NHOW BERLIN

There’s a new hotel in town for the musically minded, who’ll doubtlessly be leaving their tour buses behind for a stay at this surprisingly affordable Nhow property.

Situated on the Spree riverside, squarely between the headquarters of Universal and MTV (how’s that for noisy neighbours) and close to the O2 World venue and the Friedrichshain bars and club scene (Berghain anyone?), Nhow Berlin is ready to make some noise.

The newest property from the boutique brand of Spanish NH chain, its outsides may look like a brutalist Tetris game gone awry, but inside it’s all cheery colours patterned out like sound waves on an old school screen saver. Decked out by Karim Rashid, most of the generously sized rooms look out on the Spree and all come with free Wi-Fi, top notch sound systems (and iPod docks) as well as a 5,000 video-on-demand library.

Glossy white walls, neon bright accents and lots of fluid forms make it hard to believe that rooms start at a modest 49 euros, with ongoing deals including concessions for under-30s. Bring along a twink or tune yourself up to look ten years younger in the two-level gym (complete with the latest Precor equipment, Finnish sauna and steam bath) and see if anybody is fooled.

If you get super inspired, you might even want to check out one of the two recording studios – the in-house ‘music manager’ will provide Gibson guitars on demand (groupies not included) – or head onto the massive outdoor terrace where gigs and concerts play against a backdrop graffiti wall. Don’t forget to look up and catch your rock-star reflection in the mirrored underbelly of the precariously-balanced top floor.