Global Inspirations - Design Dreams from Berlin
Berlin is a city of juxtapositions; It’s raw and refined, historic while futuristic, unbothered yet utterly cool. I haven’t been (yet), but when I asked my designer and creative friends for their favourite places, they lit up. Berlin, they told me, is a place that is a mood. A palette. A vibe. The kind of city where you simply can’t miss inspiration because it’s injected into every part of its soul.
Here, brutalist facades sit beside grand Belle Époque buildings, and art spills from every surface. The city is textured – sometimes rough, sometimes restrained – and that duality feels like design magic. It’s where culture is layered and nothing tries too hard.
So if you’re dreaming of a trip that’s both cerebral and sensory, where great food, strong design, and a bit of grit live side-by-side, this Berlin travel guide is for you. Every recommendation comes from friends with exquisite taste and good instincts – the ones who find the best rooftop bars and the secret bookstores.
Let’s explore, shall we?
Where to stay - boutique hotels in berlin
A Berlin classic for the design crowd. Every Soho House weaves in a common design thread, while also being uniquely specific to the city it lives in. Think vintage interiors, velvet and oak, curated art, and a rooftop pool that feels straight out of a film. Whether you stay here or just come for a cocktail, it’s a creative hub through and through.
A former courthouse-turned-hotel, Wilmina is serene, architectural, and quietly stunning. There’s a soft elegance to the interiors, with muted tones, natural light, and a sense of calm that contrasts beautifully with the city’s energy.
This hotel is playful, industrial, and full of heart. Rooms range from loft-style to cozy, and the creative community that flows through its doors gives it so much soul. The courtyard alone is worth the visit.
5 Destinations You Can’t Miss – Design Lover’s Edition
Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart
Berlin’s contemporary art scene lives here. Housed in a former railway station, the vast space and ever-evolving exhibits feel immersive and alive.
Bauhaus Archive / Museum of Design
A must for anyone obsessed with design history. Even the building is iconic; a pilgrimage spot for minimalists and modernists alike.
Poetic, powerful, and often overlooked. This small museum honours one of Germany’s most expressive artists, with work that explores emotion and human resilience.
Part concept store, part cultural moment. This Kreuzberg shop is where fashion, books, scent, and design collide. Come for the curation, stay for the coffee.
A former church, turned contemporary art gallery, König Galerie at St. Agnes is a striking example of Berlin’s ability to reimagine space. The brutalist architecture alone is worth a visit, but it’s the rotating exhibitions – bold, conceptual, often large-scale – that make it unforgettable. It’s where the art world meets the design set, and it’s just the right kind of dramatic.
Anima Garden by André Heller
A 30-minute drive from the city, this artistic botanical escape combines wild colour with sculpture and whimsy. It’s less known, but totally magical.
Where to Eat – A Design-Lover’s Food Crawl
This is the oldest restaurant in Berlin, and where you’re ordering schnitzel. Rustic and warm, it’s traditional without being kitschy. A must.
An all-day breakfast spot that’s chic and charming without being precious. The pancakes and shakshuka are favourites, and the interiors are sunny, clever, and fun.
Modern, bold, and unforgettable. This Michelin-guide gem brings global flavour and a touch of drama to every plate. A creative experience.
Tucked behind a courtyard in Mitte (Berlin is known for its courtyard hidden gems) this slow-food sanctuary is housed in a candlelit villa. The ambience is rich and layered, like dining in a dream.
Nordic-inspired with Berlin edge. The seafood is stellar, and the interiors are clean, textured, and deeply considered. Feels like a quiet discovery.
Bringing Berlin Home – A Designer's Reflection
There’s a reason Berlin shows up again and again in creative moodboards, for the architecture and art and the feeling of freedom and reinvention that only a city like this can give. It’s rich in raw material made beautiful, and even from afar, it’s the kind of place that reminds me that good design doesn’t need to be polished, but it does need to be felt.
I hope this guide nudges something in you — a new texture to try, a playlist to put on, or maybe a plane ticket to book.
Feeling creatively lit up? If Berlin sparked a new idea for your home – a palette, a material, a mood – let’s bring it to life! At Parris McKenna Design, we offer personalized design consultations to help translate global inspiration into spaces that feel like you.
And if you’re dreaming up your next adventure (or just love a good design deep-dive), follow along on Instagram for more curated guides, styling tips, and behind-the-scenes moments from the studio.
Let’s design something beautiful together.
xo
Parris