The renaissance of West Berlin

In the years before the fall of the Wall, the area around Breitscheidplatz was one of West Berlin's main cultural and shopping hubs. After reunification, the city's epicenter shifted eastwards and the City West area became increasingly run-down. After intensive redevelopment, it's once again a thriving part of town that's home to an array of boutiques, galleries, cafés and clubs.

After a lengthy renovation, Bikini House on Budapester Street finally reopened in April 2014. The low, rectangular building that dates back to the 1950s got its name while it was still under construction and the mezzanine level briefly resembled the sexy swimwear. The building's original architectural flourishes are now complemented with modern elements.

With its hip bars, designer fashion and high-end stores, Bikini House is one of the most exciting new developments in City West. Next door is the ultra-chic 25hours Hotel. From the Monkey Bar on its tenth floor, visitors can look down on the monkey enclosure in the neighboring zoo.

An extensive revamp has put the historic cinema Zoo Palace back on the map. It began hosting the Berlin Film Festival in 1957 but closed its doors in 2010 for a 3-year renovation. Its original opulence has been restored and the complex now boasts a further five theaters. As of 2014, many of the Film Festival's featured movies are once again screened at the Zoo Palast.

A number of striking buildings have joined the skyline of City West. One of them is the 180-meter-high Zoofenster, a skyscraper with upper levels boasting glass facades - hence its name ("Zoo Window"). Most of the building is used for office space but it also houses the 5-star Waldorf Astoria.

The turn of the millennium marked a turn in City West's fortunes. Urban planners made a conscious decision to revive the area and the Neues Kranzler Eck ushered in the new era. The 16-storey skyscraper is located next to the famed Café Kranzler on the corner of the landmark Kurfürstendamm.

The area now known as City West has traditionally been an affluent one. Dating back to 1907, the luxury department store Kaufhaus des Westens (or KaDeWe) on Wittenbergplatz is a Berlin institution and only slightly smaller than Harrods in London. Its piece de resistance is the food hall on the sixth floor.

What was once West Berlin's central train station hasn't yet caught up with the changing times and remains a popular haunt for drug addicts and homeless people. Over the next five years, 5 million euros will be spent on a makeover of the Zoo Terrace outside the main entrance.

What investors hope will be the new icon of City West is still under construction. The Upper West will be a 118-meter-high tower with a futuristic metal façade and is all set to give the district yet another image boost. The top floor will house a sky bar, where guests can enjoy cocktails and spectacular views.