Concierge tips for the perfect summer in Berlin

Berlin shows its best side during the summer months. There is plenty to discover on your own, but which rooftop bar is the best and where can you find the most delicious ice cream in town? Fee Mathew can give you some tips. She is passionate about her role as Guest Relations Manager at Hotel am Steinplatz. Not only does she love the boutique hotel in City West, but she particularly loves the Berlin summer and will gladly share her favourite places with you.

Let’s start at the beginning: Who is Fee Mathew?

Fee Mathew (25) has been working as a Guest Relations Supervisor at the Hotel am Steinplatz since 2018. Born in Heidelberg, she began her training as a hotel manager in 2010 and since then her work has taken her to places such as Stuttgart and Great Britain, before moving to Berlin to rise to a new professional challenge. She particularly enjoys having direct contact with guests and customising stays to suit their individual wishes. Especially in the summer months, when all the beautiful cafés in Charlottenburg and the Hotel am Steinplatz are at their most attractive, she likes to give her guests one or two tips about the best kept secrets in town.

What do you think are the hottest and classiest rooftop bars in Berlin?

The rooftop terrace of the AMANO Hotel in Berlin Mitte is where you will find one of the most beautiful and private bars in Berlin. In a first-class location between the hip Rosenthaler Platz and the idyllic banks of the Spree, you can enjoy the panoramic view over the television tower with unusual cocktail creations.
The popular Rooftop Bar of the Hotel Zoo is located directly on Kurfürstendamm. Is it a 1920s-style oasis that will transport our guests off to a place far away from the routine of daily life. Chic, elegant and private.

What are your personal three favourite places in Berlin?

Monbijoupark is located between Hackescher Markt and Museum Island and offers a lot of green and a small pool for children. Right next door there is a theatre and the beach bar with great dance events and dance lessons from spring to late summer, where you just can’t help but tap your feet. The Insel der Jugend (Island of Youth) in Treptower Park. When I need some rest from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I travel to this picturesque place.

The Café am Neuen See is an idyllic place in the middle of Tiergarten on the banks of the Neuer See lake. Perfect for a stroll in the park or renting a boat.

Can you recommend any open air cinemas?

To experience the magic of film outdoors is always a fabulous idea. The open-air cinema in Friedrichshain offers a lot of space for all kinds of film lovers. Here you can either sit on benches or deckchairs or simply on the green lawn and enjoy national and international films under the open sky.
If you like things a little smaller and more intimate, then Pompeji not far from Treptower Park is definitely worth a visit. Besides films, it also boasts live shows now and again. Here, in the midst of the ruins, it is easy to leave the big city behind and lose all notion of time.

In your opinion, which summer events should guests simply not miss in summer 2019?

Amidst the beautiful ambience of Gendarmenmarkt, the Classic Open Air will take you on a journey through the most diverse musical genres and epochs and promises to be a special sonic experience to suit every taste.

One of the biggest events in the city is the annual Lollapalooza music festival which takes place in Berlin as well as in cities like Chicago or Paris and attracts thousands of visitors. The atmosphere is absolutely electrifying and the musicians and bands also include well-known artists like Kings of Leon, David Guetta and Mumford & Sons.

Which ice cream parlour do you send your guests to for unusual types of ice cream, and which types should they try?

In the district of Prenzlauer Berg you will find the family-run ice cream shop Hokey Pokey. Banana - peanut butter and pear sorbet are my absolute favourites and by no means the most unusual ice cream varieties. Here you will definitely be in for a treat after standing in line!
 For those, like me, who prefer to stick with the classics, then Amorino - Gelato al Naturale is a MUST! The ice creams are presented in a cone like a flower and garnished with a macaroon. My favourite there: Dulche de leche - but beware: it can be highly addictive!

How do guests experience that summer feeling in your hotel? What do you offer?

Summer is always a very special time in our hotel. Our beautiful courtyard is the perfect backdrop for all kinds of events. In May, for example, Germany’s most popular sparkling wine lounge will spring up in cooperation with Sekthaus Griesel. At a large wooden table you are invited to taste the finest German sparkling wines with just the right snack.

Furthermore, we have our Secret Grapes Event, where eleven different vintners showcase what they have on offer this year. Guests can select their favourite wine at the end of the evening.