Berlin has become my second favorite city in Europe (after Paris). There’s a buzz in Berlin: young artists are coming to the city from all over the world (because rents are low) and for fans of new architecture, there’s a lot to see: the Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind, the Reichstag Dome pictured above, just to name a few. In addition, the city has good infrastructure (excellent public transport, bike paths, free Wi-Fi in many cafes, high-speed broadband and the impressive new Central Station).
On the gastronomic side, it’s never going to be like Paris but I was very pleased to find Thai and Vietnamese restaurants everywhere. The Italian and French restaurants I tried were all superb. Shopping is also a pleasure. You will find small boutiques run by young entrepreneurs selling beautiful one-of-a-kind items. The eastern part of the city has not been overwhelmed with chain stores (yet). That may change in the future so you should come to Berlin now.
Here are my favorite restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques organized by neighborhood.
Mitte:
Makoto
Japanische Nudeln
Alte Schoenhauserstrasse 13
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 97 89 38 57
Laid-back restaurant serving Japanese ramen, rice plates
Ma – Tim Raue
Behrenstrasse 72
10117 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 301117333
Asian cuisine by top chef, Tim Raue, in luxurious surroundings
Cavallino Rosso
Hannoversche Strasse 2
10115 Berlin
+49 30 27 90 8314
(closed Sunday, reservations necessary)
Italian
Boetzow Privat
Linienstrasse 113
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 117 465 5251
neighborhood bar and restaurant, German food
Cacao Sampaka (CLOSED)
Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 3 / Unter den Linden
10178 Berlin
+49 30 847 12 476
(close to Alexanderplatz)
chocolate bonbons from well-known Barcelona store
Shiro i Shiro
Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 11
10178 Berlin
+49 30 9700 4790
(reservations necessary)
Japanese-Euro fusion
Honigmond Restaurant
Tieckstrasse 12
10115 Berlin
+49 30 28 44 55 77
(reservations necessary)
(Königsberger Klopse — meatballs in caper cream sauce)
German food
Hasir
Oranienburgerstrasse 4
10178 Berlin
+49 30 2804 1616
Turkish
Weinbar Rutz
Chausseestrasse 8
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 24628760
(reservations necessary)
wine bar serving tapas, gourmet food
Marcann’s
Invalidenstrasse 112
10115 Berlin, Germany
(breakfast, lunch)
delicious sandwiches, croissants, omelettes
Galeries Lafayette Berlin
Friedrichstrasse 76-78
10115 Berlin, Germany
Food hall has French bistro, luscious pastries, wine and champagne bar
Ambulance Bar
Oranienburgerstrasse 27
Berlin, Germany
funky little bar with DJ
Monsieur Vuong
Alter Schoenhauser strasse 46
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 308 72643
Vietnamese, Asian
Restaurant Maxwell
Bergstrasse 22
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 280 7121
New German cuisine
Bangaluu
Invalidenstrasse 30
+49 30 8096 93077
restaurant, bar, dancefloor
103
Kastanienallee 49
Berlin
+49 30 4849 2651
bar restaurant, perfect for hanging on the sidewalk watching people
Shops
RSVP
Mulackstrasse 14
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 280 94 644
Exquisite notebooks, pens, writing paper, cards and other paper products
Neurotitan
Rosenthalerstrasse 39
Berlin
CDs, DVDs, books, comics in run-down graffiti filled building
Prenzlauer Berg:
Gugelhof
Kollwitzplatz / Ecke Knaackstrasse 37
10435 Berlin
+49 30 442 9229
(reservations necessary)
Alsatian
i Due Forni
Schoenhauserallee 12
Berlin
Pizza
Oki
Oderbergerstrasse 23
Berlin
+49 30 4985 3130
German-Japanese
White Trash Fast Food
Schoenhauserallee 6-7
Berlin
bar, nightclub with live music
Kreuzberg:
Osteria no. 1
Kreuzbergstrasse 1
+49 30 786 9162
Italian
Haifischbar
Arndtstrasse 25
Berlin
+49 30 691 1352
Friedrichshain:
Lemon Grass
Simon Dachstrasse 2
Berlin
Thai restaurant
– – – – – –
Update: we’ve added new reviews of favorite hotspots in Berlin. Go to: http://www.mapplr.com/tag/berlin/
About Esme Vos
