HEADLINES TO WATCH IN OCTOBER 2026 / A local’s Guide To Luxury Berlin / By Lina Dornheim

The Baltic Sea, the Black Forest, mountain lakes and Alpine spa towns have long defined wellness culture in Germany, where the blueprint was traditionally sought in nature and solitude.

Yet increasingly, a different go-to for rest and rejuvenation is taking shape.

Better known for its nightlife than its health credentials, Berlin is rapidly emerging as the country’s longevity hub. Ice baths and infrared workouts have become as commonplace as wine bars, recovery studios are opening across the city and conversations about sleep, gut health and longevity now sit comfortably alongside discussions about music and culture.

The newest obsession: longevity

Recover Society is opening in Berlin in July 2026. Image credit: Recover Society

From biological age testing and oxygen

therapies to cold plunges and advanced recovery treatments, here are three addresses leading the movement:

U – The Longevity Club

Here, a science-led approach to healthy ageing is taken, offering treatments ranging from NAD+ infusions and red-light therapy to oxygen-based recovery programmes, all designed to support long-term vitality and wellbeing.

Aiva

The institute combines aesthetic treatments with preventative, longevity-focused medicine to their idea of healthy ageing. Cryotherapy, oxygen therapy and biological age assessments sit alongside cosmetic procedures.

Recover Society

Located in the luxury department store KaDeWe, Recover Society dedicates a whole floor to longevity and performance. Its next-level programme blends longevity treatments, recovery therapies and community-focused wellbeing to the heart of Berlin.

Where Berlin works out

Industrial charm at SHA-LA Kreuzberg Waterfront. Image credit: SHA-LA

Longevity may be the buzz word of the moment, but one essential pillar remains impossible to ignore: fitness.

Movement remains the cornerstone of a healthy, long life. Pilates, yoga, mobility and HIIT workouts in often Brutalist-inspired environments seem to be the workout aesthetic.

SHA-LA Kreuzberg Waterfront

A serene retreat from the city’s fast pace, SHA-LA offers yoga, Pilates and recovery treatments, with a strong emphasis on mindful movement and education. While there are two locations, if in doubt, the waterfront studio is the one worth seeking out.

ANTIstudio

Fitness, recovery and mindfulness come together at ANTI. The studio was among the first in Berlin to introduce red-light-enhanced workouts, while its on-site ANTIspa, complete with sauna and ice baths, has become a destination in its own right for recovery-focused wellness.

BECYCLE & BEYOND

With studios across Mitte, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg, the spaces offer a broad wellness portfolio of indoor cycling (BECYCLE), reformer Pilates, yoga, barre, strength training and breathwork (BEYOND). Heated classes and infrared saunas complement the programme.

sol studio

Tucked away in a minimalist space within a classic Kreuzberg courtyard, sol studio specialises in high-intensity Pilates as well as strength and mobility classes designed to build strength, endurance and body awareness.

The best wellness in Berlin

The Liquidrom is one of the most beautiful spas in Berlin. Image credit: Detlef Eden

Few things feel better after a challenging workout than a sauna session or massage and, fortunately, Berlin is home to some of Germany’s nicest places. These are my three favourites. One thing to note: saunas are generally textile-free.

Vabali

Bringing a touch of Bali to Berlin, Vabali combines several sauna facilities and cold as well as hot pools in Balinese-inspired surroundings.

Liquidrom

Liquidrom feels less like a spa than a sensory retreat. Beneath the dome, a saltwater pool, ambient music and minimalist interiors create a relaxing urban escape.

Fontane Therme

Worth the journey to Brandenburg, Fontane Therme combines lakeside serenity with spa treatments, saunas and panoramic views across Ruppiner See.

Reshape Berlin

A favourite among Berlin’s wellness crowd, Reshape specialises in Brazilian lymphatic drainage and restorative massages that leave you feeling lighter, refreshed and ready to take on the city again.

Get the Berlin glow

The Cowshed is known for its restorative massages, tailored facials and traditional hammam. Image credit: Soho House Berlin

The same crowd booking red-light workouts and longevity consultations is also seeking out results-driven facials, innovative skincare treatments and carefully curated beauty spaces across the city.

Kalia Lab Berlin

Beauty, health and kind longevity is the mantra of this beauty space. Their most loved treatments? Collagen boosters, vampire lifting, radiofrequency needling and CO2-laser. They really do it all – and well.

Dr. Emi

As one of Berlin’s most sought-after dermatology addresses, Dr. Emi’s practice in Charlottenburg bridges medical expertise and aesthetic treatments. She is known for her advanced facials, laser treatments and personalised skincare approaches.

Grace Beauty Studio

One of Berlin’s first dedicated head spas brings the Japanese-inspired wellness ritual to the city. The focus here? The scalp. Its signature head spa treatments combine deep cleansing, massage and restorative care in a calming, spa-like setting.

The Cowshed

Located inside the iconic Soho House Berlin, the spa is known for its restorative massages, tailored facials and traditional hammam.

Perfect Skin

For over 25 years, the Berlin institution has focused on personalised, science-led treatments designed to improve skin quality while preserving each client’s natural features.

Where to shop

Luxury department store KaDeWe, opened in 1907, remains an institution. Image credit: Ludger Paffrath

KaDeWe

While Berlin is best known for its independent fashion scene, the luxury department store KaDeWe, opened in 1907, remains an institution. The latest reasons to visit are the recently expanded Beauty Studio, where more than 90 beauty brands sit alongside treatment rooms, as well as the newly opened Fabletics store.

MDC Cosmetics

In the heart of Prenzlauer Berg, MDC Cosmetics brings together a carefully curated selection of niche beauty brands and sought-after skincare treatments.

Andreas Murkudis

Founded by the former director of ‘Museum der Dinge’ Andreas Murkudis, this iconic concept store has become a site for lovers of fashion, art and design. Its meticulously curated selection has a gallery-like atmosphere.

Voo Store

Set in a formerly gritty Kreuzberg courtyard, Voo Store has evolved into one of Berlin’s most influential fashion destinations. Expect a curated mix of designer fashion, art publications, specialty coffee and contemporary culture under one roof.

Kurfürstendamm

Berlin’s highest concentration of luxury boutiques can be found along Kurfürstendamm (short: Ku’Damm). Stretching from Olivaer Platz to Wittenbergplatz, the boulevard is lined with stores from fashion houses such as Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, ending at the iconic KaDeWe.

Where to eat

Frederick’s revives the glamour of 1920s Berlin. Image credit: Rhubarb Hospitality

Frederick’s

Housed within the historic remains of the former Grand Hotel Esplanade on Potsdamer Platz, Frederick’s revives the glamour of 1920s Berlin. Today, contemporary dining is served amid crystal chandeliers, Art Deco details and plush velvet seating.

Nobelhart and Schmutzig

Ring the bell, step inside and take a seat at the counter: Nobelhart and Schmutzig is one of Berlin’s most distinctive dining experiences. The Michelin-starred restaurant pioneered the concept of ‘brutally local’ cuisine, serving a seasonal tasting menu built almost entirely around ingredients from the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

otto

otto has earned its reputation through a commitment to the craft of cuisine. Vegetables are sourced from a garden in Brandenburg so that every dish reflects the rhythm of the seasons.

Restaurant Tim Raue

Chef Tim Raue serves his signature Asian-inspired cuisine, balancing sweetness, acidity and spice in menus that have earned him two Michelin stars and international recognition. Just a short stroll from Checkpoint Charlie, it is one of Berlin’s finest lunch addresses.

893 Ryōtei

What appears to be an abandoned building from the outside is, in fact, a fine dining address. The restaurant combines modern Japanese cuisine, inventive cocktails and a moody atmosphere.

Pinci

Come for breakfast, stay for lunch and inevitably return for aperitivo. The grilled artichokes are already something of a local legend, while the Garibaldi remains the drink of choice.

Where to stay

Hotel Oderberger is a former public bathhouse turned boutique hotel

Prenzlauer Berg

For those keen to experience Berlin’s new wellness culture first-hand, Prenzlauer Berg is the neighbourhood to know. Here, Pilates studios, recovery spaces and health-conscious cafés seem to open almost monthly.

For a stay at the heart of it all, check into Hotel Oderberger. Housed in a beautifully restored former public bathhouse dating back to 1902, the family-run hotel combines historic architecture with modern comfort.

The undisputed centrepiece remains the spectacular swimming hall, which is not only Berlin’s largest hotel pool but also one of the city’s most beautiful places for a swim. Uniquely, it continues to welcome both hotel guests and Berlin locals, preserving its original role as a neighbourhood gathering place.

Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg is Berlin at its most vibrant: creative, multicultural and effortlessly cool. Its streets are lined with independent boutiques, late-night bars, galleries and food spots from all over the world – all wrapped in the slightly rough-around-the-edges charm that has long defined the district.

For those looking to stay in the heart of it all, there is one standout address: Orania.Berlin, often described as Berlin’s coolest grand hotel. Behind its historic façade, guests find thoughtfully designed rooms, a restaurant celebrated for its famous X-Berg Duck menu, live music and a warm, personal atmosphere.

It is one of the few luxury hotels in Berlin that feels genuinely connected to the neighbourhood.

Charlottenburg

Roomers combines the glamour of a grand European hotel with the brand’s contemporary lifestyle ethos

Charlottenburg represents a more elegant side of Berlin. Home to some of the city’s best restaurants, luxury hotels and cultural institutions, the neighbourhood combines old world grandeur with contemporary sophistication. While there is no shortage of luxurious places to stay, these three addresses stand out for their design, service and location.

Roomers

Originally opened in 1913 as Hotel am Steinplatz, the architectural landmark has welcomed generations of artists, intellectuals and international visitors. Recently reimagined under the Roomers banner, it combines the glamour of a grand European hotel with the brand’s contemporary lifestyle ethos. Well-designed interiors, a rooftop spa and a new French brasserie by the celebrated Berlin chef Duc Ngo create a sophisticated base for exploring the city’s elegant west side.

The Dean

New to Charlottenburg, The Dean Berlin is the first international venture from the Irish-born hotel group. Set in a restored 19th-century building, the 81-room property feels more like the impeccably designed home of a well-travelled friend than a conventional hotel. A truly stylish urban retreat.

Wilmina Hotel

Once a courthouse and women’s prison, the complex has been reimagined as a serene hideaway of gardens, courtyards and beautifully crafted interiors. Today, the award-winning property combines 66 beautifully designed rooms with a spa and rooftop pool overlooking the city. While you’re here, be sure to book a table at the Lovis restaurant.

Mitte

If choosing between Berlin’s many neighbourhoods feels impossible, Mitte (literally meaning ‘middle’) is the safe bet. The city centre places many of the German capital‘s most famous landmarks within easy reach. For first-time visitors in particular, it remains one of the most convenient bases. One of the most iconic addresses is Hotel de Rome in the former headquarters of Dresdner Bank on the historic Bebelplatz. In summer, the rooftop is a must-visit to watch the sunset.