The Adlon History

The Emperor and Empress stepped through the grand portal of the new building, accompanied by princes, princesses and the imperial entourage. What unfolded on that October day in 1907 at Pariser Platz was far more than a conventional hotel opening; it was celebrated as an affair of state. Wilhelm II, well ahead of his time in the art of public representation, inaugurated Berlin’s most prestigious grand hotel at a time that ensured maximum publicity. ‘Flawless!’ came his imperial verdict. The Adlon had received the royal seal of approval, marking the beginning of an extraordinary hotel legend.

Join us on a journey through the illustrious history of Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin.

1905–1945

Lorenz Adlon could rest assured of the Kaiser’s personal patronage when laying the foundations for what would become the flagship of German hospitality at Pariser Platz. While the Kaiser’s support for the hotel is firmly recorded in history, countless legends and anecdotes have woven themselves around the house, as befits a grand hotel of world renown.

From the very outset, the Adlon was not merely the finest address in town, but also the most progressive. Here, guests did not simply lodge in luxury; they celebrated the vibrant social life of the metropolis. Statesmen, royalty and celebrated artists walked through its doors, making the early guest books read like a Who’s Who of the Imperial and Weimar eras.

1905–1907
Lorenz Adlon, a visionary restaurateur from Mainz, acquires the historic Palais Redern between Unter den Linden and Behrenstraße in 1905. Following its demolition, architects Carl Gause and Robert Leibnitz erect the Hotel Adlon in just two years under his guidance. The venture is driven by Adlon’s famous maxim: ‘One does not merely stay at the Adlon. One belongs there.’

26 October 1907
Kaiser Wilhelm II inaugurates Hotel Adlon with the splendour of a state reception. Construction costs reach an astronomical 17 million gold marks, equivalent to roughly 400 million euros today. The bold investment pays off immediately, establishing the hotel as the social centre for high nobility, politics and culture.

1921
Lorenz Adlon succumbs to injuries sustained in a traffic accident near the Brandenburg Gate. Ownership passes to his eldest daughter, Anna Förster, and her younger brother, Louis Adlon. On New Year’s Eve of that same year, Louis meets his future wife, Hedda, who would go on to shape the hotel’s public legacy for decades to come. 

1925–1930
During the Roaring Twenties, Berlin welcomes up to 1.7 million visitors each year. For high society, a visit to Pariser Platz is essential. Contemporary guidebooks unanimously agree that the Adlon is far more than a luxury hotel; it is an internationally acclaimed institution.

From 1933
Amidst the politically turbulent pre-war years, the Adlon serves as an important diplomatic crossroads, preserving its reputation behind closed doors as a cosmopolitan, neutral meeting place in the heart of the capital.

April 1945
Throughout the Battle of Berlin, the building remains largely intact, with only the ground-floor windows bricked up for protection. In the final weeks of the war, its palatial halls serve as an emergency military hospital, providing care for hundreds of wounded. 

May 1945
On the night of 2–3 May 1945, a catastrophic fire breaks out, reducing the main building to ruins except for a side wing along Behrenstraße. Louis Adlon also does not survive the aftermath of the war, passing away shortly after his arrest in May 1945. 

From June 1945
Driven by the unwavering spirit of its remaining staff, the preserved side wing is quickly refurbished to resume modest hotel and dining operations.

1949–1997

When the war left nothing more than the back economic wing of the Adlon, the hotel was not over. 

2 December 1949
The property is expropriated without compensation. Over the following years, the surviving wing continues operations as the state-owned enterprise ‘VEB Hotel Adlon’.

1955
Hedda Adlon sells the pre-emptive rights for the real estate and the name "Adlon" to Kempinski AG.
Drawing on Hedda Adlon’s celebrated autobiography, director Josef von Báky brings the glamour of the pre-war years back to life in the feature film Hotel Adlon.

1964–1970s
Following extensive façade restoration, the building continues to welcome dining and lodging guests. Despite the shortages of the socialist era, the team upholds traditional grand hotel standards, with page boys and footmen continuing to wear the original 1930s uniforms. In the 1970s, the building is repurposed as a boarding facility for hospitality apprentices.

1984
The SED Politburo resolves to clear the remaining structure, and the historic wing is demolished by implosion later that year.

1995 – 1997
The rebirth of a legend begins. Renowned Berlin architecture firm Patzschke, Klotz & Partner designs a new landmark on the historic site that echoes the classical architecture of the original while incorporating state-of-the-art technology. Financed by Fundus Fonds-Verwaltungen GmbH, Kempinski assumes operational management as Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group.

23 August 1997
In the presence of Federal President Roman Herzog and General Manager Gianni van Daalen, the new Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is officially inaugurated before an international audience. 

1997–Present

Since 23 August 1997, Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin has reclaimed its place beside the Brandenburg Gate, radiating the elegance and prestige of its golden era. The grand hotel quickly re-established itself as Berlin’s premier destination for visiting heads of state, captains of industry and international luminaries. Through continuous investment and meticulous refinements, the hotel continues to set benchmarks in luxury hospitality worldwide. 

2000
On 29 February, fine-dining restaurant Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer opens under the culinary direction of Karlheinz Hauser, earning its first Michelin star just one year later. That same summer, the popular outdoor terrace opens its doors, offering 170 seats and sweeping views of the Brandenburg Gate.

2003–2004
The hotel expands significantly. With the development of the Adlon Palais, the property gains a second 450-square-metre ballroom, state-of-the-art conference facilities, the exclusive China Club and the Felix Club Restaurant. In May 2004, the newly constructed Adlon Residenz on Behrenstraße adds a further 69 luxury rooms and suites.

2006
Alongside the conversion of 48 guest rooms into 24 generous suites, the hotel unveils its third presidential accommodation, the Imperial Suite. In July 2006, the signature wine-red canopy is installed above the main entrance, welcoming arriving guests in timeless style.

2011–2012
Under Executive Chef Hendrik Otto, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer is awarded its second Michelin star in 2011, maintaining this distinction for more than a decade. In October 2012, the 900-square-metre luxury wellness facility opens as the Adlon Spa by Resense.

2013
The hotel expands its culinary repertoire with the opening of SRA BUA, showcasing contemporary Asian freestyle cuisine. In 2021, the space is redesigned as the versatile event venue ‘1907’, featuring an open show kitchen, a living vertical garden and an intimate bar with a glass fireplace.

2016
In anticipation of the hotel’s upcoming 20th anniversary, the ground floor undergoes an extensive six-million-euro redesign. The lobby and reception area are revitalised with sophisticated furnishings and a contemporary lighting scheme that gracefully accentuates their historic charm.

2018
The event facilities are comprehensively upgraded. The historic ballroom undergoes a full refurbishment, emerging as a sophisticated, versatile venue. Featuring handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers by Venini, bespoke Versailles-parquet-patterned carpets by Tai Ping and antique Verre Églomisé mirrors, the space marries heritage glamour with advanced event technology.

2022
Marking Kempinski Hotels’ 125th anniversary, Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin celebrates 25 years since its grand reopening on 23 August with a curated series of commemorative events.

2023
The ground-floor smokers’ lounge, originally introduced during the 2016 lobby transformation, is unveiled with a fresh identity. Paying homage to the beloved elephant fountain nearby, it reopens as the Elephant Bar with an enhanced cigar and spirits selection.

2024
Following an eight-month comprehensive renovation, the Adlon Pool reopens in renewed splendour. The revitalised wellness area offers guests a refined retreat for quiet relaxation and holistic rejuvenation.

Press release

2025
Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer celebrates a quarter-century of culinary excellence. Under the creative direction of Head Chef Jonas Zörner, the restaurant continues to delight discerning palates with outstanding haute cuisine and proudly holds one Michelin star.