ORANIA.BERLIN

LOOKING TO DISCOVER BERLIN’S WILD, ALTERNATIVE SCENE? KREUZBERG AND NEUKÖLLN ARE BERLIN’S HAVENS FOR GLOBAL BOHEMIANS, ARTISTS, AND MUSICIANS. GRAFFITI-COVERED AND GRITTY; IT’S A CULTURE DEDICATED TO CREATING AUTHENTIC, UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.

Looking to shop for Berlin fashion? There are barely any clothing stores in Neukölln and Kreuzberg. It’s a lifestyle philosophy, “We don’t need more things.” Eclectic wardrobes are refreshed at the weekly flea markets or from the “free” piles. Everyone rides bikes and works on multiple projects. I imagine there are probably as many struggling/working DJs in Berlin as struggling/working actors in New York City.

Orania.Berlin is at the border of what was East Berlin,100 meters from where the Berlin Wall stood. In 2017, Orania.Berlin opened in a restored historic building, the first independent luxury hotel in Kreuzberg. The new hotel signaled the gentrification of Kreuzberg, and the community rebelled. Protesters smashed the floor-to-ceiling windows and covered the newly restored historic landmark in graffiti. Jennifer and Philipp Vogel, the intelligent, energetic young couple running the hotel, understood the resistance to change. They decided to keep the smashed windows and graffiti and invite the community to be a part of the Orania experience by offering free live concerts in a cool concert lounge and affordable drinks. Orania.Berlin has a relaxed, friendly vibe that puts guests at ease. The hotel has 41 rooms, and the corner suite was an epic stay. orania.berlin

Chef/owner Phillip Vogel is the culinary maestro conducting the open kitchen and restaurant lounge. The Orania Breakfast Club is the place to start the day. Oh, do I love this menu! Smoothies, Kombuchas, Moroccan Mint Ginger Lemonade, and a global menu ranging from Shakshuka to Okonomiyaki pancakes, a Gravlax platter, avocado toast, and a glorious chia bowl. Freshly ground dark chocolate nut butter from the nut cream machine was like feasting on healthy Nutella. Dinner at Orania is a must to experience Chef Vogel’s signature XBerg Peking Duck dinner for two. Inspired by Chef Vogel’s years working in Shanghai, it’s a four-course duck adventure through Asia, inspired by Japanese, Thai, and Chinese preparations of the legendary dish.

Music is the soul of the Orania experience, with 20 live concerts a month. All the artists are Berlin-based, and the concerts are free. Whether you come to Orania.Berlin to stay, enjoy a free concert, cocktails, X-Berg Duck, or just a coffee; you will love it.

–DEBBIE SILVER

The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, set magnificently on Barcelona’s central boulevard Passeig de Gràcia, is a majestic Spanish Hotel nestled among iconic Catalan architecture, World Heritage sites, and posh boutiques. This luxury 5-Star Hotel, a stroll from Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, and Sagrada Familia, is absolutely where you want to stay when you visit. Architectural buffs will be in design heaven, stylized metro signs, tile mosaics, and modernist facades are found everywhere; just across the Boulevard is the renowned Casa Batlló, the architectural masterpiece by the celebrated Antoni Gaudí.

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona’s dramatic entrance – a suspended ramp - welcomes guests into the lobby’s ultra-mod white-on-white décor. The hotel’s sophisticated ambiance is the work of Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, celebrated for her interiors in Milan, Zurich, and Lake Como.

Exceptional hospitality is a trademark of the Mandarin Oriental hotel group. A plate of mandarin oranges, floral bouquets, house chocolate, a local Shiraz, plus your own private butler are standard amenities. The hotel has some of the largest rooms in the city with private balconies and terraces with views of the Passeig de Gràcia or the property’s beautifully landscaped Mimosa Garden. I loved the thoughtfully curated info guide of local happenings, favorite neighboring restaurants, and an illustrated promenade map in my room. After a day of touring recharge on the rooftop with a swim in the pool