HotelChatter

Highlights: On the northern edge of Berlin’s central Mitte district, the Circus is surrounded by galleries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, and public transportation. Each floor of the hotel has “17 individually designed rooms with ample space and tasteful (if not high-design) minimalist furniture,” writes the NYT. Bathrooms come stocked with rainfall showerheads and other posh details. An “extensive” list of services includes rental bikes and Segways, Berlin-themed films from “Good Bye Lenin” to “Run Lola Run,” yoga gear and babysitters.

Lowlights: “The only annoyance was a rather selfish one: there were no toiletries for me to steal, just the hand-soap pump,” says the Times-er. Sad, but, you know, not the end of the world for most of us.

Bottom line: “Magnificent value with plenty of aesthetic style,” concludes the Times. In other words, the Circus sounds like that rare spot where on-the-up backpackers and budget-minded professionals can coexist. Doubles start at 78 euros.

[Photo: Mark Simon for The New York Times]