Hotel Cristall

Class: Comfort

Style: Modern design

Rooms: 84

When a boutique hotel pops up directly behind the central train station of a European metropolis, it might not rouse the curious, nor set abuzz the Blackberrys of the cultural cognoscenti. In the case of Cologne’s Hotel Cristall they’re missing out, as the hotel pleasantly challenges expectations with its relaxed style and affordable price in what’s really a quite usefully central location. While it’s sited literally around the corner from the huge Hauptbahnhof train station — one of the key rail hubs in western Europe — the hotel is a leisurely stroll from all the charms of Cologne’s medieval old quarter. Galleries and museums abound, all within hearing of the bells from the Kölner Dom, the Gothic cathedral.

The Cristall’s design aesthetic announces itself immediately upon entry into the lobby, dramatic in black marble floors and crimson Eames egg chairs. Comfort Rooms come with the high ceilings and large windows typical of older Rhineland buildings, as well as modern luxury details like radiant flooring, custom designed furniture, flat-screen televisions and king-sized beds. The alternate Crystal Standard rooms offer design details in a smaller footprint with an emphasis on lighting and layout. It’s a worthwhile reminder that guests need not sacrifice the charms of design in the name of efficiency.