Last Update September 2025
Places in and around where I have lived and some more further afield suggestions that are of interest, updated regularly and new suggestions added.
Prenzlauerberg – Around U-Bahn (and Underneath) Eberswalde Strasse and Kulturbrauerai the streets of Danziger, Oderberger and Kastanianallee are full of options for all palates. Kapitalist is a classic unrenovated style bar with great drinks and good staff. Vietnam Village gives good Viet cuisine in a great location. Cafe Marlene Range of breakfasts and light salad based lunches plus cocktails. Fischfabrik is seafood fried to order with fresh chips eat in/take away. AliBaba Busy Doner Kebab house eat in/take away. RISA Halal spit roast chicken eat in/take away. Anh Dao Vegan Vietnamese restaurant. Burgermeister and Kreuzburger Berlin chain home made burgers eat in/take away. Pasternak Berlin/Russian restaurant also brunch at weekends. 60 Seconds to Napoli Pizza cooked over wood fire. Bar and lots of outside seats under trees. Konnopkes Imbiss The original East Berlin Currywurst Kiosk. Cafe Morgenrot Punk/Alternative collective cafe adjacent to an original squat. La Esperanza Spanish cuisine, popular location. Prater Garten on Kastanienallee, Berlins oldest and very large local Biergarden. Self service shared tables and an on site sausage and soup kiosk. Kollwitzplatz Street market Saturdays and many options surrounding the square. Mauerpark Sundays Street food and flea market stalls. Hokey Pokey for ICE CREAM. Expect Queues! 2 locations in Prenzlauerberg and another in Torstrasse.
Senefelderplatz – on U2 underground line. Charming square with upmarket properties and hotels in the neighbourhood. Hermann Belgian Bar Charming host, excellent and wide choice of Europes finest beers. Am Pfefferberg A former brewery which houses a brewery tap room and restaurant, theatre, art space two more restaurants and a beer garden terrace above street level. Chagall double fronted bar restaurant in the old style of Berlin and also the recent eclectic style. Candle light, soot marks, worn floorboards hearty slavic and Russian dishes. Large shaded front terrace with many tables. Piroutte Smaller neighbour to Chagall but equally charming.
MITTE Maximillians Bierhalle and Schnitzel on Kronenstrasse 4 mins walk from Checkpoint Charlie, also at CC is Murphys Irish Pub with refreshing pints and good food and service. Hotel de Rome has an exclusive rooftop terrace bar overlooking the Opera House. Schiffbauerdamm Less than 10 mins walk from the rear of the Recichstag Building you will find nearly 20 eateries on the riverside opposite to Friedrichstrasse Railway Station. Entrecote is a French Bistro close to Checkpoint Charlie. North of the river are Auguststrasse, Alte Schönhauser Allee, Torstrasse, Oranienburger Strasse and Hackescher Markt are the areas in which to find a diverse range of Berlin eating. Rosenthaler Grill on Rosenthaler Platz excellent and busy kebab and eastern mediterranean delights. Strandbar Mitte in a quiet cul-de-sac, local food, some outdoor tables. Clärchens Ballhaus One of Berlins longest running and continually open dancehalls with restaurant and Local food. Đistrict Một Interesting interior design Saigon street food style bar/restaurant. Lively. Tucholsky Strasse/Oranienburger Strasse Junction. Next to the Grand Synangogue some of the newest and most intersting new places are appearing including Diesel almost opposite the Synagogue, new bar. Grand Bar Cafe/Restaurant See and be seen. Telegraphen Amt Hotel , Tacheles complex Former famous sqaut area and artistic party place is now redevloped but will cater for the hungry. Hackescher Markt Heart of the old working class and Jewish neighbourhoods there are many options in the courtyards and even the Weihenstephan Restaurant has a fantastic mediaeval cellar to dine in. YoSoy excellent tapas bar in the heart of everything, lively at night.Zum Letzten Instanz dating back to 1721, tucked away from everything next to the only remaining section of mediaeval Berlin city wall.(Behind the Law courts near the Red Rathaus)
Kreuzberg A district fusing together Turkish, Punks, Hippies, Anarchists, Squatters, Berliners and some newcomers. Try what you fancy. Öz Adana An original neighbourhood grill serving all things meaty and fire cooked. Markthalle 9 Busy, touristy but still interesting fully functioning market hall with special street food evenings and Marktlokal bar/restaurant at western entrance which is also worth a visit. Van Loon Static moored ship serving fish and more in the main canal basin. Log fire cocktail lounge at water level. Paddle up bar service. Floating cruise restaurant in summer. Freischwimmer On the canal with other clubs and bars nearby. Pandoras Cafe is in a The Church of The Holy Cross located close to the canal and U bahn Hallesches Tor
Friedrichshain The eastern sibling of Kreuzberg and no less interesting. Several neighborhoods to explore including Warschauer Strasse/Revaler Strasse. RAW Gelände soon to be developed railway goods and repair yard home to iconic bars clubs spaces and live music venues. Jäger & Lustig within sight of Berghain and a short walk from the tram. German food and beergarden. Simon Dach Str./Boxhagener Platz Too many to mention here but something for everyone. Ostkreuz Around the recently renovated rail hub the area has started to spring some new interesting places as well as the original deep dark hardcore ones under and behind the numerous railway arches.
West Berlin is an entirely different experience and some of the old expensive 1920’s glamour remains. KaDeWe department store has a top floor food hall which is like a luxury grazing restaurant. Expect everything! 25hrs Hotel has Monkey Bar and Neni on the top floor overlooking the zoo. Cocktail Bar and restaurant. Schwarzes Cafe Well known open all hours West Berlin original. Area around here, Savigny Platz has many places to eat. Nollendorfkiez/Winterfeldtplatz The heart of queer Berlin with excellent and interesting places to eat and drink and see and be seen! Cafe Am Neuen See is a recently refurbished restaurant by the boating lake . It also has a large terrace with self serve biergarten in the Tiergarten. Schleusenkrug Canalside sandy floor biergarten behind the Berlin zoo, at the entrance to the Tiergarten. Access from Zoo or Tiergarten S Bahn. Tattersalls Berlin Proper old West Berlin style
Further out, ZONE B use your travel card Berlin AB to get to the south western sector and experience the secluded woodland surburban villas and restaurants of the once rich Jewish merchants, then the Nazi officers then the US Officers and now Berlins Elite and Diplomats. Behind the Botanischer Gardens in Dahlem is Das Cafe in der Gartenakadamie housed amongst the nursery buildings and inside/outside the potting sheds and greenhouses. Biergarten am Schlachtensee self service kiosk with food options at the head of the lake, swimming options all around the shore. (UBahn Krumme Lanke) (S Bahn Schlachtensee) both 15 mins walk or 5 mins cycle. S Wannsee bahnhof is a hub to connect with the F10 (Ferry) included in your AB travel ticket! Departures every hour on the hour , 20 minute sail to the village of Kladow which has 3 Bar/Restaurant options with big beergardens and if you fancy a walk up the hill for a picnic with a view head up to the Lidl supermarket and eat in the park. On your return you can go for a drink and food at the recently reopened Loretta am Wannsee biergarten, just look for the big blue Paulaner Umbrellas!.From Wannsee Railway cycle to the Nikolskoe Blockhaus, a woodland log cabin with massive outdoor terrace overlooking the lake. Wannsee Terrassen is a slice of luxury for well heeled people watching. Enjoy the best view of Berlins lakes and rivers where they meet and bring your sunglasses/hat. Book ahead and get a taxi from Wannsee railaway station. The bus to Glienicke Brucke (Bridge of Spies) also leaves form here.
radicity 