The founder of Hotel Bogota had fled Nazi Berlin to Columbia and after returning to his home city, named his hotel in honour of the one city that had given him refuge. The former apartment building is one of those places where if the walls could talk you wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. The third floor exhibits the work of photographer YVA, who taught Helmut Newton the ropes in her studio here in the 1930s. The Nazis confiscated the property to use as its Chamber of Culture in 1942. Best for those who like a down-to-earth atmosphere, the simple rooms vary in size and many share hall toilets and showers. The hotel was named “friendliest hotel” in 2001, when Berlin initiated the annual award.