Berlin Guide


BB Berl ~ a city I very, very happily called home for three and a half years, and one which will forever (forever ever) be tied to some of my most treasured memories/humans/experiences. Needless to say, there'll be more to come – even if it's no longer my main base – but in the meantime, I thought it only fair to share a selection of spots to swing by, should you find yourself in the sweet German capital. Tap the names to read more!




Coffee, brunch + treats



Allans Breakfast Club

Strong Bloody Marys. Excellent brunch food.

Aunt Benny

Peaceful Friedrichshain café. Good reads available too. 

The Barn

One of Berlin's famed roasteries. You can buy their beans or sit in-house for a quality coffee. 

Blumencafé

Blumen = "flowers" ~ you'll find plenty of plants (to peruse or purchase) in this cute café in Prenzlauer Berg.

Bonanza

Another highly rated roastery. Light + airy space.

Brammibal's

All the vegan donuts you could wish for. A selection of lunch foods + coffee too. You can find them in both Kreuzberg + Prenzlauer Berg. 

Bread Station

A top spot for good – surprise! – breads. 

Café Valentin

Sweet sweet spot with stellar vegan treats. 

California Pops

Aesthetically on-point ice lollies made with natural ingredients.

Commonground

Lovely brunch + cocktails. Very English-speaking staff.

Companion Coffee in Voo Store

Excellent coffee. Nice concrete tables. Browse Voo Store too (once you're sufficiently caffeinated of course). 

Concierge

Cosy Kreuzberg coffee spot. 

Daluma

Much health. Pretty interior. 

Distrikt Coffee

V nice brunch food. Expect a wait on weekends.

East & Eden

Sweet Mitte café. Things to read.

Father Carpenter

Great coffee + brunch foods. Situated in a lovely courtyard in Mitte ~ ideal for a rest while you shop around Weinmeisterstraße. 

Fechtner

Fresh foods. Homey interior.

Five Elephant

Top coffee roastery, best cheesecake. 

Funk You

Natural foods. Solid smoothie offering.

Haferkater

Means "oat hangover" ~ extensive porridge options + good coffee. Relaxing interior, wifi too.

Hermann's

Future-focused approach to food. Nice beverages. A lovely spot to do some work ~ or simply meet friends.


Hokey Pokey

Top ice cream. Always a queue (worth it). 

House of Small Wonder

You might have seen them on Instagram. A very beautiful staircase. Excellent brunch-y lunch-y foods. 

Kadó 

For the liquorice lovers.

Kaffeebar

Healthy, pretty food selection ~ as well as treats + good coffee. Its location (Graefestraße) is lovely to stroll along too.  

Kaffeekirsche

Coffee roastery + café.


Kaffee 9

Forget about 9, the coffee is a 10.

Katie's Blue Cat

Go for the baked goods. Allll the baked goods. The double chocolate vegan cookie (to accompany the oat milk flat white) is a firm fave of mine.

Kauf Dich Glücklich

Part fashion/lifestyle store, part café. They have a couple of branches ~ the one in Prenzlauer Berg has the biggest café space. Really good waffles.

Cute + inconspicuous vegan café-cum upcycling fashion store.

Klub Kitchen

Fresh Mitte food spot. Would steal their crockery ~ not actually, but it's beaut. The bathroom wallpaper too. 

Lola Was Here

Cute café in my former 'hood. Child friendly (like most of Berlin, but this place has toys too).

Liquid Garden

Smoothies, soups + juices. All natural + full of health.

Milchhalle

Sweet Mitte café. Ideal spot to sit outside on a sunny day.

My Goodness

Passionately run by a dear friend + full of goodness, as the name suggests. Fuel up after working out at its neighbour BECYCLE, one of the city's best boutique gyms.

Nano Kaffee

Coffee-nerd approved spot in Kreuzberg, near Kottbusser Tor.

Nothaft Seidel

A Prenzlauer Berg fave, full of good breakfast + lunch food. Get a nice slice of cake while you're there. Also a good haunt for reading/working. 

Oak & Ice

Artisanal ice cream. Cute atmosphere.

Populus

Speciality coffee roastery with good sandwiches + baked treats. Friendly staff.

Roamers

The most beautiful brunch food. A must if you're in Neukölln.

The Rose Garden

Pretty Mitte café with a mini concept store in the back.  

Röststätte

Really good coffee. They know their beans.

Silo Coffee

Lovely staff, delicious brunch, great coffee. Find them in Friedrichshain.

St Oberholz

The alleged birthplace of many a Berlin startup ~ a place to work + stay fueled. Good coffee + lunch options.

Superfoods and Organic Liquids

Funnily enough, they serve superfoods + organic liquids. The kakao smoothie bowl is a go-to. 

Tinman

An Australian-owned Mitte brunch spot, feat. the sweetest of staff + most delicious of beverages/foods. 


Tribeca

The place of plant-based ice cream dreams. 


Two Planets

Top notch coffee + delicious food. Nice staff too.

The Visit

Worth a visit. Coffee, foods, fresh interior, wifi. 


West Berlin

A refreshing spot amidst all the tourist sights around Checkpoint Charlie, if you don't fancy McDonald's or Currywurst. Great publications + pick-me-ups. 


What Do You Fancy Love?

Sweet café with tasty lunch options. 

White Crow Café

Formerly known as Black Sheep Café. Quality vegan fare.


Zeit für Brot

Literally translates as "time for bread" ~ does what it says on the tin, and more. 




Lunch + dinner



Backbord

All vegan fast food in a hole-in-the-wall style joint. Really really good. 


Basmah

Cheap + delicious East African food. Such a favourite. Give me all the peanut sauce. 


Beets & Roots

Healthy, wholesome + filling bowls. Fast to serve.


The Bowl

Self-named "clean eating restaurant" with a fresh + healthy menu.  


Burgermeister

A somewhat iconic burger spot. 


Cafe Jacques

Really lovely French-Mediterranean restaurant on Maybachufer. Worth booking a dinner table.


Cocolo

Much-loved ramen restaurant. Send noodz.


Cookies & Cream

Very delicious veggie fare.


Der goldene Hahn

Authentic Italian cuisine.


District MOT

Saigon street food amidst a fun interior + tunes.


Goodies

Vegan café with good lunch food, treats + bevs.


Kanaan

All veggie + vegan Israeli-Palestinian spot. Houmous lovers rejoice. Here's a shortcut to the menu.


Kimchi Princess

Korean food in Kreuzberg.

Vegan pizzeria of dreamzz.


Let It Be

Vegan crepes (savoury or sweet), burgers, drinks + sides. The mac 'n' cheese + "Erykah Badu" are my go-tos.


Lily Burger

An almost dauntingly extensive menu. Appeals to meat lovers + vegans alike. 


Mercosy

Bibimbap bar, veggie + vegan friendly.


Miss Saigon

Delightful Vietnamese food in an unassuming environment. 


Mo's – King of Falafel

Really really good falafel, funnily enough.


Mundvoll

Very delicious, very fresh.


Parker Bowles

Fancy food in an industrial interior. 


Qua Phe

Sweet Vietnamese lunch + coffee spot. A favourite of Ai Wei Wei when he's in town. Lovely staff. 

Ora

House in an old pharmacy. Ideal for lunch or a post-work drink.


Osmanns Töchter

Stellar Turkish cuisine. A beautiful spot.


Pizzare

The best vegan Italian menu I've ever seen (tasted). There's also an extensive meat eater menu, it's just extra novel if you're used to very limited Italian options.


Ryong

Top notch veggie Vietnamese-Japanese fusion foods. 

Shiso Burger

Does burgers well.


SOY

All vegan Vietnamese cuisine at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.

Spindler

A fancy feel + quality food, but not overpriced. Lovely outside area too. 


Standard-Serious Pizza

Great pizzas, great interior. Tick tick.


Umami

Vietnamese goodness. I love the Buddha Burger.


Vöner

Vegan kebabs + excellent fries. 


Yumcha Heroes

If you love dumplings, you'll love Yumcha.


W-Imbiss

The most fusion of foods. Their naan pizzas are a delight (I usually go for the Green Goddess). 


Zola

Lovely pizza spot. Such good dough.



Fashion + lifestyle


Bikini Berlin

Nicer than your average mall experience. Pop up retail boxes, outdoor space up top, food spots + show rooms.


do you read me?

Find allll the lovely literature + publications here. 


Granit

It's Swedish, and a chain, but the home goods are really good (and affordable) ~ deserving of a mention. 


KaDeWe

A famous fancy department store located in the West. 


Kauf Dich Glücklich

The fashion + lifestyle version of this aforementioned chain can be found on Mitte's Rosenthaler Straße. Lots of nice style + home treats. 

Hallesches Haus

Beautiful general store featuring lifestyle bits, home decor + a well-lit lunchroom for your midday pick-me-up. 


Humana

Secondhand + vintage charity shop chain, dotted around the city. The one at Frankfurter Tor is the largest secondhand store in Europe. Cop a stylish bargain.


Luiban Papeterie

Treat yourself to extra pretty paper things for your office life.

Modulor

Ooh heaven is a place on earth ~ if you're a crafts + interior nerd like me. Literally all the things. Take the Aufbau Haus exit at Moritzplatz.


Motto Berlin

Well-stocked book, magazine + artists' publication store near Schlesisches Tor in Kreuzberg.


OYE

For the music heads ~ a record store to get lost in.


Paper & Tea

A match made in heaven if you ask me. P&T is the place to be for all things crockery, tea leaves + paper goods. They also do tea to-go. 

Pro qm

Great thematic book store focused on art, pop culture, politics, architecture, design + economics.


Rosa Wolf

My favourite spot to pick up a publication + enjoy it with a good coffee. Often quiet, ideal for a solo date. 


RSVP

Stationery porn. They have two stores on Mulackstraße in Mitte, just opposite each other. Slightly different stock, both beaut.


SCHEE

Store of interior dreams. Prints, crockery, plants, gadgets, lighting, stationery, gift bits, etc.


Superconscious

Minimalist, well curated concept store. Streetwear style. 


Type Hype

Very very font of this place. Typography-based design goods, as well as a little café. 


Soda Books

Get all your magazines here ~ pick up a nice Soda tote to put them in too. 


VOO Store

Noted concept store space inside a pretty backyard off Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg. Pricey if you're watching your pennies, but nice to peruse. 


Zabriskie

Sweet book store focusing on culture + nature themed publications.




Art + culture


Bauhaus-Archiv

Iconic building, full of artefacts, literature + pieces from the renowned Bauhaus movement. For the design nerds.  


Berlinische Galerie

Spacious gallery featuring modern art, photography + architecture exhibits. Strong gift shop.


C/O Berlin

An absolute must if you're a photography fan. 


East Side Gallery

1.3km of the former Berlin wall, now an open air art gallery. One for the Berlin checklist.


Eigen + Art

Well-lit gallery featuring the work of international contemporary artists.


Hamburger Bahnhof

The home of many an excellent art exhibition. Worth a trip for the stunning space alone. 

Hardwax

Another well-stocked record store feat. predominantly techno, house + dubstep music.


Helmut Newton Foundation

A beautiful testament to the work of the late legendary photographer Helmut Newton. 


Kulturbrauerei

Historic yellow brick brewery, now a cultural space featuring music venues, dance schools, a cinema + museum.


KW Institute for Contemporary Art

One of my favourite spots for a Sunday (or any day) culture hit. 

Martin-Gropius Bau

Impressive cultural building + host to some of the world's most acclaimed exhibitions. 


me Collectors Room

Sweet exhibition space + café ~ a neighbour of KW Institute. 


Sammlung Boros Bunker

Once an air-raid shelter, now a private collection of contemporary art in a unique setting. Booking required (+ worth it). 


Sprüth Magers

Commercial art gallery featuring international emerging + acclaimed contemporary artists.


St Agnes – König Galerie

Brutalist architecture meets large-scale art exhibitions.




Markets + experiences


Admiralbrücke

Take a Späti beer here + watch the sun set.


Boxhagener Platz

Sweet market. Generally lovely area for cafés + little shops.

Burgers & Hiphop

Literally that.

Funkhaus Berlin

Former GDR broadcast centre, right by the River Spree. Very 50s.

Insel der Jugend

A sweet, petite island within Treptower Park. Ideal for a boat ride or general escapist jaunt ~ without the travel time. 


Mauerpark 

The flea market, buskers + karaoke are a must during summer Sundays.


RAW Gelände

A real mix. Art, music venues, flea markets + more. Pop into Urban Spree while you're there.


Maybachufer Markt

Lovely Turkish market on lovely Maybachufer. Foods, materials, tools, street performers. Takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays. 


Markthalle Neun 

Check Street Food Thursdays. 

May 1st

AKA erster Mai or Myfest. Something to experience at least once.  

Karneval der Kulturen

Another May celebration ~ this one in honour of the cultural diversity of the city. A good vibe.

Flow Markt Nowkoelln

Pick up cheap secondhand/vintage garms, as well as music + art goods.


Park am Gleisdreieck

A nice open park, ideal for activities.


Prinzessinnengärten

Super cute eco-centric haven in Kreuzberg. Community-led. Sweet outdoor café too, for the sunny days.


Schwarzlicht Minigolf

Fun for all the fam + friends. Putt your best foot forward.


Siegessäule

A sight to be seen. Also known as Berlin Victory Column. 

Thai Park

Find this foodie gem in Preußenpark, Wilmersdorf. The. Dumplings.  

Tiergarten

One of, if not the, most beautiful green spaces in Berlin. 520 acres of sweet nature.

Tempelhofer Feld

The former Tempelhof airport. A very special spot. Go for a picnic/run/cycle/skate, stay for sunset.


Viktoriapark

Berlin isn't short of beaut urban parks. This one features a waterfall + vineyard.

Volkspark am Weinbergsweg

A more petite park feat. a lily pond, located by Rosenthaler Platz. Two nice cafés + close to Süsse Sünde for ice creams. 


Volkspark Friedrichshain

Sits between Friedrichshain + Prenzlauer Berg. Perfect place for a picnic, BBQ, rock climb or run. An outdoor gym too. 



Drinks + nightlife


For this section, I drew from both my personal faves + recommendations from friends. Hit the names for more info. Prost!

Bar Milano


Berghain


Beuster Bar


Buck and Breck


Bar Immertreu


The Black Lodge


Das Gift


Griessmühle


Heideglühen


Holzmarkt


IPSE


Klunkerkranich


Lager Lager


Luzia


Mein Haus am See


Michelberger


Multilayerladen


Neue Odessa Bar


OHM


Paloma 


Prinz Charles


Ritter-Butzke


Schwarze Traube


St Georg


TiER


Twin Pigs


Wohnzimmer




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