his pupils. And Scuola dei Carmini, where Giambattista Tiepolo painted nine incomparable ceiling canvases in the Chapter Hall between 1739 and 1749.
Not-To-Be-Missed Exhibit At The 2014 International Architecture Exhibition
Italian Pavilion at the Artiglieria of The Arsenale.
Best Place To Eat Something You’ve Never Eaten Before
All Arco and Cantina già Schiavi, near Rialto Bridge, where you can taste the famous Venetian “cicchetti” (small servings of a combination of seafood, meat and vegetable ingredients on a slice of bread or polenta).
Best Place To Mingle With Venice’s Young Creatives
Campo Santa Margherita, near the University; it’s one of the liveliest corners of the city, where spritz is enjoyed during happy hour and beyond. Also Erbaria, near Rialto Bridge.
Most Beautiful Secret Views Of Venice
Corte Botera, a tiny private court in the Castello district; and Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a spiral staircase, a typical example of the architectural transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style.
Best Place to Fall In Love In Venice
On a Gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs at dusk, or in St. Mark’s Square by night.
Best Place To See A Modern Opera Performance
Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto, where an innovative approach to opera has been conceived. The individual events evolve through several rooms of the palace, so as to enjoy the baroque setting.
A Funny Story From The Hotel?
An Arabian Sheik wished to park his helicopter on the terrace of the suite he reserved.
The post CONCIERGE SHOWDOWN: Berlin And Venice appeared first on BlackBook.