Lux 11

When the Wall went up, the old centre of Berlin, Mitte, went to the East. Fifteen years after reunification, Mitte has reasserted its status as the beating heart of the city, home to the hippest shops, restaurants, theatres and, increasingly, hotels. Lux 11, in a revamped, white-painted heritage building, is the newest kid on the block and already looks set to be one of the most popular. Its concept is high style, low cost (and long stay, even lower cost). Maid service is every third day and fridges can be stocked to order. Each of the 72 apartments has a kitchenette with pots and pans and even a small dishwasher (although, in the smaller rooms, dinner parties would have to be held in bed). Designed by Claudio Silvestrin and Giuliana Salmaso, London-based architects responsible for many Armani outlets, the colour scheme runs a narrow spectrum between white and a muted Chinese green. Floors are polished concrete or bleached wood, but other materials are sumptuous, such as the suede headboards and taffeta bedcovers trimmed with fake fur. Flat-screen TVs, faxes, Wi-Fi, DVD players and huge hairdryers (with diffusers) are standard. To one side of the lobby is an Aveda Spa and hairdressers; the groovy restaurant, Shiro I Shiro, serving Asian-Italian fusion food (with a sushi bar) is to the other. Staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful and all look like models.