Review: the new Kennedy 89 hotel, Frankfurt (Hyatt’s Unbound Collection)

This is our review of the Kennedy 89 hotel in Frankfurt.

The brand new Kennedy 89, part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, opened in early January. It is situated south of the river Main in the beautiful and leafy upmarket district of Sachsenhausen.

Despite regular visits to Frankfurt for work over the years, it was the first time that I hadn’t stayed in the city centre. Sachsenhausen is very close, however, and I have been here many times for its museums on the embankment (with the Staedel art gallery being the most famous) and its local apple wine pub culture.

(‘Apple wine’ is a German speciality which is, effectively, high alcohol cider – usually as strong as wine at around 12%. The local Hessian word for apple wine is ‘Ebbelwoi’ and is served in a blue ceramic jar called ‘Bembel’.)

Hyatt provided my stay for a review including food and drink whilst HfP paid for all other costs.

The Kennedy 89 website is here.

Getting to Kennedy 89

The hotel is best reached from the airport by taxi as the drive is basically a straight line and should take 15 minutes at most. The modern building occupies a spacious corner on the villa-lined Kennedyallee (named after John F. Kennedy who visited the city in 1963) and the quiet Stresemannallee.

The neighbourhood is very attractive with beautiful old buildings, including many grand old villas which now house foreign consulates and specialist doctor’s practices. The hotel is slightly set back from the junction, surrounded by a wide pavement which hardly sees pedestrian footfall.

Sachsenhausen’s own centre is around Schweitzer Platz. The museums on the embankment and the main station are roughly 15 minutes walk away. Anything else will require a short tram ride (a stop is opposite the hotel) or a taxi.

The actual entrance is on Stresemannallee, despite the Kennedy 89 name. The reception gives a sophisticated first impression with a mirror-like polished Marrazzi floor. Staff were very welcoming and I was offered a drink at check-in.

The door to the left of reception is the entrance to the restaurant on the ground floor.

My room at Kennedy 89

I had a King Bed Deluxe room on the eighth floor. There are 12 floors altogether plus the roof terrace.

It was a very spacious room with an additional sofa bed. I loved the wooden floor and the large wardrobe. Although it was relatively sparsely furnished it felt comfortable and cozy.

Every room comes with a kitchenette which was unexpected. There is a microwave but no cooker, and only two sets of plates, glasses, cups and cutlery.

It made me question the purpose of the large dishwasher given the very restricted amount of crockery and cutlery available to fill it, unless you want to run it with two plates and two forks!

My room had no separate desk but I had a large round table, close to a plug socket on the wall. From a practical point of view I don’t like working on glass tables – a mouse doesn’t work on them and it becomes unsightly with fingerprints after a while.

One of the outstanding and distinguished features of the hotel is that every room has a balcony.

Mine overlooked the leafy neighborhood of Sachsenhausen. You would criss cross here to walk to Schweitzer Platz with its restaurants, apple wine taverns and shops.

The bathroom is spacious with a very large shower and one sink in grey stoneware tiles. Toiletries are Kennedy 89’s own brand and include hairwash and conditioner.

A Diplomat Suite at Kennedy 89

I had the chance to see a Diplomat Suite on the fifth floor, which can sell for as little as €560 at weekends. It was located at the tip of the hotel’s triangle shape and provides wonderful 180 degree views.

The wrap-around balcony is looking across the financial centre, the city centre and Sachsenhausen. If you value a balcony and views – this is it!

The kitchenette here is bigger with the table and chairs tucked to the left.

The separate bedroom had the same features as mine but was much smaller. I always find it odd to be in a bedroom in a large suite which feels quite small in itself.

The bathroom is fairly similar to a standard room:

KaSa Lounge & Bar

A great space to hang out during the day and at night is the KaSa Lounge & Bar on the first floor. With large windows it is great to observe the ‘life cinema’ outside.

The furniture is homely with a stunning lighting installation in the centre. I saw people working here and others having a bite from the interesting bar menu.

It offers the standard burger and club sandwich but also a savoy cabbage roulade with potato-chestnut filling, wild mushrooms and cranberry sauce for €26. It also had duck breast which isn’t a dish you often find on a bar menu.

This seating area is inviting, offering the daily newspapers and coffee table books.

Last but not least there is a very large bar if you just want to drink:

On one night my friend and I had a night cap here, opting for the driver’s choice – a cocktail called Pink Coconut with coconut milk / red fruit puree / Tonka bean syrup / cream. I had a Berry Mix with red fruit puree / vanilla syrup / lime juice, both cost a reasonable €11. I have to mention the crisps – I don’t know what they were, but they looked like thin Oreos and were extremely tasty!

Eighty Nine Restaurant

The restaurant at Kennedy 89 is on the ground floor. It is a thoughfully designed space with floor to ceiling windows. The entire restaurant is surrounded by a terrace which is separated from the (very quiet) pavement by freshly planted bushes and flowers.

Once the sun umbrellas and outdoor furniture are in place this will be a stunning exterior space for the summer.

Inside, the restaurant offers a variety of table options. This is one the largest tables placed in the centre of the restaurant:

The majority are smaller tables with chairs and comfortable bench seating:

Breakfast

Breakfast is a mix of buffet and a la carte. It offers plenty of continental options with typical German bread rolls and cold cuts as well as warm dishes.

This is the table with cereals, dried fruits, yoghurts, nuts etc:

For my first breakfast I chose a la carte with scrambled harissa tofu with wild herbs on sourdough bread. It was fully up my street, healthy and delicious.

It is worth asking staff for common breakfast items which are not on the menu. For example I was offered pancakes by the staff (not on the menu) which the chefs would have made freshly for me.

Here is the table with bread and pastries:

My second breakfast was a classic of eggs Benedict with avocado on brioche and Bearnaise sauce and salmon. Always a winner!

Dinner

As you can see from my first breakfast choice, the restaurant cuisine has a levantine slant.

Dishes are generally meant for sharing with different menus on offer at €85 or €95 for two. A la carte options are also available, which is what I chose.

My starter was brussels sprouts / goat cheese / salted lemon / date and harissa at €18.50. This was delicious and very flavoursome. The dish would be a great size for sharing as it was too large for me.

May main was cod / carrot / pointed cabbage / butter sauce / radicchio / rose leaves at €41.50, which is definitely West London territory in terms of cost but absolutely delicious.

My dessert was berry-orange tart / cocos creme / cassis-figs from the sharing menu. The cassis-figs were my highlight here – I have not eaten this before and it tasted amazing.

Gym

The hotel has a large gym on the first floor with large windows letting natural light in:

Jack’s Rooftop Bar

Although not open yet I had the opportunity to take a nightime picture from the rooftop bar on the 13th floor. The views are stunning with Frankfurt’s skyline at your feet and, once open, it will become a unique feature of the hotel.

Conclusion

I had a great stay at Kennedy 89. The location worked for me with a very quick ride from and to the airport being very important.

I worked in my hotel room during the day (with breaks on my very appreciated balcony!) and only left in late afternoon to explore the local area. Sachsenhausen is definitely one of the most attractive quarters in Frankfurt.

Having said that, the more distant financial district and the old town are only a longer walk or a short taxi ride away if you don’t want to take the tram.

The food was really outstanding and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfasts, dinner and drinks in beautiful surroundings with the staff in the restaurant especially attentive.

Kennedy 89 is a Category 4 hotel in World of Hyatt, meaning that a free night will cost between 12,000 and 18,000 points. Cash rates at weekends start at €180.

Hyatt’s exceptionally good suite upgrade rewards are available on some dates. For example, on dates where non-refundable rooms start at €180, an Ambassador Suite (usually from €500) is €220 – the flexible rate for a standard room – plus just 9,000 World of Hyatt points.

The Kennedy 89 website is here if you want to find out more.

Many thanks to Jan-Henrik and his team for making me feel so welcome.

What did I do?

I gave the art museum Staedel a quick visit which is always worth it but generally very busy. 25th April 2026 is the Night of the Museums in Frankfurt which is an amazing event with the main museums open until 2am including performances etc. Shuttle buses take you around lesser known venues.

After Staedel I strolled around Schweitzer Platz, the small centre of Sachsenhausen, which is very pretty with lovely bakeries and cafes.

I then met up with a friend and we had dinner in the well-known apple wine bar ‘Apfelweinwirtschaft Adolf Wagner’ which always delivers. Next door is the equally famous ‘Zum Gemalten Haus’ but it was closed for a movie shoot! Don’t be surprised if you find the service a bit rough in these bars – this is normal but you come for the atmosphere and the excellent traditional food and drink.

Further east of Schweitzer Platz is the the real apple wine and party scene around Paradiesgasse. On warmer days it is also worth taking a taxi to Gerbermühle on the river which has an amazing summer garden under large trees.