With Museum Island to the east, the Brandenburg Gate to the west, and Unter den Linden, Berlin’s main artery and oldest boulevard to the north, Bebelplatz is one of the city’s most enviable addresses. Located in the heart of Mitte but tucked away from the tourist crowds, the square is home to the newly reopened Staatsoper opera house, which just emerged from a seven-year, multi-million dollar renovation—one of many ongoing projects aimed at revitalizing Mitte’s cultural landmarks. Sitting just opposite this glorious performance space, Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome has a longstanding relationship with the opera and its key players. Not only is it the address of choice for actors, musicians, and other culturists visiting the German capital, but this season, in celebration of the reopening of Staatsoper, the hotel has purchased two seats in the concert hall’s most coveted section for exclusive use by guests of the hotel.
The Hotel de Rome has a longstanding relationship with the opera and its key players.
Before heading across the plaza for a performance of Puccini’s Tosca or Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi, anyone can sip delicious cocktails and savor chef Davide Mazzarella’s special pre-opera menu at Restaurant La Banca, the Italian-inflected ground-floor restaurant that opens onto a charming enclosed garden. Diners can enjoy two courses, finishing with coffee and opera pralines, or a delectable opera cake with champagne cream that has been created especially for the occasion. On warm summer nights, there is no doubt that the place to be is the rooftop terrace overlooking the opera house and Humboldt University. You might run into maestro Daniel Barenboim himself—the famed Argentine-Israeli, pianist, composer, and music director of the Berlin State Opera. He is a frequent face at the hotel’s rooftop hangout.
Like the opera house, Hotel de Rome honors its historic heritage while adding modern design touches and amenities. Like all Rocco Forte hotels scattered throughout Europe, this one occupies a historic landmark—in this case, the former Dresdner Bank headquarters built in 1889. The old cashier’s hall has been transformed into a banqueting room, while a swimming pool and spa occupy the vault. During the restoration, design director Olga Polizzi—Sir Rocco’s sister and the design guru behind all of his hotels—kept many of the original details: from the old vault door to the oak paneling in the Historic Banker Suite.
But the hotel is anything but a set piece. Polizzi, with the help of architect and interior designer, Tommaso Ziffer, incorporated sleek modern furnishings, pops of color, and contemporary art, like the neon birdcage suspended in the lobby. Fans of contemporary art and design will especially love the Royal Bebel Suite. Inspired by turn-of-the-century Berlin apartments, it juxtaposes the building’s classic architecture with neon yellow armchairs, red cushions, and shelves stocked with books. The elegant dining room features yellow patterned wallpaper, a modern hanging lamp, busts, and framed drawings. The serene bedroom and marble bathroom provide ample space to relax. But the suite’s most coveted feature is the 82-foot wide balcony overlooking Bebelplatz and the Staatsoper.
To learn more about Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome or the hotel's exclusive Staatsoper tickets, please contact the concierge upon making a reservation.
