German Diaries: Berlin
After a few weeks of bouncing between cities, I finally landed in Berlin for a four-night stopover and checked into the Melia Berlin. I’d never stayed at this one before, but I’ve been to a few other Melia hotels in the past. This one? Definitely stands out.
First impressions: sleek and modern. You walk in and get that clean, business-traveler-meets-urban-holiday vibe. But then, almost immediately, there’s this little twist, their Spanish roots are actually front and center. I’m talking churros at breakfast, tapas at the bar, and a splash of that Madrid mood woven into the design. Way more authentic than other Melias I’ve seen outside of Spain. The layout, though? A bit odd. My route to the room took me straight through the hotel’s tapas bar which felt more like I was cutting through someone’s dinner than heading to my own space. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely one of those “wait, am I allowed to be walking here?” moments. Now, the room itself: I booked a Deluxe Room with a City View, and it was surprisingly spacious. Bigger than I expected, actually. The AC was on point, thank god because Berlin was cooking in that heatwave. You know those summer days when you step outside and immediately regret it? Yeah, it was one of those weeks. So the moment I walked into a cool room? Bliss.
The room had more of a traditional design, which I didn’t mind it balanced out the ultra-modern vibe of the rest of the hotel. Big desk, comfy bed, plenty of space to spread out. Only thing missing? Power outlets by the bed. Why is that still a thing in 2025? No one wants to crawl under a desk to charge their phone at midnight. The bathroom felt newer than the bedroom sleek lines, solid water pressure, and a proper bathtub. If you’ve been living out of a suitcase for a while, you know how underrated a bath can be. There was also a bidet, if that’s your thing, and they stocked those big-bottle dispensers with actually good products (not the cheap mystery gel some hotels try to pass off as “shampoo”).
Breakfast? Honestly, it was great. The dining space was bright and relaxed, and the buffet had a wide range everything from cold cuts to fresh fruit, pastries, and yes, Spanish touches like churros. I didn’t go too hard on those (tempting, though), but I loved that they were there. You could also get eggs made to order, which always feels like a little morning luxury.
Overall? Melia Berlin was a solid pick. If you’re into modern hotels with a subtle twist, need a great breakfast to kick off your day, and don’t mind zig-zagging through a tapas bar to get to your room, it’s a good shout. I’d stay there again, especially if that heatwave decides to make a comeback.
After settling in, I wanted to keep the first day light. I walked over to Bonanza Coffee Roasters in Kreuzberg, a bright industrial-style café that roasts their own beans. I had an oat milk flat white that was smooth, rich, and strong, exactly what I needed to shake off travel fatigue. Later that evening, I went looking for proper local food and ended up at Hackethals, a warm, no-frills German tavern about a 7-minute walk from my hotel. It’s the kind of place where locals nod at each other across wooden tables. I ordered their classic schnitzel with potato salad - crispy, flavorful, and seriously comforting. No alcohol for me right now, so I had an apple spritzer (Apfelschorle), which hit the spot. I walked home feeling full and pretty content with how the day turned out.
Day 2 - Oat Bowls, Art Walls & Solo Wandering
I started the day with breakfast at Haferkater, which is basically oat bowl heaven. I got one topped with almond butter, berries, and crunchy seeds - clean, filling, and way better than any hotel buffet. It’s about 15 minutes from Melia, but totally worth the walk.
After that, I took the train to the East Side Gallery, the stretch of the Berlin Wall turned outdoor mural space. I walked the full length, just soaking it all in - the art, the messages, the leftover energy of the place. I spent the rest of the day exploring Friedrichshain and grabbing a cold-pressed juice at a random vegan café nearby.
Dinner was light - just a quinoa salad I picked up from a local deli - and I had an early night. Some days are for checking boxes; this one was more about wandering and breathing.
Day 3 - Museum & Great Coffee
Today I started slow with a coffee from The Barn near the hotel. They’re serious about espresso, and it shows. No fuss, just a really well-made drink and a sunny bench outside to sip it. I checked out the Berlin Spy Museum which was surprisingly hands-on and fun (yes, I tried the laser maze).
Day 4 - Tiergarten, Clean Eats & the Goodbye Loop
On my last day, I wanted to keep things light and easy. I took a morning walk through Tiergarten, Berlin’s version of Central Park. Huge trees, little pathways, and enough quiet to feel like you’ve left the city. For lunch, I hit up Daluma in Mitte. Think quinoa bowls, smoothies, fermented veggies, the whole clean-eating lineup, but done really well. I had a roasted veg bowl with tahini dressing and a ginger-turmeric juice that basically reset my whole system. Before heading back to pack, I stopped by the hotel lounge for one last espresso and looked over my photos from the trip. Berlin was everything I needed: culture, calm, real food, and space to just be. Traveling solo without drinking turned out to be easier and better than I thought. No foggy mornings, no energy dips, just four solid days of clarity, flavour, and good memories. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
