Charlottenburg, once the centre of West Berlin, has seen its role in the city dwindle since reunification made Mitte a hub, but it remains the quintessential West Berlin district. More than any other part of the city, Charlottenburg offers the refinement of a classic western European city: elegant boutiques, fine dining, manicured gardens and well-dressed ladies of a certain age strolling with their dogs. Such ladies may well be lifelong West Berliners. In a highly transient city, Charlottenburg is the exception: it’s home to many long-term residents. These qualities have made it popular with expat families and professionals, especially those who seek a compromise between the comforts of suburban life and the excitement of the city. Areas around the Ku’damm and the Zoologischer Garten bustle with shoppers, theatregoers, and tourists, but the graceful side streets remain tranquil.