Villa Kennedy

Germany
Europe

The Experience

The cornerstone of this hotel is the 1904 Gothic-style turreted Villa Speyer, former home to a local banking family. Behind lies a sympathetic extension in similar pale sandstone that has a more ordered Neo-classical approach. The new construct provides an arcaded surround to a courtyard garden that is very much in keeping with the hotel’s suburban location; it's close enough to be convenient for the city, yet not immersed in the city's high rises. The interior design by Martin Brudnizki follows something of a 1930s art deco theme, a middle-ground that should appeal to modernists and classicists alike. The judicious insertion of modern artwork—such as the mobile by Patrice Butler in the grand wood paneled stairwell, and more vibrant splashes of color in cushions and upholstery—add to the pleasing integration of old and new.

The Rooms

There's a business-like efficiency to the rooms that feature either a terra cotta-and-mustard or chartreuse green color scheme. But the fact remains—they're just plain comfortable. The spacious bathrooms are big on white stone and green glass panelling. Occupying the top floor of Villa Speyer, the 3,500-square-foot Presidential Suite is one of the largest in Germany; it comes complete with a separate elevator, kitchen and dining room under the turret roof. More spectacular still are the original light fittings and furniture.

The Service

From the greeting of the doorman—top hat, long cloak—to the eye contact in the Italian-influenced GUSTO restaurant, the staff exude a welcoming friendliness that avoids intrusiveness. The systematic training of hotel staff goes into meticulous detail such as the exact placement of candles in the JFK bar. If they go to this much trouble over the minutiae, the rest just follows.

The Highlights

With interiors that follow a strict Scandinavian design ethos, the Villa Spa is the best in the city. The blond woods and white stonework make a pleasant change from the ubiquitous pseudo pan-Asian decor. The pièce de résistance is the 15-meter pool lined in dark green Verde Andeer granite. Afternoon tea in the shady courtyard garden puts you a million miles, rather than a heartbeat, from the financial center of Europe.

 

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