We stayed in the Ostel for three nights, not because of its East German theme, but because it had the only rooms we could find other than the Berlin Hilton. In fact the communist chic is barely in evidence beyond old framed photos on the walls and 1970s pattern wallpaper in the rooms. Otherwise, it's an entirely standard hostel. The... more

The Ostel is really amazing. Situated in an old soviet-style concrete block it really has the flair of living in the ex-GDR! I have been a lot to ex-soviet states and I know what I´m talking about! The Ostel really gives the flair of how the upper-class lived in soviet and communist times. The Hotel lies pretty central with a... more

Well, if you go on their website, they make all this stuff about how funny it is to stay in their hotel, with that old East Berlin look, bla bla bla. But actually, maybe they do this just to hide the rest ! Source of disappointments : - room on the 6th floor with only stairs : a pain every... more

I recently stayed here for 3 nights. I had a great time, the hostel is decorated in East Berlin style, nice to have a bit of the history of the city. Ostbanhof (train station) is only 2 mins away with frequent trains to the heart of the city (Alexanderplatz only 2 stops away). Across the street there is a supermarket... more

The Ostel is conveniently located near the Ostbahnhof in the former East Berlin. This area was completely rebuilt by the GDR with inhospitable tower block buildings set on large lawns with wide streets. As such the Ostel provides a good glimpse into the neighborhood life lived by many former East Berliners, but its proximity to the S-Bahn also allows a... more

We stayed at ostel for a weekend in January and had a great time. We found the hotel staff very helpful and the room we were given was great with the retro radio and furniture. At no point did it feel insecure and the bathroom facilities were perfect. Its very close to the station from which you can reach all... more

My hubbie and I love Berlin - it's a city we haven't got tired of yet. Although he had visited before the Wall came down, I first visited the city with him around 1990 on an Interail trip when we stayed in a slightly eccentric East Berlin hotel overlooking the Tiergarten. I can remember going to Ostbanhof to catch an... more

This hotel is situated in part of a converted municipal block of flats; the stairway to all the rooms opens directly onto the street, and is not visible from the reception area. I stayed there with two other friends, and together we occupied two rooms. Our rooms were robbed whilst we were out during the day, apparently by someone with... more

I booked this hostel for the experience. That was a let down. The location is convenient, but the building is a bit bland. Screaming kids in the courtyard does not contribute to a GDR feel, it's just annoying. No elevator is only a pain when you check in and out. The haughty chicks at reception can be ignored and since... more