The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
Only a small percentage of German restaurants accept credit cards and visitors should check before getting a table. Prices usually include 16% VAT. Normally, a tip between 5 and 10% is expected for good service.
The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle
of house wine or equivalent; they include VAT but not tip.
$$$$ (over €70)
$$$ (€50 to €70)
$$ (€30 to €50)
$ (under €30)
GourmetBorchardt This is one of the most sophisticated restaurants in the city, close to the pretty Gendarmenmarkt. It dates back to the early 19th century. Clientele include top politicians and wealthy businesspeople. The cuisine is mainly French and the menu changes daily with lots of meaty options such as calf’s liver in calvados sauce, as well as the signature dish of
wiener schnitzel. Open daily, booking recommended.
Franzosische Strasse 47
Tel: (030) 8188 6262.
Price: $$ -$$$
Die QuadrigaDining at Die Quadriga is an elegant affair. This Michelin-starred restaurant, in the Brandenburger Hof Hotel, is decorated in relaxing shades of green and features soft candelight and crisp white table linen. Dishes might include braised Tyrolean beef with goats’ cheese and cumin, or coq au vin with spiced pancetta. There is a selection of 850 German wines. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and at lunchtime on Mondays and Saturdays.
Brandenburger Hof Hotel, Eislebener Strasse 14
Tel: (030) 214 050.
Website:
www.brandenburger-hof.comPrice: $$$-$$$$
Fischers FritzA famous German tongue twister gives this celebrated fish restaurant in the Regent
Hotel, its name. The décor is quietly luxurious, with crystal chandeliers, fresh flowers and sectioned seating areas for intimate dining. Chef Christian Lohse holds two Michelin stars and dishes might include Dover sole with truffled celery or turbot with cepes. Meat dishes are also on offer, and at lunchtime, diners can enjoy three courses for a very competitive price.
Regent Hotel, Charlottenstrasse 49
Tel: (030) 2033 6363.
Website:
www.fischersfritzberlin.comPrice: $$$$
HeisingDining at Heising is like traveling back in time. Located in Charlottenburg, its baroque theme with lush curtains, small white statues and traditional china offers an old-fashioned but friendly and high-class dining experience. Traditional dishes with a French influence are served, such as the halibut fillet with lemon mousse. There is a good selection of French wines. Open evenings from 1900. Closed Sunday.
Rankestrasse 32, Charlottenburg
Tel: (030) 302 5515.
Website:
www.restaurant-heising.dePrice: $$-$$$
La Petite FranceThis French restaurant in Charlottenburg has a Breton chef and a half-Corsican owner and the emphasis is firmly on the food. Décor is simple with white tablecloths and black and white photographs on the walls. The menu changes regularly and dishes reflect French regional cuisine. Dishes might include fillet of beef in a green-pepper sauce. Desserts include creme brûlée and profiteroles. Open evenings only Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday.
Knobelsdorffstrasse 27
Tel: (030) 325 8242.
Website:
www.lapetitefrance.euPrice: $-$$
BusinessKula-KarmaSet in the lively area just north of Hackescher Markt, this restaurant is decorated with large painted swirls and its deep pink walls give it a rather exotic atmosphere. It serves inspiring fusion cuisine. Dishes might include seafood gumbo with green rice, or Mandarin duck and desserts might include vanilla cream with fruit and pine nuts. Cocktails are also very popular.
Rosenthaler Strasse 36
Tel: (030) 2758 2035.
Website:
www.kulakarma-berlin.dePrice: $-$$
TrendyBaccoItalian restaurant Bacco was established in 1968. Since then, owner-chef Padrone Massimo Mannozzi has been attracting international celebrities such as Sophia Loren and Gerard Depardieu with his charm and cooking. The simple rustic décor reflects his simple Tuscan cuisine, which includes options like fresh Mediterranean fish or homemade tagliata, which comes with white truffle when in season. Evenings only and closed on Sundays in summer.
Marburger Strasse 5
Tel: (030) 211 8687.
Website:
www.bacco.dePrice: $$
FlorianPeople from the theater and film world can often be spotted in this restaurant, which focuses on Swabian (a region in southern Germany) cuisine. People come to relax in the traditional South German setting, with its wooden furniture and tables crammed close together, as well as to enjoy the Swabian dishes with a slight French twist, such as the
hackbraten (basically a meatloaf) or the potato casserole. Open evenings only.
Grolmanstrasse 52, Mitte
Tel: (030) 313 9184.
Website:
www.restaurant-florian.de Price: $$
HamletThere is a lovely relaxed, contemporary feel to this chilled restaurant in the west. There is a long bar, flickering candles and friendly staff, while the imaginative menu features traditional French and Arabian dishes, like spinach and feta crepes or couscous dishes. Light meals are served during the day, from breakfasts to baguettes, salads and omelets. The diversity of the food is enjoyed by a varied crowd.
Uhlandstrasse 47
Tel: (030) 882 1361.
Website:
www.restaurant-hamlet.dePrice: $
Shiro I ShiroThe name means ’White Castle’ in Japanese, which perfectly conveys the cool white interior of this trendy restaurant in Mitte, which features the longest table in the city. The cuisine is an imaginative mix of Eastern and European traditions. Diners can have classic sushi and sashimi, or fusion dishes such as black monkfish with olives and asparagus tempura. Desserts, such as port wine fig with chocolate, are indulgent creations.
Rosa Luxemburg Strasse 11
Tel: (030) 9700 4790.
Website:
www.shiroishiro.comPrice:$$$
BudgetCarpe DiemThis Spanish restaurant profits from the charm of a typical Berlin setting, located as it is, underneath an S-bahn railway track in Charlottenburg. Many restaurants make use of these railway arches, as they provide an unconventional and cosy setting with their old, impressive brickwork. A variety of inexpensive, tasty tapas is served and the main dishes, such as the
paella Valencia, are also a delight. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Jeanne-Mammenbogen 577
Arch 576-577, between Uhlandstrasse and Grolmanstrasse, Charlottenburg
Tel: (030) 313 2728.
Website:
www.carpe-diem-restaurant.dePrice: $-$$
Mao ThaiWith its East Asian interior design and great value for money, Mao Thai is always packed, although it is perhaps not the most authentic Thai restaurant in town. The chicken served in a coconut is the signature dish, although other dishes (such as the fried scampi in tomato sauce, with chillies, spring onions, peppers, pineapple and cucumber) are slightly more inventive.
Wörther Strasse 30
Tel: (030) 441 9261.
Website:
www.maothai.denPrice: $
SophieneckLots of atmosphere in this long-established restaurant in East Berlin, with an old pub-style bar, dark wooden furniture and candles on the tables. Attracts lots of local families and has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Dishes are hearty and filling, with choices such as braised knuckle with sauerkraut. Cuban cigars are available and you can just come in for a coffee - perhaps laced with a measure of rum.
Grosse Hamburger Strasse 37
Tel: (030) 283 4065.
Website:
www.sophieneck-berlin.dePrice: $
Personal RecommendationsAbendmahlThe name means ’Last Supper’ and the décor is indeed enlivened with a little Catholic kitsch. The menu changes regularly and dishes bear wacky names, like ’Bikini Frisch’ or ’Yoga a Go Go’. In most cases, however, they are wonderfully presented, hot fish dishes or inventive vegetarian delights. Quirky desserts include ’deadly’ ice creams made to look like graves. The service is charming and the ambience laid-back, which makes the trip out to Kreuzberg worthwhile. Reservations recommended.
Muskauer Strasse 9, Kreuzberg
Tel: (030) 612 5170.
Website:
www.abendmahl-berlin.dePrice: $-$$
Fridas SchwesterThis relaxed wine bar/bistro in the trendy Mitte district has a French feel: plain wooden floors, wooden tables and dark walls. There are stools at the bar, where guests can sip a glass of wine. The clientele is mixed, mainly comprised of those working in the creative industries. The food is a mix of Austrian, Italian and Californian influences and might include dishes such as black fettuccine with shrimp and tomato sauce.
Neue Schonhauser Strasse 11
Tel: (030) 2838 4710.
Website:
www.fridas-schwester.comPrice: $-$$
MaxwellSituated in the restored former Josty brewery in the Mitte district, this elegant and spacious restaurant spreads over two floors and a big terrace during summer. The chef insists on using local produce and the wine list features a wide range of German vineyards. Cuisine is creative, including such delights as monkfish on shrimp ragout or venison on a chocolate/chilli jus. Evenings only.
Bergstrasse 22, Mitte
Tel: (030) 280 7121.
Website:
www.mxwl.dePrice: $$-$$$
RefugiumSituated beneath a French church in the most picturesque square in Berlin, the Gendarmenplatz, Refugium is a popular restaurant for business diners, with outside seating for fine days. There are candles on the tables, crisp white linen, and a menu that changes regularly. Dishes might include veal meatballs with mashed potato or trout with ravioli. Desserts are indulgent, such as coconut creme brûlée.
Gendarmenmarkt 5
Tel: (030) 229 1661.
Website:
www.refugium-bln.dePrice: $$
VoxThis restaurant, in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, has a sleek contemporary interior, which complements the creative nature of the cuisine. Chefs work in an open kitchen and dishes such as lamb with goats’ cheese, are based on fresh seasonal produce, fusing Asian and Mediterranean flavors. There is also an excellent sushi bar and an outdoor terrace for summer dining.
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Malene Dietrich Platz 2
Tel: (030) 2553 1772.
Website:
www.vox-restaurant.dePrice: $$$
Nightlife:Berlin is one of Europe’s most effervescent party cities. The old divides are still there when it comes to nightlife and the Western center, somewhat ironically, lags behind the real action in the resurgent East. Berlin today is a byword for alternative culture and within the city pretty much anything goes. Punk and various forms of anarchy are struggling to survive among the style bars and yuppie haunts in Kreuzberg but the avant-garde cultural scene and accompanying drinking culture has moved on to Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and increasingly to Friedrichshain. Likewise, the city’s gay scene is divided between staid Schöneberg, Kreuzberg and edgier Prenzlauer Berg.
For a first-time visitor, Mitte is probably the better bet, starting around the Hackesche Höfe and working up Oranienburger Strasse to the numerous bars that first greeted the Western hordes after the Wall fell.
Tacheles, at the end of the street, is worth a visit for the spirit of culture and anarchy it once implied. For the real experience of Berlin, however, it has to be Prenzlauer Berg (Prenzl’berg for short). Some of the more established places are reasonably easy to find, but the real fun starts with the wild bars and impromptu clubs that seem to spring up from nowhere one week and disappearing forever the next.
Entry to bars is officially restricted to those 18 years and older. The city has a relaxed attitude to style and most bars do not have dress codes and there are no fixed closing times.
Listings can be found in
Zitty (website:
www.zitty.de),
Tip (website:
www.berlinonline.de/tip) and
Prinz (website:
www.prinz.de) magazines. There are also club listings in the free magazine
030 (website:
www.berlin030.de) and in the main English language paper
ExBerliner (website:
www.exberliner.com).
Bars: For those looking to spend their money in a trendy atmosphere, the
Bar am Lützowplatz, Lützowplatz 7, between the Tiergarten and U-Bahn Nollendorfplatz, offers high-priced cocktails. On the other side of Nollendorfplatz is
Hafen, Motzstrasse 19, a popular gay bar. Other popular bars are
Universum Lounge, K’damm 153 , which has a retro 1970s feel, with NASA pictures of the moon landings and a good line in martinis; trendy
Green Door, Winterfeldstr 50, which has a cool line in cocktails; and the small, crowded
Zoulou Bar, Hauptstrasse 4, which always has an interesting mix of people. You can also try the unusual
N N Train Cocktail Bar, Hauptstrasse 159, a converted railway carriage out in Schöneberg.
Bars line the scruffy streets of Oranienstrasse and Wiener Strasse in Kreuzberg, many doubling up as cafes during the day.
Café Bar Morena, Wiener Strasse 60, is an institution. The nearby
Wiener Blut, Wiener Strasse 13, is a good local, while
Madonna, Wiener Strasse 22, is a bit rougher.
In East Berlin, there are too many things happening to list them all here. Good places to start on Oranienburger Strasse (the
geile Meile) are the funky
808, Oranienburger Strasse 42-43,
Reingold, Novalisstrasse 11, for cocktails and jazz, or
Ambulance Barr, Oranienburger Strasse 27, which doubles as a club. In trendy Prenzlauer Berg, the most buzzing bars are the hip-hop temple,
H20, Kastanienalle 16, and
Prater, Kastienalle 7-9, with its beer garden, theater and bar. You can also try the unnamed bar here, on Veteranenstrasse, identified only by a wine bottle drawn outside, and open at night to a young crowd. Hard to find, is the Tabou Tiki Room, Maybachufer 39 nearest U-Bahn Schonleinstrassse, which has a Polynesian theme and is filled with carvings. It is noted for its rum cocktails.
The most unusual bar in the city is the
Nocti Vagus, Saarbruecker Strasse 36-38 , which serves food and drink in complete darkness. It often stages events such as music evenings, plays and scent experiences. A similar venue, but with more focus on the food, is
Dunkel-Restaurant, Gormannstrasse 14 , which has blind waiters and a choice of six menus.
Cabaret: The legacy of 1930s Berlin and Marlene Dietrich lives on. Over-the-top commercial cabaret is best seen at the
Friedrichstadtpalast, Friedrichstrasse 107 (website:
www.friedrichstadtpalast.de), with musical revues that combine glittering costumes with elements of dance and theater into the floorshows at one of Europe’s largest revue theaters.
Wintergarten - Das Varieté, Potsdamer Strasse 96 (website:
www.wintergarten-variete.de), offers dinner and variety shows. Classic German cabaret artists can be found at
Die Wuhlmause, Pommernallee 2-4 (website:
www.wuehlmaeuse.de). More off-beat shows can be found at independent venues in the area to the north of the Hackesche Höfe and in Prenzlauer Berg.
Clubs: There are a number of tourist-orientated discos in the Ku’damm area but a better bet in West Berlin is
90 Grad,
Dennewitzstrasse 37 (website:
www.90grad.com), with a young crowd dancing to funky beats and house on the gay nights (Thursday and Saturday).
SO36, Oranienstrasse 190 (website:
www.so36.de), in Kreuzberg, is a key gay venue and has different moods and music styles, depending on the night. It also hosts concerts.
There is an eclectic array of clubs in East Berlin. In Mitte, one of the current hip places to see and be seen is the
Sage-Club, Köpenicker Strasse 78 (website:
www.sage-club.de), with its painfully trendy atmosphere and plenty of up-front house music. There is also the ϋber-trendy
Maria am Ostbahnhof, Stralauer Platz 34/35 (website:
www.clubmaria.de), which features house music. For techno music head to
Berghain, Am Wriezener Bahnhof (website:
www.berghain.de), a sharp warehouse style club which attracts an energetic crowd out in Friedrichschain. In Prenzlauer Berg,
Knaack Club, Greifswalder Strasse 224 (website:
www.knaack-berlin.de), is a multilevel club with a wide variety of sounds and concerts early in the week, while
Havanna, Haupstrasse 30 (website:
www.havanna-berlin.de), offers salsa, merengue and funk. A varied program of R&B, house and disco nights take place at
Matrix, Warschauer Platz 18 (website:
www.matrix-berlin.de). For superb views over the city and an ultra-hip vibe, there is
Week12End club, Alexanderplatz (website:
www.week-end-berlin.de), located on the 12th floor of an office block and open Thursday to Saturday.
Comedy: The
Quatsch Comedy Club can be found on Friedrichstrasse 107 (website:
www.quatsch-comedy-club.de). Stand-up comics are sometimes joined by double acts.
Live Music: In addition to the clubs that double up as live music venues mentioned above, Berlin has a variety of spots in which to catch live bands. The jazz and blues scene is particularly happening (website:
www.berlinjazz.de) and popular spots include
A Trane Jazzclub, Bleibtreustrasse 1 (website:
www.a-trane.de), and
B-Flat, Rosenthaler Strasse 13 (website:
www.b-flat-berlin.de), as well as some nights at
Oxident, Frankfurter Allee 53 (website:
www.oxident.de), and
Quasimodo, Kantstrasse 12A (website:
www.quasimodo.de). Major rock concerts take place at
Columbiahalle, Columbiadamm 13-21 (website:
www.columbiahalle.de), and occasionally at large sporting venues like the
Velodrom, Paul-Heyse-Strasse 26, Prenzlauer Berg (website:
www.velodrom.de), and
Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz, Prenzlauer Berg (website:
www.max-schmeling-halle.de). Open-air concerts are held at the
Waldbühne, Am Glockenturm, near the Olympic Stadium (website:
www.waldbuehne.com).
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