We recently stayed at The Circus Hotel in Berlin, taking two rooms for a short family trip. The experience was, in many respects, excellent. The location is ideal—central, with easy access to public transport and within walking distance of a huge variety of restaurants and shops.
Service throughout was truly commendable. Staff were attentive, friendly, and helpful at every turn. The hotel bar is a genuine highlight—stylish, welcoming, and well-stocked. We especially appreciated the honesty bar and terrace upstairs, which made for a beautiful, relaxed afternoon during our stay.
Breakfast was another strong point, offering a good variety of quality options in a comfortable setting. The rooms themselves are well-sized, clean, and nicely appointed.
However, there’s a major issue that any traveller should be aware of: there is no real air conditioning. What’s provided is what I would describe as a comfort cooling system—more symbolic than functional. During our stay, temperatures hovered around 25 °C during the day and 18 °C at night, yet the rooms remained unpleasantly warm. Both rooms had fans, and the windows had to be opened to let in any real cool air. It’s quite clear that the hotel expects guests to rely on the fans, which is not acceptable given the climate realities of Berlin summers.
This significantly affected our comfort and sleep. For travel between late May and early October, I would strongly caution against booking unless you’re completely indifferent to room temperature.
It’s unfortunate, because in almost every other respect, The Circus Hotel is a real gem. I genuinely wanted to love it, and in cooler months, I very likely would. But the absence of proper climate control is a deal-breaker in warmer weather, and it’s clear the hotel is aware of the issue—hence the fans in every room.
Pros:
• Excellent location
• Superb service
• Great breakfast
• Fantastic bar and terrace
• Generous room size
Cons:
• No air conditioning—only a weak cooling system and fans
• Rooms become uncomfortably warm even in moderate summer temperatures
Conclusion:
A brilliant hotel during cooler seasons. But for summer stays, particularly with children or light sleepers, the lack of proper climate control unfortunately outweighs the many positives.
