Berlin, Germany — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Berlin, Germany
Restaurants
Expensive
Borchardt
This sophisticated restaurant close to the pretty Gendarmenmarkt dates back to the early 19th century. Clientele include top politicians and wealthy businesspeople - this remains one of Berlin's hottest tables. 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, 10117 Berlin
Tel: (030) 8188 6262.
Dachgartenrestaurant
Still the most coveted restaurant in Berlin due to its extraordinary location inside the Reichstag's glass dome, Dachgartenrestaurant offers an amazing view. The menu features healthy yet traditional cuisine, such as light fish and delicious venison. Breakfast is served until 1030, and coffee and cakes are served during the afternoon. Booking is essential, especially in the evening.
Platz der Republik, 10115 Berlin
Tel: (030) 226 2990.
Website: www.feinkost-kaefer.de
VAU
Created by one of Germany's leading industrial designers, VAU's interior epitomizes relaxed style, with large modern artworks decorating the walls. This expensive and trendy Berlin restaurant is located in the Mitte district and serves excellent German fish and game dishes. Unusual combinations include beef fillet in sweet and sour sauce and lobster with lentils and pumpkin. Desserts could include green-tea jelly with coriander and white chocolate. Reservations essential. Closed Sunday.
Jägerstrasse 54-55, 10117 Berlin
Tel: (030) 202 9730.
Website: www.vau-berlin.de
Moderate
Florian
People from the theater and film world can often be spotted in this Berlin 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, 10623 Berlin
Tel: (030) 313 9184.
Website: www.restaurant-florian.de
Hamlet
There 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 crêpes or couscous dishes. Light meals are served during the day, from breakfasts to baguettes, salads and omelets. The diversity of the food is reflected in its similarly varied crowd.
Uhlandstrasse 47, 10719 Berlin
Tel: (030) 882 1361.
Website: www.restaurant-hamlet.de
Maxwell
Situated in the restored former Josty brewery in the Mitte district, this elegant and spacious Berlin 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. Open evenings only.
Bergstrasse 22, 10115 Berlin
Tel: (030) 280 7121.
Website: www.mxwl.de
Cheap
MaoThai
With its East Asian interior design and great value for money, Mao Thai is one of the best budget restaurants in Berlin and is always packed with a young and cool Prenzlauer Berg crowd. 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 even more inventive. Prices are refreshingly low.
Wörther Strasse 30, 10405 Berlin
Tel: (030) 441 9261.
Website: www.maothai.de
Monsieur Vuong
The runaway success of this now Berlin institution is showing no signs of waning, and this great value and high-quality Vietnamese restaurant right at the heart of Mitte's best shopping district is almost always busy. However, as service is fast, you can still nearly always get a table if you're happy to wait for a few minutes. Inventive dishes take in many different Asian cuisines, with delicious daily specials and cold Saigon beer available to wash them down.
Alte Schönhauser Strasse 46, 10119 Berlin
Tel: (030) 9929 6924.
Website: www.monsieurvuong.de
Sophieneck
With an old pub-style bar, dark wooden furniture and candles on the tables, this long-established restaurant in east Berlin attracts 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, 10115 Berlin
Tel: (030) 283 4065.
Website: www.sophieneck-berlin.de
Nightlife
Berlin is one of Europe's most exciting and best-value party cities, a byword for alternative culture and nightlife without taboo. West Berlin is the favored hang out of a wealthier and older crowd, while east Berlin and Kreuzberg are where the real action can be found. Berlin is also a great place to see live music. Whether it's local bands or international stars on world tours, tickets in Berlin rarely sell out anywhere, making music far more accessible on short visits than in other major European capitals. The city's gay scene is divided between the older and far more staid bars of Schöneberg in west Berlin, and the far younger and edgier scene in Kreuzberg and east Berlin.
Listings can be found in Zitty (www.zitty.de), Tip (www.tip-berlin.de) and Prinz (www.prinz.de) magazines. There are also club listings in the free magazine 030 (www.berlin030.de) and in the main English language paper ExBerliner (www.exberliner.com). English-language gay listings can be found at www.discodamaged.net.
Bars
Club Der Visionaere
This fantastic canal-side bar makes for one of Berlin's best summer drinking experiences. Largely outdoor, the drinking area extends to pontoons moored to the banks of the canal, which can be a challenge to negotiate after a few beers. The crowd is achingly hip and beautiful and the entire place is rocking after dark whenever it's warm. Check the website for opening details - in bad weather it stays shut.
Am Flutgraben, 12435 Berlin
Tel: (030) 6951 8942.
Website: www.clubdervisionaere.de
Möbel Olfe
This Kreuzberg favorite is home from home to a trendy, international 20s and 30s crowd who pack into this old furniture shop to hear some of Berlin's best DJs and imbibe cheap cocktails. Thursday is gay night. It's set back slightly from the main junction at Kotbusser Tor - the entrance is actually around the back on Dresdener Strasse.
Reichenberger Strasse 117, 10999 Berlin
Tel: (030) 2327 4690.
Website: www.moebel-olfe.de
Prater
A great favorite for locals and visitors alike, this expansive restaurant has a fantastic beer garden (Berlin's oldest!) that is a great spot to sample a large glass of Berlin pilsner and a freshly baked pretzel in the warmer months. In the height of summer, the garden is always rammed and its 600 seats in big demand, but the crowd is a very friendly one, so you'll soon find a seat.
Kastanienallee 7-9, 10435 Berlin
Tel: (030) 448 5688.
Website: www.pratergarten.de
Clubs
Berghain
Look no further for the ultimate Berlin techno experience - Berghain is it. A converted East German power station that has been converted into a palace to partying, this is not the place for a quiet evening out. Come early, or expect a long wait to get in, and dress well - entry is selective. Once inside, enjoy the extraordinary main dance floor or the funky upstairs Panorama Bar. Check the website for opening times as they vary.
Am Wriezener Bahnhof 1, 10243 Berlin
Tel: (030) 2936 0210.
Website: www.berghain.de
Watergate
The lights at this benchmark Berlin club are simply astounding - this Kreuzberg club is another palace of a place that attracts a young and international crowd and hosts some of Berlin's hottest DJs and most popular parties. Music is mainly techno and house, but varies according to the party. The studenty crowd seems to love the river-view outside terrace more than anything else.
Falckensteinstrasse 49, 10997 Berlin
Tel: (030) 6128 0395.
Website: www.water-gate.de
White Trash Fast Food
Another long-standing Berlin favorite, this expansive bar-club-restaurant-tattoo parlour offers a fun, trashy night out in a crowd of alternative types you might expect to see more readily in punky Kreuzberg than yuppie-packed Mitte. Staff work behind caged-off bars and DJs and live acts play nightly.
Schönhauser Allee 6-7, 10119 Berlin
Tel: (030) 5034 8668.
Website: www.whitetrashfastfood.com
Live Music
A Trane Jazzclub
This Charlottenburg jazz emporium is widely considered to be Berlin's best nightspot for live music. Open every night, it presents jazz performers from around the world, and has hosted many famous names over its long history.
Bleibtreustrasse 1, 10625 Berlin
Tel: (030) 313 2550.
Website: www.a-trane.de
Bang Bang Club
This brilliant little venue under the arches of the S-Bahn at Hackescher Markt hosts live music most nights of the week in its dark, two-floor interior. Bands from all over Europe and North America play here, and there's often kicking club nights afterwards as well.
Neue Promenade 10, 10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 6040 5310.
Website: www.bangbangclub.net
Columbiahalle
One of Berlin's premier rock venues, this long time Tempelhof favorite still books the best bands and singers in Berlin, as well as offering a full program of other events.
Columbiadamm 13-21, 10965 Berlin
Tel: (030) 698 0980.
Website: www.columbiahalle.de
