"We stayed at The Hoxton Berlin after booking our stay back in 2025. The room itself was excellent, spacious, comfortable, stylish, and exactly what we had hoped for.
Unfortunately, the breakfast was a major disappointment. When we made our reservation, we expected the freshly prepared breakfast that was advertised. Instead, the restaurant was closed and breakfast was served as a buffet in the lobby. We were never informed of this change before our arrival. I believe the hotel should have notified guests in advance that the restaurant would be closed and the breakfast concept had changed, and given us the option to decide whether we still wanted to keep the prepaid breakfast.
The buffet was very poorly organised. Some of the products, especially the cold cuts and cheese, smelled old and not fresh. The pastries were rock hard and clearly stale. There were also many flies around the buffet, and much of the food was left uncovered, which is both unappetising and unhygienic.
The overall cleanliness of the breakfast area was also disappointing. The tables were often left uncleared, with food scraps and crumbs everywhere. It created a messy atmosphere and made it difficult to find a clean place to sit.
The beverage selection was also poorly managed. The green tea was running low on the first morning, and on the second morning it had run out completely. Even after we asked the staff, it was not restocked.
Another downside was the seating. Since breakfast was served in the lobby, there were only a few proper tables and chairs available. Most guests had to eat while sitting on low sofas, which was uncomfortable and not what you expect from a hotel of this standard.
After the first breakfast, we decided we did not want to eat there again and asked for a refund for the second day's breakfast. We were told this was not possible because everything had been prepaid. As a result, we went to a nearby café instead and enjoyed an excellent breakfast there. Surprisingly, when we checked out, we received a refund of around €21. While we appreciated the gesture, it did not cover the cost of the prepaid breakfast we were unable to enjoy, and the communication around the refund was confusing.
It's a real shame because the rooms and the overall design of the hotel are excellent. However, the breakfast experience fell far below the standard we expected from The Hoxton. ith better communication, fresher food, improved hygiene, cleaner dining areas, and a more organised breakfast service, this could have been a great stay. Instead, the breakfast significantly detracted from an otherwise very enjoyable hotel experience."
