Berlin Food-Restaurants

Berlin Food-Restaurants information

Traditional

Altes Zollhaus *** Carl-Herz-Ufer 30, Kreuzberg Tel: +49 (0)30-692-3300 An upmarket take on traditional cuisine in a charming old house surrounded by parkland. Enjoy Germany's finest produce cooked in innovative ways. Not cheap, but well worth the money. The wine list is excellent. Closed Sun/Mon. Gugelhof *** Knaackstrasse 37, Prenzlauer Berg Tel: +49 (0)30-442-9229 This exclusive and stylish restaurant specialises in Alsatian cuisine, often attracting the rich and famous including, in the past, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former US President Bill Clinton. Don't let this put you off though: the place is perfectly welcoming to the non-famous and prices are by no means extortionate. Reservations are a must however. Closed Mon. Storch ** Wartburgstrasse 54, Schöneberg Tel: +49 (0)30-784-2059 A good spot to try traditional local and Alsatian cuisine. Sauerkraut and a selection of Flammenkuchen (a variety of pancake) are mainstays on the menu, though the restaurant prides itself on producing seasonal specialities including a wide range of meat and fish dishes. Customers sit at large communal tables, where meeting fellow diners is all part of the fun. Oranium ** Oranienburgerstrasse 33, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-3088-2967 Stylish restaurant in one of the liveliest streets of the Mitte district, with modern decor, high ceilings and huge chandeliers attracting a mix of locals and tourists. The star items on the menu are the enormous Flammenkuchen (pancakes) with a range of traditional and innovative toppings. Otherwise, there's a choice of international meat, fish and pasta dishes including a number of vegetarian options.

Turkish/Middle Eastern

Hitit *** Knobeldorffstrasse 35, Charlottenburg Tel: +49 (0)30-322-4557 Elegant Hitit has over 100 different traditional Turkish dishes to choose from, including kebabs and various vegetarian options. The restaurant is in the heart of the Turkish quarter of the city where there are numerous similar restaurants serving tasty and authentic cuisine. Falafel UFO * Kastanienallee 15 (on the corner of Oderberger Strasse), Prenzlauer Berg Tel: +49 (0)30-4403-3687 Charming Middle Eastern restaurant in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg area serving delicious fresh food at very reasonable prices. Highlights include babaganoush, meatballs, chicken kebabs, and, of course, felafel. Tables outside are ideal in the summer for people-watching, or bag a seat in the airy interior. Good for vegetarians.

International

Telecafé ** Berliner Fernsehturm, Alexanderplatz Tel: +49 (0)30-242-3333 You probably won't come here so much for the food as for the experience. Situated in the sky-high globe at the top of the TV Tower, the Telecafé revolves on its axis once every 30 minutes, affording superb - and ever changing - views of Berlin from its panoramic windows. The menu consists of a mix of international cuisine, including sweet-and-sour chicken, roast duck and Schnitzel. If you don't want a full meal, it is possible just to have a drink or a coffee in the restaurant and still enjoy the views. Capt'n Schillow ** Strasse des 17. Juni am Charlottenburger Tor, Tierpark Tel: +49 (0)30-3150-5051 As you might guess from the name, the Capt'n Schillow has strong nautical connections. In fact, the restaurant is on a houseboat on the canal that runs through the Tierpark and a large part of the fun of eating here is simply the experience of having dinner on the water. The menu is eclectic and appetising however, with dishes such as roast beef and red snapper with creole vegetables providing plenty of variety. Maxwell *** Bergstrasse 22, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-280-7121 Maxwell has established itself as one of the hottest tables in town for Berlin's beautiful people. The modern art on the walls may almost beat the Mediterranean-influenced food, but this old brewery building is still one of the best places to see and be seen in Berlin.

French

Paris Bar *** Kantstrasse 152 Tel: +49 (0)30-313-8052 A hangout for the rich and famous the Paris Bar is a restaurant café cum art gallery. Great place for cocktails, French food, and people watching, as long as you're not watching your pocket too closely as well.

Spanish

La Toja ** Stredzkirstrasse 28, Prenzlauer Berg Tel: +49 (0)30-4849-6780 Lively Spanish restaurant in the popular Prenzlauer Berg area, serving a good choice of fish and seafood, salads and various veggie options. décor is typically Spanish featuring tiled walls and lots of bare brickwork. Tables outside make this a good place to head for in the summer.

Japanese

E-Do ** Rosmarinstrasse 8-9, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-2063-5060 One of several Japanese restaurants that have opened up in Berlin in recent years serving sushi and various other traditional dishes, mainly of the fish and seafood variety. Understated décor and friendly Japanese staff add to the feeling of authenticity.

Cafés/Snacks

Kaffee Bar Ludmilla * Stredzkirstrasse 33, Prenzlauer Berg Delightful little laid-back café in Prenzlauer Berg, just a short hop from the Kulturbrauerei and the trendy shopping streets of Oderberger Strasse and Kastanienallee. Great for breakfast or lunch, with good coffees, ciabattas, salads and home-made cakes to die for. If the weather's nice you can perch on one of the benches or chairs outside. Kauf Dich Glücklich! * Oderberger Strasse, Prenzlauer Berg Quirky mix of retro shop and café serving the tastiest waffles in town, along with ice creams and coffees, all freshly made to order. Sit among the '50s-style furniture and ornaments in the slightly haphazard shop resembling someone's lounge, or there are tables outside for summer sun-worshippers.

Bars

Berlin has plenty of bars to choose from and even better they're all open extremely late - in fact there are no licensing restrictions at all. The average closing time is 03h00 with clubs often staying open until the following morning. The Mitte district is the easiest area to find a watering hole in Berlin. The main drag is along Oranienburger Strasse, and around Hackescher Markt, where you'll find enough bars to keep you occupied whatever you're looking for. Slightly less touristy are the areas of Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg further east which have a good choice of places to go out and are popular with Berlin's youth. Berlin has a thriving gay community centred around Nollendorfplatz. If you fancy heading somewhere specific here are a few suggestions. Oxymoron Rosenthaler Strasse 40-41, Hackesche Höfe, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-2839-1886 Lively and popular establishment offering food and a club in addition to a funky bar; likely to have some form of entertainment on no matter what the time of day. Freischwimmer Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 2a, Kreuzberg Tel: +49 (0)30-6107-4309 Lovely bar/restaurant during the summer with long wooden walkways lining the banks of the canal. Sip a beer while watching the sun go down, before going to one of the nearby clubs. Food is simple and hearty. Berliner Prater Garten Kastanienallee 7-9, Prenzlauer Berg Tel: +49 (0)30-448-5688 Large and popular beer garden in the heart of lively Prenzlauer Berg, with lots of tables outside. Beer flows freely, as do sausages and other Germanic snacks. Club der Visionäre Vor dem Schlesischen Tor, Kreuzberg Though nominally a club, this is more of a bar, located on the canal opposite Freischwimmer. Take your life into your hands by climbing aboard one of the rafts precariously moored to the bank - it's not unknown for people to fall in after a few cocktails, so be warned, but this seems to add to the fun of the place. Cake Schlesische Strasse, Kreuzberg One of a number of lively bars on Schlesische Strasse, just down the road from Schlesisches Tor station. Cake is particularly enticing, with regular jazz nights and a cosy, friendly atmosphere appealing to a laid-back, bohemian crowd. Café der Neuen See Adjacent to Neue See, Tiergarten One of the nicest bars/cafés in the Tiergarten park (there are a few) with a huge outdoor seating area overlooking the lake serving drinks and pizzas. Café Cinema Rosenthaler Strasse 39, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-280-6415 Cosy, laid-back café/bar appealing to an arty crowd, some of them popping in after watching a film at the independent cinema just behind it. The subtle lighting and friendly service make this an ideal spot for a quiet, intimate drink. Newton Charlottenstrasse 57, Mitte Tel: +49 (0)30-2061-2999 Perfect for the affluent, older generation, Newton offers comfortable leather armchairs and premium cigars. Helmut Newton nudes cover the walls of the main bar. Trompete Lützowplatz 9, Tiergarten Tel: +49 (0)30-2300-4794 This sophisticated club is a favourite haunt for members of the Berlin entertainment industry. Owned by actor and musician Ben Beckers, Trompete is an ideal venue to catch quality live music and perhaps meet the odd celebrity. The dress code is smart casual. Oststrand & Yaam Beach Bars Mühlenstrasse (behind the East Side Gallery) There are several beach bars that open up around Berlin during the summer. These are just two of the best, perched side-by-side on the bank of the River Spree. A full beach experience - apart from swimming - can be had in the middle of the city, with deckchairs set up on the sand, and even people playing the odd game of frisbee. The bars serve a selection of drinks as well as pizzas.