Berlin Recommendations
The Neighborhoods
Mitte: historic center of the city with landmarks, government buildings, and museums. Upscale, international, and touristy. Prenzlauer Berg: known for its beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets, and extensive streetcar system. A family-friendly area for dining, drinking, and shopping. Friedrichshain: where we call home! Former part of East Berlin, famous for the East Side Gallery and techno clubs. Kreuzberg: world-famous for its multicultural vibe, street art, and bohemian lifestyle. The beating heart of Berlin's culture and a hotspot for international dining. Neukölln: hip destination for young creatives and students. Full of affordable international food options and bustling bars. Schöneberg: our former neighborhood! A less touristy and more family-friendly district full of beautiful tree-lined streets, lively squares, cute shops, and charming parks. Charlottenburg: known for its elegant palace, luxury shopping boulevard, and upscale gastronomy scene.
The Sights
We highly recommend a walking tour to orient yourself to the city as well as to learn some interesting facts about the wild history of Berlin. And there is only one person right for the job: his name is Will and he rocks! Follow the link below to book the "Welcome to Berlin!" tour through Walkative and ask for Will! Brandenburg Gate (Mitte) TV Tower (Mitte) Victory Column (Mitte) East Side Gallery (Friedrichshain) Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg) Jewish Memorial (Mitte) Museum Insel (Mitte): Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Humboldt Forum Reichstag Building (Mitte) DDR Museum (Mitte) Stasi (Friedrichshain) Topography of Terror (Mitte)
The Parks
A little known fact: Berlin is one of the greenest cities in the world! Enjoying sunny days in the city's various parks is an essential part of being a Berliner. ***note of interest: it is legal to drink alcohol in the parks, on the streets, and anywhere else under the sun! Isn't Germany neat!?!? Tiergarten (Mitte) Monbijoupark (Mitte) Mauerpark (Prenzlauer Berg) Viktoriapark (Kreuzberg) Gleisdreieck Park (Kreuzberg) Treptower Park (Treptow-Köpenick) Tempelhofer Feld (Schöneberg/Kreuzberg/Neukölln) Volkspark Friedrichshain (Friedrichshain) Grunewald (Charlottenburg)
Flea Markets
Known in German as a Flohmarkt, you can find markets all over the city depending on the day. Their offerings vary from clothing to vintage items, and from groceries to ready-to-eat dishes. Mauerpark Flohmarkt (Sunday): anything you could want in a market including vintage clothing/items, food trucks, live music, and karaoke! Arkonaplatz Flohmarkt (Sunday): down the street from Mauerpark with a stronger focus on vintage shopping. Boxhagenerplatz Flohmarkt (Saturday/Sunday): food market on Saturdays and vintage shopping on Sunday. RAW Gelände Flohmarkt (Sunday): vintage shopping Maybach Ufer Flohmarkt (Tuesday/Friday/Saturday): food and vintage shopping Markheinekeplatz (Saturday/Sunday): food and vintage shopping
Food and Drinks Near the Hotel
Saveur de Bánh Mi: Vietnamese sandwiches Beef 63 House : döner kebab Curry 61: currywurst Capvin: Neapolitan pizza Magic John's: Detroit/NYC-style pizza Cocolo: ramen House of Small Wonder: brunch Cafe Kiva Han: Turkish breakfast Lokal: modern German food Sanku Maots'ai: Chinese hot pot Monsieur Vuong: Vietnamese Clärchens Ballroom: German food and biergarten Halo: bagels Canal: ice cream and pastries SOFI: bakery and café Zeit für Brot: bakery and café Schmittz: dive bar Eschschlaroque: bar Zosch: underground live music bar Freundschaft: wine bar Tanzfläche Monbijoupark: biergarten with dancefloor Mikkeler Bar: craft beer bar Kaschk: craft beer bar Lemke: local brewery
Casual Restaurants
Markhalle Neun: foodhall with tons of options (Kreuzberg) Markthalle Pfefferberg: foodhall with tons of options (Prenzlauer Berg) Ruyam Gemüse Kebab: döner kebab (Prenzlauer Berg/Schöneberg) Goldie's: smashburgers (Friedrichshain/Mitte/Kreuzberg/Prenzlauer Berg) Burgermeister: burgers (Friedrichshain/Mitte/Kreuzberg/Prenzlauer Berg) Taqueria El Oso: the only good tacos in Germany (Prenzlauer Berg) Humble Pie: Nashville hot chicken (Kreuzberg) Alt Berliner Wirtshaus Henne: German fried chicken (Kreuzberg) Smooches Sandwich Laden: sandwiches (Kreuzberg) Shakespeare and Sons: bagels (Friedrichshain) 44 Brekkie: breakfast sandwiches (Friedrichshain/Charlottenburg) Shiso Burger: Asian fusion burgers (Charlottenburg/Kreuzberg/Prenzlauer Berg) Gully Burger: Indian fusion burgers (Schöneberg) Romeo's: sandwiches (Kreuzberg)
Sitdown Restaurants
Annelies: brunch (Kreuzberg) Trio: German (Mitte) Cocodrillo: Italian (Mitte) Cecconi's: Italian (Mitte) Bertie: American (Prenzlauer Berg) Standard Serious Pizza: Neapolitan pizza (Prenzlauer Berg) Malafemmena: Neapolitan pizza (Prenzlauer Berg/Schöneberg) Sotto: Mikayla's ex-employer! Vegetarian pizza (Mitte) Niko Niko: ramen (Friedrichshain) Papaya: Thai (Friedrichshain/Schöneberg) Good Friends: Chinese (Charlottenburg) Lon Men's Noodle House: Chinese (Charlottenburg) Dolden Mädel: German (Kreuzberg) Zur Letzten Instanz: German (Mitte) Jäger & Lustig: German (Friedrichshain) Café Pilz: Levantine (Neukölln) Hanuman Thai Curry House (Kreuzberg) Adana Grillhaus: Turkish grill (Kreuzberg) Ständige Vertretung: Cologne-style German Restaurant (Mitte)
Bakeries, Cafés, and Sweets
La Maison: Mikayla's ex-employer! French bakery (Kreuzberg) Gorilla Bakery (Kreuzberg/Neukölln) Albatross Bakery (Kreuzberg) Altberliner Bäckerei (Friedrichshain) Café Babette (Neukölln) Läderach: our favorite Swiss chocolate! (Mitte) Jones Ice Cream (Prenzlauer Berg/Kreuzberg/Schöneberg) Duo Sicilian Ice Cream (Prenzlauer Berg/Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain)
Biergartens
One of the best ways to spend a summer afternoon! These outdoor bars always serve classic German meals and snacks as well. Café am Neuen See: beautiful outdoor seating beside a pond in Tiergarten (Mitte) Zenner Biergarten: along the river Spree (Treptow/Köpenick) Prater Biergarten (Prenzlauer Berg) Golgatha Biergarten: in Viktoriapark (Kreuzberg) Zollpackhof: along the river Spree serving the famous Augustiner Hell (Mitte) Holzmarkt: along the river Spree with lots of food options Cassiopeia: in the grungy RAW Gelände (Friedrichshain)
Bars
If you want to drink like a true Berliner, just look for a neon light that says "Späti". These are late-night stores that sell cheap drinks and snacks to be consumed outside the shop or on the go. An additional note on drinking in Berlin. Many of the bars still allow smoking indoors. If that is your thing then you're in the right place! But if not, then best search for somewhere with outdoor seating. Sorsi e Morsi (Prenzlauer Berg) Ankerklause (Kreuzberg) Fitcher's Vögel (Friedrichshain) Peppi Guggenheim International (Neukölln) Geist Im Glas: cocktails (Neukölln) Wax On Bar: cocktails (Neukölln) Victoriabar: cocktails (Schöneberg) Kink Bar: cocktails (Mitte) 8MM: cocktails (Mitte) Monarch Bar: music/DJs (Kreuzberg) Klunkerkranich: rooftop (Neukölln) Kek Bar (Kreuzberg) Club Der Visionäre: dance club (Kreuzberg) Wohnzimmerbar (Prenzlauer Berg) Biererei Vintage Cellar: craft beer (Kreuzberg) Strassenbräu: Jack's brewery! (Friedrichshain) Arnie's: craft beer (Prenzlauer Berg)