Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden

Where to begin, lets start with the positives. This hotel is an ex Palace, it has been beautifully and sympathetically restored/refurbished. It is in an enviable position for the City Centre and attractions. We travel a lot and each year we pick a different City for an early December visit principally for the Christmas markets. We flew from Manchester to Berlin and then it is another 1h45mins transfer for which we took a chauffeur drive. Now to the rest of the review of a questionable hotel experience. We arrived and our driver took our cases from the car, there was nobody to greet us despite a doorman hut outside the main gates, we bundled our luggage through the front revolving door and up to reception without aid, despite their being a doorman inside who had observed us arrive. We checked in, a slight issue which appears to be with Amex travel who we used but we were advised and reminded we had booked with Expedia albeit I showed them the Amex booking and I fear we were damned from the outset!! We were shown the room which is more than generous in size and beautifully decorated but it is form over function. The bathroom has twin basins but with a very narrow rim, there is simply nowhere to put anything let alone your toiletry bag, the two cupboards underneath house a tissue dispenser and a bin so you put your bag on the floor ! There is no mirror in the bedroom save for the mirrored wardrobes, my Wife had to dry her hair stood up in the bathroom which was the only place where mirror and power socket adjoined. There is loads of space to house a dressing table in the bedroom. The first night we were asleep when the glass shelf from my Wife's bedside table collapsed and crashed, thankfully hadn't broken we reported it the next morning and at the point we left nobody had bothered to attend and repair it! It is an odd layout and I accept it might be governed by the constraints of an old building but to the right of reception was a shop and a chemist neither of which we saw opened, next to that the Sophienkeller which isn't part of the hotel which is the same for Paulaner's at the rear. There is a constant flow of people through reception that aren't residents seemingly going to the underground parking I sympathise in some way with the staff who were at pains to identify guests over others but at times some were spectacularly unhelpful and unwelcoming especially one of the concierge who was simply rude. We arrived on Monday and left Friday, I doubt there are many that stay four nights and we paid handsomely for those four nights,£1800.00 GBP as Thursday arrived it is like they upped their game for the weekend, not with us of course but in general, there appeared two bell hops at the revolving door to assist along with a doorman in his hut outside helping unload cars of luggage and presenting to reception on behalf of other guests. Breakfast was bang average for a hotel of this quality poor buffet choice cramped seating and when busy super slow service. On our last day Friday we spent some time in reception because our flight was pushed back so we sat and read, there was a piano player later in the afternoon which was lovely, there were plenty of other guests sat around with coffee etc so I went to reception to inquire as to where we ordered a glass of wine from, they sent someone across who told us this was the lobby and we couldn't, we then noticed an American party order water and sparkling wine as I was about to go to reception to ask if there was a mistake, the same Gentleman I will call him, arrived and threw down two menus, from which we chose two glasses of wine ??? Incredible..... When I checked out I was asked how our stay was, I said it wasn't great tbh and I was asked why, I quietly explained the issues we had had, how we felt we had been treated differently to other guests and whether that was because we arrived Monday or because we booked as they advised with Expedia? I was assured that wasn't the case and they were sad to hear that, they didn't actually do anything but at least listened. However when I asked to retrieve our cases because our driver had arrived, to my amazement they were presented to us in reception and we were left again despite everything else to take them to the car as we had brought them when we checked in, the doorman even bundled past us outside and made no attempt to assist, flabergasted !!! Our experience was of a hotel that clearly has inconsistency issues in respect of service and some members of staff clearly had a lack of respect for those guests, it is by some margin the worst hotel experience I can recall and whilst Dresden was a great City with fabulous history and architecture along with individual welcoming Christmas markets if we were to return it certainly wouldn't be to this hotel.

Exceptional hotel, perfect location to explore dreden. To minute walk to old town. Staff what you would expect from a 5 star hotel from the moment we arrived. Rooms lovely and will definitely be back

A lovely first class experience as with all Kempinskis. The only downside is it is expensive but you get what you pay for. I will add there are a LOT of restaurants in this hotel. If you are looking for elegant dining, no need to go outside of the hotel.

This hotel is impressive and deserving of its 5 star rating. The location is unequalled as is the service, amenities and service levels. Guestrooms are spacious and well appointed, and cleanliness and maintenance are top notch. We especially enjoyed meeting Chef Concierge Roland Würzbach who is an outstanding representative of the management staff. His stature with 30 year Les Clef d'Or accreditation abd experience is most valued and appreciated. Recommended

What a treat it was to stay for two nights in this opulent and stylish hotel, where we were very well looked after. So tastefully restored, we enjoyed the luxury of a spacious and well furnished room. The restaurant offered very well presented and carefully cooked food (I especially enjoyed the green gazpacho soup) Service was impeccable. Special mention to the concierge who booked us in at Brasserie Bateau for our second evening and the whole front of house staff who made us feel so welcome.