Concierge Tips for Magical Moments in Summer

Top-class concerts, expansive views and evenings in star-rated restaurants: the Berlin summer has many special moments in store for you. And who better to give you exclusive tips than Joachim Lenk, concierge of the legendary Grand Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin? He’ll reveal magical Berlin moments that will make this summer unforgettable.

First things first: who is Joachim Lenk?

Since the reopening of the Grand Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin, guests have received a warm and pleasant welcome thanks to chief concierge Joachim Lenk. As a great fan of the green side of Berlin, such as Schlachtensee or Fischerhütte, he dedicated himself to the Kempinski family back in 1980 and has now been loyal to it for almost forty years.

“In my profession I value the international and demanding clientèle, who inspire me to take on new challenges on a daily basis and ensure no one day is like any other. I enjoy being an ambassador for the city of Berlin and am pleased when I can impress our guests with its diversity of sights and abundance of cultural activities”. Joachim Lenk has been managing the concierge loge of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin since 1999 and looks after the wishes and interests of his guests.

High above Berlin: if a guest wants to experience the highest view over Berlin where would you send them?

If our guests wish to pay a visit to a viewing platform over Berlin, the obvious thing of course is to recommend the capital’s landmark. The Berlin Television Tower in the heart of the capital is, with a height of 368 metres, the highest publicly accessible building in Europe. Here you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Berlin.
For adventurous guests we recommend the tethered World Balloon. Secured to the ground with cables, the balloon rises to a height of 150 metres and offers passengers in the gondola a unique panoramic view of Berlin.
For guests who prefer solid ground beneath their feet, the capital also offers a fascinating option: on the Teufelsberg hill, which is located in the west of Berlin and is120 metres high, you will have all of West Berlin at your feet.

Where can I find the city’s luxury boutiques that you would also accompany stars to?

It goes without saying that the first building on the square in Berlin’s City West should be mentioned here: Kaufhaus des Westens. The department store was founded in 1907 and has always sold an upmarket range of luxury goods.
During a shopping spree along Kurfürstendamm, you will also find all the big names from Dolce & Gabbana to Chanel and Cartier.
Potsdamer Straße and its courtyards in particular have also become a prestigious address with fashion stores such as the Berlin-based labels Maisonnée and Andreas Murkudis.

Which Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin should a guest have visited at least once?

We like recommending the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer in the Hotel Adlon Berlin to our guests. Head chef Hendrik Otto takes his guests on a journey through a world of flavours inspired by his childhood, his travels and market visits. With a view of the Brandenburg Gate, every dinner becomes a highlight.
The star-rated restaurant Tim Raue managed by the head chef of the same name is also highly recommended. Tim Raue serves Asian-inspired cuisine that can be characterised as a blend of Japanese product perfection, Thai aromas, and Chinese culinary philosophy.
Another oasis of culinary culture can be found at Potsdamer Platz. Under the guidance of head chef Michael Kempf, the kitchen team at the Facil gourmet restaurant stimulates the taste buds of its visitors with extraordinary aromatic compositions. Proven classics are interpreted in a contemporary way by the restaurant team, while great importance is attached to the use of regional and seasonal quality products.

Which event in August do you consider to be the most exclusive?   

On 23 August, the opening concert of the season will take place at the Berlin Philharmonic, for the first time with Kirill Petrenko as the new principal conductor. An experience not to be missed. One day later the Philharmonic Orchestra will play an open air concert right at the Brandenburg Gate, where you can listen to the sounds of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Another exclusive highlight is the race day on 11 August at the Hoppegarten racecourse. When you purchase a VIP ticket, you have the opportunity to watch the exciting horse races in a separate grandstand accompanied by culinary highlights and selected drinks. Definitely an event not to be missed.

What is pure luxury for you or the most luxurious thing you have ever experienced in Berlin?

A few years ago, I had an unforgettable experience on New Year’s Eve at the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer. Hendrik Otto, head chef of the 2-star restaurant, served us 15 really extraordinary and delicious courses with appropriately selected wines. It was a really fantastic experience in a unique atmosphere. To top the event off, we were accompanied to the Brandenburg Gate and an area that is not accessible to everyone. We toasted the New Year with a glass of champagne right on the stroke of midnight.