An old gem is polished. The HOTEL ZOO BERLIN, the jewel of Berlin’s Kurfuerstendamm from the 1920s to 1950s, is shining brightly again. Designer Dayna Lee (Powerstrip Studios, N.Y. and L.A.) reinvented the HOTEL ZOO BERLIN without neglecting its historic character. With a great passion for details, she created a unique townhouse, which combines a mix of New York flair and London elegance. Dayna Lee embraced the building’s history in her design. Constructed in 1891 as a private residence for an affluent family it was converted into an upscale hotel in 1911. Home to many celebrities of the time, it became the VIP-Hotel for the Berlin International Film Festival in the 1950s. All of the 141 rooms and suites in the HOTEL ZOO BERLIN are unique. The original floor plan - more than 100 years old - combined with the newly constructed levels in the side wing and rear building add up to an extraordinary architectural mix, also reflected in the many different layouts of every single room category. Some feature open plan bathrooms, others boast free-standing bathtubs. Amenities include custom made walnut closets, plush mother-of-pearl colored headboards and large armchairs resting on dark wooden floors. The panorama rooms allow views of the Kurfuerstendamm or across the rooftops of Berlin, towards Theater des Westens. GRACE Bar revives the glamour of Berlin’s Golden Twenties in the same hotel where film stars like Marlene Dietrich sipped champagne and danced the Charleston a century ago. Tucked behind the living room of Berlin’s famous Hotel Zoo, GRACE Bar achieves a perfect balance between the hip and the historic. The NYC and LA-based designer Dayna Lee combined details like exposed brick walls, green leather armchairs, violet wall panels, an amethyst bar top, and a mirrored backboard to create the feeling of an old Hollywood film set. The bartenders at GRACE Bar also take inspiration from the building’s history as a popular hangout for international film stars in the 1920s and 1950s. The cocktail menu includes both timeless classics, like the Sazerac, and the bartenders’ seasonal inventions with exotic ingredients like galangal honey, pandan syrup, and roasted banana-infused shochu. On weekend evenings, local DJs play into the early morning hours. Guests can always cool off or smoke a cigarette in the winter garden, a courtyard with a five-meter long fireplace and tall windows that make it easy to keep an eye on the action inside at the bar. GRACE, what lies behind this alluring name is the new glamorous restaurant in Berlin’s city west that advanced to an in-spot for casual fine dining shortly after its opening in early 2015. The cosmopolitan charisma of the interior design paired with the exquisite menu result in an exceptional culinary experience. The young and fierce kitchen team soaks up the nonchalant lifestyle of the restaurant and conveys it onto the menu. Heading towards a new, unchartered culinary territory, the chefs create exclusive dishes, not to be found anywhere else. The cuisine paired with the ambiance of the restaurant, leaves you breathless. Every dish can be served as a party-friendly small plate, making the dining experience a social event. The service staff completes this concept, ensuring the guest an unforgettable evening. Creamy Rock Shrimps, Beef Summer Roll, Asia burrata, there is such a wide array of tasty delights on the starter menu, it is best to load up on them all, staying true to the small plate principle of sharing and enjoying. Mains include the Miso Black Cod and the Maine Lobster with yuzu or, for the beef lovers, the Filet Chinois with pak choi and cocoa bean and the Rib Eye Steak with green asparagus and lavender. Vegetarian dishes like the Braised Eggplant and Jaipur Artichoke are worth ordering anytime. The dessert menu is studded with delicious delights including the New York Cheesecake and the Pecan Chocolate Cake. The wine menu provides a wide selection to perfect the evening. If the weather permits, the dinner can be enjoyed on the lush green terrace of the restaurant. One of the city’s most spectacular rooftop terraces, the cherry on top of the HOTEL ZOO BERLIN. This oasis of peace is another stroke of genius from an American interior designer. Dayna Lee, signing the entire premise with her urban townhouse style. The new rooftop terrace and GRACE Garden are stunning spaces, completing the hotel’s portfolio of glamorous venues. The rooftop provides a bar and a lounge area accommodating up to 100 guests. The view from the terrace boasts a stunning 270-degree panorama of the Berlin cityscape with the southwest exposure allowing spectacular sunsets views. An open fireplace and a waterfall dancing under a vegetated rim complete the setting. GRACE Garden creates a parallel fine-dining universe away from the buzz of the city. Guests can relax on custom-made loungers, enjoy a fancy cocktail and indulge in highlights of the GRACE menu while facing the breathtaking night sky over Berlin. On special events, the terrace hosts top-notch DJs enhancing the atmosphere with relaxing clubhouse tunes.