Ehret & Schimank GmbH has been delighted to welcome you to our Boutique Hotel Louisa’s Place in its current form since 2003. But did you know that the historic building on Kudamm has existed for much longer? Even for us, it is not easy to obtain archive material to reconstruct the history of our hotel. Fortunately, some guests have provided us with their memories and even their photos from a previous stay. We would like to share this history with you and show you what makes our hotel on the Kudamm so special.
The single monument at Kurfürstendamm 160
The town house at Kurfürstendamm 160, which was built in 1904, was either a commercial and residential building or an upper middle-class hotel with shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, we know very little about these because the land registry office was destroyed by a bomb during the Second World War. These two photos probably date from the 1920s (a grocery shop can be seen on the façade).
About the Kurfürstendamm
5 May 1886, the day the Zoologischer Garten – Halensee steam tram line opened, is considered the official birthday of Kurfürstendamm boulevard. In the 1880s, the street developed into a favoured residential area. Up until the First World War, Kurfürstendamm was rapidly transformed from an elegant residential street in the New West into a centre for entertainment, shopping and cultural communication. (Source here).
The building was later extensively renovated, although it was washed away by the war years and a later fire.
The hotel in the 1970s
Thanks to a brochure that one of our guests brought with him, we have numerous photos of the building from this period. Under the name City Castle Apartment-Hotel, the CC-Hotel was already intended to be a luxury hotel for politicians, artists and business people. Incidentally, the brochure mentions ‘the trade fair and exhibition centre with its newly built ICC’, which opened in 1979.
Here too, the CC Hotel had a breakfast room, a lobby and flats equipped with a full kitchen, a state-of-the-art bathroom or the latest design trends of the 1970s. Of course, we leave the judgement of the following pictures entirely up to you.
Did you know that?
The legendary Piano Bar ‘Chez Alex’ attracted celebrities by the dozen from 1983 to 1987: Prince Albert of Monaco, Joan Collins, Sylvester Stallone and Hilde Knef came and went there. Rumour even has it that two elephants are enthroned from the main entrance. At some point, the daily hour-long performances became too much for Alex and he closed the establishment in 1987.
Since 2003: Our Hotel Louisa’s Place
Our boutique hotel in Berlin has since been completely refurbished and is managed by Ehret & Schimank GmbH. If you have stayed with us in recent years, you will know Mr Schimank, who continues to run the hotel with great energy.
Are you wondering why the hotel is called Louisa’s Place? After the building was purchased, a concept and a name had to be finalised. As they wanted to make the place small, personal and warm, the reference to Queen Louise of Prussia was quickly established. She was also known as the Queen of Hearts and managed to impress the greatest politicians of her time – Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I – with her special charm, warm hospitality, courage and diplomatic skills, while at the same time remaining very close to the people and authentic to her nation.
The manageable size of our boutique hotel on Ku’damm with 47 rooms and suites creates a quiet and intimate atmosphere, making our little gem the ideal retreat in Berlin’s lively city centre for every visit. Find the most beautiful photos of our hotel boutique in our gallery.
Would you like to book an overnight stay in Berlin or a longer stay? Contact our friendly team or book your dream suite online.
