If you want a hotel in Bern with great character, lovely staff, comfortable rooms, and a convenient location, then this is for you. We loved it for our three-night stay, but I can only address the pleasures of Room 304, as I didn't see any of the others. This room is on the top floor (basically four flights up a creaky, twisty wooden staircase), so you are going to get your exercise (there is no elevator/lift). We had a nice little balcony with a view of the river Aare, which is directly in front of the hotel. You are also directly across from a short bridge that leads you into the Bern Old Town. It is a wonderful, central location surrounded by greenery (please read to the end for directions on getting there by train/bus combo). There is active traffic nearby, but lots of birdsong, too. And the French doors keep out noise effectively. Our room was a nice size, with two twin beds pushed together. Beds were very comfortable, but I had to ask for an extra pillow because the pillows are very soft. We had a small table with stools, places for luggage, a decorative ceramic coal heater and a wooden wardrobe to hang clothes. There were several outlets in the room, but I had trouble maintaining my wifi connection. People at the desk (which is also the bar in the restaurant and where you check in upon arrival) were always able to get me set up. We had an ensuite bathroom, but not all rooms do, so be sure to see which one you are getting. Obviously, the shared bath accommodations are less expensive. The bath was comfortable, with amenities, except for tissues. Nice shower. Heated towel rack perfect for drying a little hand laundry. Expanded continental breakfast included sliced cheese, a fabulous croissant, assorted breads and jams, a little fresh fruit, muesli, and custom coffee with refills. There is a very unusual perk here. On the first floor (one flight up from ground floor), there is a large dining room/kitchen available to guests. There is a frig, microwave, stovetop, dishes, cups, etc. So you can make your own meals, warm up leftovers, etc., if you choose. However, the on-site restaurant is very good and well-priced. A couple of other interesting additions: There is a basket of sunglasses on the sill outside the dining room for people to borrow, as well as a basket with available hats on the ground floor in the storage area outside the public restrooms. If you have any intention of going to the local casino, be sure to ask for a Bern city card, even if you have a Swiss rail pass, as the casino charges 10CHF for entrance without it. If you don't have a Swiss rail pass, then it provides lots of extra benefits.

Directions: If you have a car, ignore this, but do inquire about parking. If you arrive in Bern by train, when you exit the main Bern train station (bahnhof - a good word to know), follow the pictographs that point to buses. Take the #12 bus that says Centrum Paul Klee. (There are a lot of buses, so you will have to cross a street to get to the one facing the right direction.) Get off at Barenpark (Bear Park), which is the fifth stop after the train station. (This is actually the stop for the Bear Park, so be sure to look up and see the sculpture of the bear riding a unicycle on a wire, which will be overhead when you get off the bus.) OK. Now cross the street you came up on the bus, toward the souvenir kiosk. Facing the kiosk, to your left will be a set of stairs going downhill toward the river (there is also a sloping drive, if you have luggage that you are dragging). There is no sign for the hotel. We originally didn't know which way to go, and a lovely local woman actually walked us all the way down the hill to the hotel. Not obvious. You will pass a number of interesting establishments on your left, including a theater and a restaurant. At the very bottom, the river will be on your left, and the first beige building on the corner on your right will say Landhaus in large letters. However, the building on the corner is not the hotel, but is attached to the grey building on its right, which is the entrance to the hotel (and the hotel restaurant). This is an old hotel, and if the long walk down the hill didn't scare away the mobility-challenged, remember the curving wooden stairway inside. Once you know where you are going, it is no problem, and the ease of commuting with the #12 bus is great. That bus also can take you to more interesting places in the city. But we found lots of good restaurants within walking distance.

Location: Perfect! Only less than 5 minutes tram ride from Bern Bahnhof and old city. Right by the river and beautiful bridge.
View: Perfect!
Room with art-deco touch and antique furnitures: Great!
Room with a balcony and attached bathroom: Very good
Shared Bath option: Not bad at all. Bath/Shower/Toilet: Right next to room door
Common Kitchen: Cooking facilities and teas and instant coffee available all day
Employees/Hosts: Available, friendly and helpful.
Breakfast: Very good.

No negative facts. Highly recommended.