Hotel Wilmina

In a lush green backyard in the middle of Charlottenburg, the Wilmina – an extraordinary hotel with a delicate history – reveals its truly unique dimension. Once a courthouse and women’s prison, the listed ensemble has been transformed by the architect couple Grüntuch Ernst, who have extended it and reinterpreted it as a place of community. The architects themselves initiated the project and are also involved in the management of the hotel.

From the outside, the classicist old building façade of Berlin’s Kantstraße does not yet reveal what lies behind its large wooden double doors: a hidden idyll of red brick buildings and intertwining courtyards, overgrown with dense trees, shrubs and climbing plants, which, as a newly designed hotel with 44 individual rooms and suites, a restaurant, its own bakery and day bar as well as a multidisciplinary art and culture area, offers peace and retreat in the middle of the city. If you want to take a dip above the rooftops of the city, there is even a refreshing pool with a view over the neighbourhood.

Built in 1896, the freestanding structures functioned as a criminal court and prison for many decades until they were closed in 1985 and partly used as archives. After many years of vacancy, the architectural firm Grüntuch Ernst renovated the buildings over a period of ten years in a particularly sustainable way – with great sensitivity for the complicated history of the site. The result is a contemplative and comfortable retreat with both historical and contemporary flair, clear, minimalist design, the finest materials and bright colours.

The former prison cells were dissolved and transformed into bright rooms of various categories – from small but cosy to the Classic Extended Version for the daily yoga routine to the room with a view of the ivy- and vine-covered garden.
For even more views, there are rooms, suites or the Garden Loft with kitchenette in the newly built Penthouse. Each unit has unique features and historical elements – such as the cell doors and windows, which have been given a new interpretation.

In addition to the stylish rooms and the winding garden scenery with birdsong, guests can look forward to a library where breakfast is served between floor-to-ceiling windows and ceiling-high bookshelves, a fireplace lounge with a billiard room as well as a spa and gym. The Lovis restaurant welcomes guests under an artfully arranged sea of lights – a design element that also runs like a luminous thread through the cell wing. For a snack or drink in between, you can stroll through the lush greenery to the Lotta day bar, the in-house bakery Wilmina Brot provides guests and neighbourhood alike with fresh natural sourdough bread and fine baked goods and the Amtsalon invites you to exhibitions and projects relating to art, architecture and design. An open history book and urban hideaway to get lost in and discover.

What to do

Discover and experience Berlin in all its facets: As a starting point, Charlottenburg offers a varied atmosphere between elegant old building facades, magnificent villas, historical sights, numerous parks, tradition-conscious as well as trendy gastronomy, chic boutiques, individual shops and the famous shopping mile on Kurfürstendamm. From Charlottenburg Palace, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Zoological Garden to the German Opera, the Bröhan Museum, the Literature House or the Book Arch on Savigny Square to Bikini Berlin or a visit to the district's old cinemas.

Why we like this house

An unusual, subtle place that takes its difficult history, transforms it and fills it with lightness and conviviality.

This house is great for

Whether on a visit to Berlin or a business trip, whether travelling alone, as a couple, with a baby or the whole family: Wilmina is great for all guests!

Sustainability

Particularly sustainable renovation (winner of the Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis Architektur 2023), perfect public transport connection

Details

Availability calendar

The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with a white background, the accommodation is still fully available. If an accommodation has more than one rentable unit, days with free capacities are shown with a light grey background. On days with a dark grey background, the accommodation is not available.

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