wkndtraveler

They have always charged for the à la carte dishes at the lounge but they have had scrambled eggs and bacon available free of charge on a side table beside kitchen door, away from the buffet. Are these gone now?

est-gratuite

I didn't look there, but I also didn't see anyone else getting any food like eggs or bacon from that direction either.
Also plain scrambled eggs was one of the items on the paid for menu.

Everyone who had any sort of warm breakfast food had it brought to them from a staff member after ordering it.
When they came to take my order, I specially asked the staff if they had any warm food at all free of charge for breakfast, and they said no.

wkndtraveler

That’s bad. And I can’t remember any other lounge that would charge for the breakfast dishes.

starflyergold

The hotel is insolvent but it is hoped it can be rescued. It will continue to operate until at least the end of August.

https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/l.../26007596.html

EcotoneHR

I heard about this and, as I'm supposed to go there next week, I wrote to the hotel to ask whether there would be any major changes. It doesn't seem so, apart from the changes due to corona crisis. Here's the reply I got, in case anyone else is going:The hotel is open, but there are some changes in the way we are currently operating. Due to Covid-19, there are some restrictions given by the government. For example, the Wellness/Sauna Area is closed at the moment. However, the Fitness area is open 24h. The minibar in the room will be empty, but you can always call the reception and we will bring your order up to your room.

If you would like to have breakfast, we offer an à la carte menu in our breakfast restaurant for €20,- per person per day. Furthermore, our Lounge Bar is open daily from 09:00-00:00 and our Le Faubourg restaurant is open for Lunch from Monday until Friday and for Diner from Tuesday until Saturday. We also offer Room Service from 06:30-22:00.

wkndtraveler

Closed is also the lounge. All in all, a sad news. Hope they will sort it out and continue operations normally.

Goldorak

oh no ! I just booked a stay there for September
I booked there because of the lounge...

est-gratuite

Even if it was open, you would only get cold food for free.
All warm food in the club lounge had to be paid for, even before the virus started.
I was there in January 2020, and at both breakfast and dinner and all warm food incurred an extra charge (even if you already had lounge access).

wkndtraveler

Update on the lounge arrangements: the lounge will be now open from Tue to Sat 6–7:30pm. There are only cold drinks available, no food.

Goldorak

This is really a joke. When you say "cold drinks", should we understand soft drinks ?

wkndtraveler

No, wines and beer are available.

Maelstrom

This seems ridiculous to me. I've never encountered a hotel lounge where additional charges applied for hot foods (I travel in APAC). Is this standard in Europe, or is this hotel a special case?

starflyergold

As we all know having a lounge at an European Accor hotel is extremely rare. This lounge predates the hotel becoming an Accor property. The lounge is small and has limited serving space. Hence the limited service and yes this is a special case. Last time I was there (a year ago) they had at least scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast. Frankly what they offered for breakfast and in the evening was sufficient for me.

est-gratuite

Sofitel Berlin lounge is a very special case.

Prior to 2019 or 2018 (I forget the exact year) Sofitel Berlin didn't even give access at all to Platinum or Diamond members.
Then they had a change of management and finally gave free lounge access to platinums and diamonds, but when I visited in January 2020 I had to pay extra money for warm food in evening and for warm breakfast food. Cold food was free.

As an counter example the 2 Sofitels at Heathrow airport & Gatwick airport in London UK give plats and diamonds full access to the lounge with no extra charges for warm food. I don't know which other Sofitels in europe have a lounge or what their policy is.

The point is moot anyway, cause at the moment with covid/corona virus most airport & hotel lounges in Europe and North america are fully closed.

Most hotels chains located in APAC (asia pacific) always have given customers a lot more in terms of good service, upgrades, and lounge access.

hotel_user

Totally agree with that.

FYI prior to Covid - March 2019 ( unknown now ) Lounge Access at Budapest Mercure was free and limited food inc hot, and the Sofitel Chain Bridge free limited (as in not a lot available ) hot food - take the breakfast in the restaurant - and sparkling wine all day - they call it champagne but it is not ( excuse was they do not have a word for sparkling wine in the Lounge but the restaurant does !)

I am sure there is a thread for this but could not find it. There are so few lounges in Accor Europe it is a disgrace.