Soho House

Recent history is to be found everywhere in Berlin, but the Soho House is a special case. Opened in 1927 as a shopping center with Jewish owners, it was used during the Second World War by the Hitlerjugend and during the GDR days it was the residence of the ruling SED party.

Since 2010 it is part of the Soho chain. Which means that the fitness, spa and cinema facilities and the restaurant and rooftop bar (including swimming pool) are only accessible for members. Officially membership is ‘invite only’, but every wannabe hipster can become a member for 50 euros (under 27) or 100 euros per month. The audience is hip even for Berlin standards, but that doesn’t mean the entourage is outrageous. The hotel can be booked by everyone, but is rather pricy.