We spent New Year 06 in the Henriette. We have a 4 year old and requested a separate room and got a lovely little appartment with tiny kitchen, single and double rooms each with own TV and bathroom, overlooking the river all for €95 per night, and excellent breakfast extra. Food and service were excellent, very clean but room consumables not topped up automatically. Also minor problems with key and bathroom door lock.
The restaurant serves excellent Indian food but couldn't manage to vary things on request eg ice-cream no extras such as topping or cream for a fussy child.
Their room service was good though.
Cross the bridge on the other side of the road to the pub called Zum Fischerkietz and go native. Wonderful German dishes such as Roulade or Holzfäller steak, and delectable Berliner Kindl Dunkel Bock Bier (Dark strong beer), and very reasonable.
For breakfast you can order bread rolls delivered daily to your hotel room door, and use the Spar supermarket 250m away for what else you need. This hotel encourages you to stay long-term.
Transport is by U-Bahn (Underground), line U2 Märkisches Museum (worth a visit too), hotel has tickets (not advertised!), 20 min to Ku'Damm.
Ostbahnhof rail station under €10 taxi ride.
WiFi internet in the lobby, dial up in room (my machine would not go!), tiny safe for passport not laptop.
Would definately stay again.
The Gray family, from NZ via Ireland.

I had wanted to find a nice, somewhat affordable hotel in Berlin for a recent trip, and wasn't at all sure where to go. All I knew was that I wanted to stay in East Berlin. I stumbled on the Hotel Henriette in a guide book, and it ended up being a very good choice. It's not as "drop dead" spectacular as some of the new modern chain hotels in Postdamerplatz, but it was certainly more intimate, and the staff took good care of me.

Although the surrounding area may feel a bit out of the way, the hotel is actually in a very central location, on the Spee River virtually across from the "Museum Island" with its many museums and the Berliner Dom. The hotel itself is relatively small and modern (and as yet undiscovered by Americans), but it fits with the look and feel of the eastern half of the city. My room had built-in furniture (a bit like a ship) and was on the somewhat small side, like most European hotel rooms, but it was very comfortable and had tons of drawer space and all modern amenities. It also faced the river; a nice bonus (I suggest requesting a river view). The hotel has a nice restaurant and bar, and offers an excellent free breakfast. The staff were courteous and helpful.

I would recommend the Hotel Henriette to anyone looking for a bit of (affordable) calm in the midst of this sprawling, ever-changing city.