Stay KooooK Bern City (Metropole)
by the TopOfHotel team
A budget Old Town base built around app-based self check-in — light on service, strong on location.
A budget Old Town base built around app-based self check-in — light on service, strong on location.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Stay KooooK Bern City — formerly the Metropole Easy City Hotel — has rebranded around a smart hotel concept built on online check-in and automated service. Rooms are pared-back and minimal: a bed, free Wi-Fi, a TV, and the essentials, but no concierge or room service in the traditional sense. The minimal styling keeps things feeling modern even though the fit-out is basic, and several rooms still carry the older layout and haven't been fully refreshed. The headline feature is app-based check-in, which guests repeatedly praise for letting them skip the desk entirely after a late arrival. The catch is the windows — they block street noise poorly, and multiple reviews suggest requesting a room that doesn't face the main road for a better night's sleep.
Food and amenities
There's no breakfast on-site, but the surrounding Old Town is packed with cafes and bakeries that open early, so a 5-minute walk solves the morning. Free Wi-Fi covers the building, and the online check-in runs through a mobile app you download before travelling. Because there's no full-time front desk, an emergency hotline handles problems instead of staff at a counter. Note that there's no formal luggage storage either — worth confirming ahead if you need to drop bags before check-in or after checkout.
Location and getting there
The Old Town address is the whole reason to book here. Zytglogge is a 5-minute walk, the Bundeshaus about 8, and the Saturday morning market at Bundesplatz sits within easy strolling distance. The streets around the hotel are lined with restaurants, cafes, and traditional Swiss souvenir shops under Bern's signature covered arcades. Bern Hauptbahnhof is a 6–8 minute walk or a single tram stop, with onward trains to Zurich, Interlaken, and Geneva. Bern-Belp Airport is roughly 20 minutes out by bus or train. This is a spot for travellers who'd rather spend their hours in the old city than inside the hotel.
Things to know before booking
Service is deliberately stripped back. The 20–30% discount versus nearby 4-stars comes directly from cutting the staffed front desk and going fully digital, so weigh that trade before booking. The biggest recurring complaint is street noise through thin windows — ask for an interior or courtyard-facing room. There's no breakfast, no 24-hour reception, and very basic rooms. It's not a fit for families with young kids or older travellers who want help on hand, and anyone who sleeps lightly should flag a quiet room explicitly.
Our take
Stay KooooK suits app-comfortable solo travellers and couples who want a genuine Old Town base for around $200 a night and don't need full-service trimmings. The 7.4/10 score and the gap between its 8.9 on HotelsCombined and lower TripAdvisor marks tell the story: love the location and the self-service speed, accept the noise and the bare-bones service, and it's solid value. Want a staffed lobby, breakfast, and quiet windows? Look one tier up.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Genuine Old Town location — Zytglogge is 5 minutes on foot, Bundeshaus about 8, and the historic covered arcade streets start right outside the door.
- Online check-in through a mobile app means no waiting at a desk, which several guests single out as a real plus when they roll in late at night.
- Rates start around $200 a night and run roughly 20–30% below full-service 4-stars on the same blocks — strong value if you only need a bed in a great spot.
- Minimal, modern room styling keeps things feeling current rather than tired, even though the fit-out is basic and some rooms still wear the older layout.
- One tram stop or a 6–8 minute walk to Bern Hauptbahnhof puts the entire Swiss rail network — Zurich, Interlaken, Geneva — within easy reach without a taxi.
- Window soundproofing is weak. Multiple reviews report street noise disturbing their sleep, so ask specifically for a room that doesn't face the main road.
- Service is stripped back by design: no around-the-clock front desk, no concierge, and no room service. There's an emergency hotline, but you're largely on your own.
- No breakfast on-site and no formal luggage storage — confirm bag drop ahead of time if your arrival or departure falls outside your stay.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Bern
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Bern — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Download the check-in app and complete it before you land — the whole no-queue arrival only works if you've registered ahead.
- Request a courtyard-side or interior room when booking; the street-facing windows are the main source of the noise complaints.
- Walk 5 minutes to the Bundesplatz market on Saturday mornings and grab pastries from the early-opening Old Town bakeries instead of hunting for hotel breakfast.