Hotel Zoo, once the pride of Berlin's Kurfürstendamm, has been reborn following extensive renovations by American design team Dayna Lee and Ted Berner. Together, they have revitalized the iconic venue by embracing its past glory while installing a firm sense of modernity. Built in 1889 as a private residence, the building's legacy as a hotel began in 1911. Once the official VIP hotel to the Berlin International Film Festival, the grand catwalk was tread by the likes of Romy Schneider and Sophia Loren. The building's re-incarnation as modern 5 star property sees soaring ceilings restored and the original brick and steel work revealed. Touches of fantasy permeate the public spaces, where Alice-in-Wonderland whimsy is invoked with playful proportions. The spacious rooms and suites are equally eccentric, featuring bespoke furnishings and bold Berliner spirit. Luxurious fabrics and contemporary furniture are mixed with keepsakes from the past, as though traces of the original family still remain. At the heart of the hotel the welcoming Living Room entices guests to linger, and a double-sided fireplace flickers both inside and into the open-air Winter Garden. Local DJ talent spins in the lively Grace Bar, home to the city's creatives and scenesters from near and far.