Visit Hackesche Höfe: Germany's largest, enclosed courtyard area

A Walk Through Time in Berlin

It was August Endel who conceived the complex in its Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style. Established in 1906, the construction diligently follows a pattern of separation between cultural, residential, crafts and trade areas. Indeed, this is a departure from the other backyards of the 19th century. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the area was lavishly restored and soon became one of Berlin's most pleasant pedestrian quarters. To date, the influence of Jewish migrants and the exiled French Huguenots are still perceptible, lending the district a unique cosmopolitan diversity.

Walking Through Hackesche Höfe

The first courtyard entices with its glorious facade of polychrome glazed brick. Designed by Endel himself, it is best known for the Chamäleon Variety Theatre housed in an original wine tavern. As one courtyard leads to another, visitors never really know what lies around the bend and are pleasantly surprised by the myriad independent stores, local designer shops, art galleries and stores selling hats, kosher delicatessen, hand-made chocolates, Turkish brocades and more. There is even a shop selling Berlin Ampelmannchen, the red and green traffic light symbol of a little man in a flat hat standing still or walking. Watch out for the tiny gold memorial squares set in the sidewalks. They commemorate Jewish citizens who lived here and who were taken away to concentration camps.

Useful Tips

Also called Scheunenviertel or “barn district”, this area of Berlin-Mitte offers plenty of nightlife options. Other daytime attractions within walking distance include a former Jewish cemetery, Alter Jüdischer Friedhof, which the Gestapo destroyed in 1943.
When hunger strikes at the Hackesche Höfe, head to the Oxymoron Restaurant for some of their klopse, a much-loved Prussian meatball dish cooked in white sauce.
The quirky conglomeration of the connected courtyards of Hackesche Höfe in Berlin also merit a visit while in the city.

Planning your trip to Berlin? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Berlin.

Author: David Rickerson-Seidel

Guest Relations Manager at NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse

My name is David Rickerson-Seidel and I have been part of the NH Hotel Group since September 2015 when the first NH Collection Hotel opened in Germany. After 16 years of hotel experience, I was offered a great chance to meet people from all over the world and each time I was able to learn from them – this is one of the reason why I love my position as a Guest Relation Manager. My daily task is to fulfil our guest’s needs before they actually asking for it. With my passion for my job it is always a great pleasure to see our guests happy and smiling before they leave the hotel and I know that we have done the job right. I always say that the only thing that a guest can’t buy and book in advance is our smiling receptionist with a warm welcoming, the friendly breakfast host who would like to know if you slept well, and our elusive room maid, who is preparing the room so that it feels like home – our employees make the difference – this is why you are not checking into your room at a terminal. Whatever you need – we are always there for you.