Hotel Publix Guest­house

Nine rooms, two views: anyone staying at the Publix Guest­house in Berlin-Neu­kölln looks either down onto the bustling Her­mann­straße, at cars snaking their way along, parked delivery vans and people hur­rying by with a matcha latte in hand. Or – facing the other way – into the treetops of an old cemetery. The sil­houette of the trees is inter­rupted – how could it be otherwise in a city of con­trasts? – by the yellow-grey beacon masts of the former Tem­pelhof Airport. That’s right, ever­y­thing comes tog­ether here: you’re always close to the action, yet you maintain a distance that somehow lends an air of objec­tivity.

Why is this so signi­ficant for these rooms? They are situated on the top floor of Publix, a centre for jour­nalism and demo­cratic public life, opened in 2024 by the Schöpflin Foun­dation. Edi­torial teams, initia­tives and media pro­fes­sionals work here, and events are held here to bring people tog­ether to discuss issues relating to the media and demo­cracy. This space is designed to foster exchange, and its archi­tecture is the work of the AFF practice. From the outside, the building almost resembles a fortress, though on the ground floor it opens up to the wider com­munity: behind large glass panels lies a forum with a public canteen, at the centre of which is a tiered staircase made of solid Douglas fir, part grand­stand, part podium. Between the Publix and its neigh­bouring building – the Spore Initiative, also sup­ported by Schöpflin – the his­toric gateway to the Pro­testant cemetery has been pre­served and acts as a hinge between the square in front of the new buil­dings and the garden.

On the top floor of the Publix there are seven single rooms and two double rooms, each with its own bathroom, plus a simple kit­chenette for everyone’s use. The rooms are excep­tio­nally mini­malist but tas­tefully designed, and are just as suited to sleeping as they are to reading, working and reflecting. On weekdays, breakfast is served in the Kantine, with a changing sel­ection of dishes at lunchtime, and Neu­kölln and Kreuzberg are always right on your doorstep. For those who need some peace and quiet to let it all sink in, the garden – at least when the weather is fine – is the perfect spot.

In the rooms, on the other hand, the large windows facing Herr­mann­straße invite you to look out and reflect; after all, the city out there never stops moving. And if you look out towards the back, you feel a little closer to the sky than any­where else in Neu­kölln – after all, you’re looking towards the approach path of the former airport. Whe­rever you look from this guest­house, you’re gua­ranteed to have the necessary distance from the hustle and bustle – and that’s a very soothing expe­rience.

What to do

Berlin to the max: the capital entices with everything you can imagine – and a few things that seem quite unimaginable. If you’re coming to work, you can rent a desk in a co-working space, or even a film or podcast studio if needed. Perfect for stays where you want to finish a project in a focused atmosphere!

Why we like this house

Because it so clearly juxtaposes two sides of Berlin: the hustle and bustle and the quiet contemplation. And because you’re sharing a space with a community dedicated to a social cause.

This house is great for

Solo travellers or couples who want to experience Berlin at its liveliest. Or simply those travelling to the capital to work.

Sustainability

Travelling here by public transport isn’t just possible, it’s actually highly recommended – there’s an underground station just two minutes away.

Details

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