Hotel Review: Art Hotel Tucholsky

I stayed at Room 103 of Art Hotel Tucholsky for two nights from 26 to 28 November 2010. It cost 79 euro per night (as Single Room Comfort).

The Good:
The bedroom. It is decorated with minimalist design that gives an impression of cleanliness. I especially like Artemide's white, hollow oval-shaped lamp stand that brightens up the entire room. Windows seem to be sound-proof as I didn't need to wear earplugs while I was sleeping even though the room faces a street busy with cars. Despite near-zero outside temperatures at night, the room was warm enough I didn't need a blanket. The bathroom is clean and tidy.

Breakfast (included in the room charge). It's not fancy, but they just do it right. You can choose from German breakfast, English breakfast, French breakfast, etc. I tried German and English. Both were very tasty, allowing me to make a fresh start of the day. Waiters and waitresses are very attentive and nice.

The location. It's just 7-8 minutes walk away from Bochum Hbf railway station. The hotel is in the district of Bochum where lots of bars and restaurants are clustered. A supermarket (REWE) is just a few minutes walk away.

The Bad:
They don't offer shampoo in the bathroom. Given the design hotel features, I didn't expect this to be the case. You're advised to bring a small tube of shampoo.

There is no reception. A counter at the bar/restaurant on the ground floor of the same building (where the superb breakfast is served) serves as a reception desk. This is a bit confusing, although the staff immediately let me check in on a busy Friday evening.

The Ugly:
The small entrance space leading to the staircase smells of chemicals, with bits of construction materials scattered as if they were in the middle of renovation.

Verdict: If you happen to be in Bochum, this hotel is definitely worth staying. The bad and the ugly are something unexpected from a boutique hotel like this one, but you can deal with them.