Arrive at Hotel Oderberger and it strikes you right away: directly behind the reception is the entrance to the historic bathhouse and its swimming pool, which sits in the middle of the building, surrounded by columns and stylish changing cabins.
After all, for 84 years – from 1902 to 1986, to be precise – Berliners came to this wonderful building mainly to swim. Some, no doubt, simply came to get clean, since in the early days especially, a shower was a luxury for most working-class Berliners. So they headed into one of the 200 small washrooms around the pool and took a bath.
Fast-forward to this century, and those quirky washrooms have become a hotel with 70 guest rooms. You might assume a real estate fund was behind such a project. Quite the opposite: it was a typical Berlin family. Barbara Jaeschke, a teacher, already ran a language school next door and could see the empty building from her office. She saw its potential, and she was persistent. In 2011, she and her husband won the bid to buy the site, and it took them the better part of five years to convert it into a hotel and reopen the pool to the public. Thanks to special technology, the pool floor can be raised so the space can be used for events at short notice – a perfect setting for weddings, company parties and other gatherings.
Today Barbara’s daughter, Verena Jaeschke, runs the hotel with charm and clout. The verdict from the guests who arrive in droves from all over the world? Thumbs up! Totally understandable, since there is no place like it in other cities – let alone at this price.
The Rooms
The rooms are unusually spacious and spread along several winding corridors. Thankfully, very little of the original fabric has been changed, so much of the historic atmosphere remains – and as a visitor to Berlin, especially in the eastern part of the city, you want to feel that history. There are several categories, and we can recommend all of them: plenty of light, a newly renovated bathroom, beautiful wooden floors and room for all your belongings.
Culinary
Hotel Oderberger has a wonderful in-house restaurant spread over three floors, where breakfast is also served.
Ideal for
Visitors who want to stay in one of Berlin’s more authentic neighborhoods, Prenzlauer Berg, and experience the city unplugged. A morning swim in this historic pool (for a small extra charge) is definitely something to write home about, and in the evening the best bars are just around the corner.
Prices
Doubles from about 160 euros.
Booking & Contact
Hotel Oderberger
Oderberger Str. 57
10435 Berlin / Germany
Tel. +49 30 780 089 760
