SO/ Berlin Das Stue, Berlin, Germany

Step out of the front door to walk, run or cycle in the Tiergarten with its calming lakes, woodland and historic monuments.

Directly next to Berlin Zoo, walk through the Tiergarten to reach sights including the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag building (30 minutes).
By plane: direct flights to Berlin Brandenburg from London (1 hour 40 minutes), Manchester (1 hour 55 minutes) and Edinburgh (2 hours 5 minutes). It's a 30-minute drive to the hotel. skyscanner.net

Perfect for connoisseurs of design hotels, walkers, animal-lovers and shoppers. Families will appreciate the direct access to the zoo and the suites can accommodate an extra guest. On the first, second and third floors there are small lounges where you can relax in a cosy world of books, art and designer furniture.

The staff wear colourful animal print shirts featuring turtles and ostriches that were created by Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Sun terrace
• Swimming pool
• Fitness centre
• Spa
• Library
• Free Wi-Fi

The Embassy rooms looking onto the park stand out and come with a freestanding bath. Some also have a balcony or terrace. The rooms are full of individual touches, such as black slippers decorated with animals and toiletries by Berlin perfumer Biehl.

Stue Room, Embassy Room, Junior Suite, SO Suite, Stue Suite, Penthouse Suite Bel Etage Suite
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, Nespresso machine, smart TV, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi

The à la carte breakfast menu lets you cherry-pick exactly what you fancy, from some healthy chia pudding with raspberry to an indulgent eggs royale. At dinner, we loved the starter of confit lobster with turnip followed by two kinds of German lamb with pine nuts and olive gnocchi.

The Casual: main restaurant, Mediterranean cuisine. All-day menu, open daily. Lunch set menu from €21.