Hotel Korn

... well deserves the three stars it is ranked with.

It is a middle-class hotel with friendly and attentive service, small enough that staff remember their guests. I liked this place a lot. It is not a faceless and impersonal chain hotel. The place belongs to a rare if not endangered species of hotels: it is locally owned and not connected with any chain. Don't expect five-star luxury, though.

My single room cost me 51 €/night including breakfast, booked via HRS (summer 2010). The bed was good, the room a bit bigger than the usual standard single. I also appreciated having a desk that was big enough to actually put a laptop and papers and everything on it.
I had one problem about a dripping water tap in the bathroom but when I told them it was repaired the same morning, and that is what counts - such little damages can happen anywhere.

Free wireless LAN.

For breakfast you have the choice from an abundant buffet.

The restaurant in the basement is open from 6 p.m. Nice food and nice atmosphere - it wasn't too busy so I had a long chat with the waitress, who talks to all her guests as soon has she has time and knows about people.
The menu involves some mediterranean-style dishes and otherwise mostly meat dishes. I like their concept of steaks: you can choose between two sizes of steak, three varieties of meat and several side dishes to compose your own meal for an acceptable price.

Unique Quality: Central and convenient location, 10 minutes walk from the train station and even less from the city centre, but remarkably quiet because the building is located within a courtyard off a side street.
For the record or a chuckle: it is located right between the Salvation Army and the YMCA...

Directions: Shortest way from the station: Cross the square, turn left behind the Kaufhof department store. Follow the street (Lindenallee) until you reach Alfred-Herrhausen-Brücke. Walk over the bridge, then turn right into Hoffnungstraße.