Tried & Tested: Taschenbergpalais Kempinski, Dresden
The historic Taschenbergpalais in Dresden's city center has waited 28 years for this major renovation. The city itself is known as the "Florence at the River Elbe," and after all the work this latest hotspot is finally complete. In a festive grand reopening (with celebrities from politics and showbiz to boot!), LuxuryWise traced the footsteps of Saxony's noblemen.
As experienced by LuxuryWise Editor-in-Chief, Iris M. Köpke
The Hotel
In 1705, the Saxon Elector Augustus the Strong commissioned the Taschenbergpalais, and the baroque palace was built as a residence and ceremonial venue for his mistress Countess Cosel. As is well-known, the city of Dresden was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War. But in 1992 the building's reconstruction began, and only three years later it opened as the luxury hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden.
By Berlin interior designer Markus Hilzinger's skillful hand, the past and present of the building have been artfully interwoven, and design tastes ranging from the modern to the plush and ornate will feel equally at home. Quite frankly, it's refreshing to see an icon reborn in such a deserved way.
In any case, the location couldn't be better. The Taschenbergpalais is located right next to the royal palace and opposite the Dresden Zwinger. The Semper Opera House and Frauenkirche are just a few minutes' walk away. As if it couldn't get any better already, for guests arriving by car there's an underground parking garage directly beneath the hotel – quite a unique feature for a historic building in Europe! Charging stations for electric cars (including Teslas) are available to guests free of charge.
The Art
As soon as you enter the lobby the first work of art catches your eye: a huge light sculpture (the term "lamp" would be a serious injustice here) made of countless illuminated glass panes meanders its way through the entire entrance. It symbolizes the course and flow of the River Elbe and leads guests to the reception desk. This is where they meet Countess Cosel for the first time, whose portrait was created using artificial intelligence (AI). Wow! Known to be clever and feisty, she can be spotted again and again throughout the hotel – sometimes as a classic painting, sometimes as a big, bold graffiti mural. Guests will also see her in the elevator as part of an AI video that spans across the back wall of the cabin. If you're not standing eye to eye with the Countess, you might be standing eye to eye with one of the hotel's chefs or a cute AI dog. Playful touch!
Other eye-catchers in the common areas are the ever-changing pictures in the Kastenmeiers restaurant, which are shown in cooperation with a local gallery. It wasn't easy to dissuade my companion from making an impulse purchase – and he's not a big art fan either! Guests can also discover various exhibits from the Meissen porcelain manufactory, which is funny in that all the tableware in the restaurant bearing the Palais logo was purchased from Rosenthal...
The Design
Sharp edges are rarely found in the interior design of the Taschenbergpalais Kempinski. Tables, sofas, sinks, lamps, stools, and other furnishings are either circular, spherical, ovular, elliptical, or have rounded corners, which is pleasing to the eye and elegantly feminine! It's fitting, too, as it matches the curved architecture of the centerpiece of the palace, the original residence.
The ceilings are high, even in the rooms. Stucco prevents it from appearing empty – sometimes as simple stucco strips in the corridors and rooms, and other times as ornate eyecatchers like in the restaurant wing. The lobby has none of the formality or old-fashionedness of a grand hotel. Colorful (and round!) lounge furniture with lots of cushions of high-quality fabrics, as well as tapestries create what is intended: a cozy living room atmosphere. After all, the hotel and its common areas want to become the new "living room of Dresden."
The Rooms
The hotel has 180 rooms and 31 suites. As is so often the case with historic buildings, no two layouts are the same. The color concept is quite unique and should definitely be explained to clients in advance. There are three different design types in the accommodations, which are distinguished in large part by their color schemes. "Historic Blue" (pictured) offers a soft, very pleasant dove-like hue. By contrast, what the hotel calls "Sandstone" may make perfect sense in Dresden with its many sandstone buildings, but in some rooms it comes across as more of a mustard yellow. "Sage green," on the other hand, is not yet on display.
I'm lucky and am given a Palais room (entry-level category, approx. 35 square meters/377sq. ft.) in the blue color scheme. It has a very calming effect, and I'm also really impressed by the decorations on the wall, which are based on historical wallpapers in castles! The features are also great. For example, a wireless charging station on the bedside table, which contains both USB and USB-C sockets as well as cables for other devices, scores a heap of points. The do-not-disturb sign, on the other hand, is surprisingly non-technical, as it is not an electronic switch but a good ole cardboard sign for the door handle. A hairdryer with plenty of oomph, a very fluffy bathrobe, and a capsule coffee machine make it easier to start the day. The fact that the TV's info channel doesn't work is totally forgivable during the first few days.
The bathrooms are suited to their respective color schemes. Mine has marble walls with a blueish-gray trim. All the fittings are in a matte-brushed charcoal color, which gives an extremely high-quality feel. Even the entry-level category scores points with a double sink and an arched bathroom mirror modeled on the windows of the Dresden Zwinger. In addition to the rain shower there's a separate hand shower, which is always important for ladies who don't want to get their hair wet when freshening up. The (heated!) floor is covered in black and white tiles in a woven pattern, which is super chic and more modern than it might sound!
In the yellow – sorry, sandstone-colored – rooms, the marble has a bronze trim (pictured), and the floor tiles are also in shades of brown. Matte, rose-gold faucets are an elegant touch, and it's all rounded out with cosmetic products by Salvatore Ferragamo, which are available in all rooms.
The color scheme might be a matter of taste, but pay attention to one thing when booking: Almost all rooms in the entry-level category have a bathtub, except for the crucial few with two or three square meters/yards less than the others. Just something to keep in mind.
One critique of the bathroom is that storage space is very tight. The sink is so narrow that even my companion can't place his small men's toiletry bag on it. I store my much larger toiletry bag, make-up bag, and hairbrush in the living area, since the cabinet under the sink is filled by the trash can, a tissue dispenser, and a hairdryer, with no other places for storage.
The Categories
There are a total of four room categories and seven suite categories. The most luxurious accommodation is of course the Royal Suite, which measures 380 square meters (4,090sq. ft.) and can accommodate up to eight guests. It's created when the King Suite and Queen Suite are interconnected. They feature a private wellness area and a fully equipped kitchen, and the minibar is included in this category.
Due to the large number of guests, only the entry-level Palais Room category and a Junior Suite measuring around 50 square meters (538sq. ft.) could be inspected on the opening weekend. However, it's pretty evident that no two rooms are the same. The first room, a blue one, has a bathtub – unlike mine in the exact same category. The second room, also in the same category but this time in the sandstone color scheme, has a completely different layout and the toilet is in a separate room with a real door. By contrast, my room has a glass door and wooden panels that are not soundproof. Needless to say, the devil's in the details when booking rooms.
For a weekend trip, a Palais Room is fine for two people. However, if your clients are staying a little longer, you should consider a Junior Suite (pictured), where the living area in particular is much more spacious.
The Culinary
The Taschenbergpalais has four F&B outlets. The gala dinner on the opening night was held at Kastenmeiers. Its concept: fine dining and seafood. The latter comes as a bit of a surprise for a woman from Hamburg visiting a hotel in Dresden, but the restaurant delivers! Everything tastes great. What's more is that, although there's free seating among the tables, my intolerances are specifically and flawlessly taken into account from the very first course. Good to know: the sushi and oyster bar opposite (see below) is also part of Kastenmeiers.
Breakfast is also served at Kastenmeiers (pictured), with a classic buffet and menu with hot dishes cooked-to-order. Nothing is missing from the buffet, and local specialties such as Dresdner Eierschecke – a cake that has a mix of custard and cheesecake layers – give guests a sweet start to their day. The most discussed dishes are the incredibly liquid Bircher muesli and the rather suspicious looking Eggs Benedict. My firm favorite: the homemade curd with mandarin oranges. Yummy!
It's worth leaving a little space in your stomach at breakfast: the delightful Amalie Pâtisserie & Lounge, named after Princess Marie Luise Franziska Amalie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, opens at 10am. Honestly, it's so beautiful inside your clients won't know where to look first. The cakes and tartlets are colorful, culinary works of art. They're also aptly named. Care for a "Butter-brewed Butterscotch Coffee Bliss," or would your clients prefer the "Apple Chestnut Cinnamon Symphony Tart?" Alas, I'll have to give in to the "Untouched Chocolate Temptation," which certainly won't remain untouched on my plate for long. And it's not just the tarts that are pretty to look at. Cozy, stylish seating areas are spread out in alcoves along the archways. Even though the pâtisserie is quite sizeable you can hardly see any more than three tables at a time when you cast your gaze across the gallery. This clever layout means that it never feels overcrowded.
Shall it be sushi or French cuisine in the Das Palais restaurant? That is the question of the night. In the end, the sushi and oyster bar wins me over, and I'm glad it did. Not only is the sushi delicious, the industrious skill of Japanese sushi chef Takamitsu Hanawa and the cheerful bartender Mouiti Manapori from Australia make dinner a real experience. By the way, the Cosmos here have it all! The sushi menu is clear and straightforward without any frills or crazy creations, and the quality is top. What's more is that there are always at least three different types of oysters to choose from.
The Service
We're barely through the door before we get our first impression of the service mentality. After less than half a minute at the counter, the friendly receptionist relieves my companion from the bags of clothes he's carrying without being asked. Of course, a big strong man has no problems holding a dress and a suit, but it's much more comfortable to take a load off for check-in, and it's clear the staff understand that. While we have a minor misunderstanding, the young lady immediately wins my respect with her consistent, friendly, and solution-oriented demeanor as she acts quickly to work it out.
She then personally takes us to our room, asks three times on the way whether she can take my small carry-on trolley, and then does a quick but proper rooming. She apologizes that the TV's info channel is currently out of service, but she promises that someone will quickly take care of it.
Even at breakfast, the service is extremely attentive. Used dishes are cleared away in a flash, and I notice more than once the young attendant carefully scanning our table from a discreet and respectful distance. The question "Is everything all right?" is not something you'll necessarily hear at breakfast in every five-star hotel.
In the Amalie Pâtisserie & Lounge, a young lady behind the counter praises patissier's Yogesh Dutt (pictured) creations (which isn't really necessary, but she is wonderfully dedicated), and the waiter takes the time to chat about the hotel's history. And the management, who probably haven't had much sleep in the last few weeks, also go the extra mile for their inaugural guests. Both General Manager Marten Schwass and the sales duo Clemens Degenhardt and Mark Laurin Bauer fulfill their role as hosts perfectly. Respect for always being on hand with help and advice for inquisitive guests in this stressful phase!
In a Nutshell
Perhaps not quite from ugly duckling to swan, but the transformation of the Taschenbergpalais Kempinski is as spectacular as it was needed. The five-star hotel now boasts a chic interior and a contemporary concept without denying its historical DNA. It's a successful blend that is likely to attract guests from the U.S. and Asia in particular, who appreciate historic buildings and a top location. This doesn't mean the "living room" idea won't work out – quite the contrary. While the Taschenbergpalais Kempinski has reinvented itself, it also meets the zeitgeist of the local high society, which has already packed the Amalie Pâtisserie on the first official day after opening. Hats off to the dawning of a new era for the Countess – she has arrived!
Trade Contact: Clemens Degenhardt, Director of Sales & Marketing, & Mark Laurin Bauer, Director of Sales