Restaurants in Berlin
A melting pot of cultures and culinary delights, Berlin stirs
together some of the most exotic flavours from the four corners of
the globe.
The city's flagship dish is the simple, yet satisfying
'boulette', a combination of fried meatball and hamburger, which is
often accompanied by 'Berliner Weiße', a traditional mix of
beer and juice and is well-known even beyond the city's boundaries.
The highly popular
Doner Kebab, originally developed in
Berlin but made famous by the Turkish, is one the most popular fast
food dishes.
Berlin's culinary traditions have been immensely influenced over
the years by its vibrant immigrant community and worldwide
favourites such as spaghetti and pizza now have a firm place on the
city's restaurant menus. Indian, Chinese, Greek and Thai cuisine
are becoming increasingly popular with new eateries springing up at
a rapid rate.
Brimming with a wide variety of restaurants, Oranienburger
Street is the place to dine where some of Berlin's most popular
restaurants can be found and visitors can relax and enjoy their
favourite fare.
| Nocti Vagus Dark Restaurant |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
This restaurant serves food in completely dark rooms by blind
waiters. The idea is that diners will concentrate more on the taste
of the food if other senses are deprived and strangely, it seems
they are right. The unseen food is delicious and the quirky way to
sit through a meal is usually accompanied by the sound of
giggles.
Address: Saarbrücker Str. 36-38
E-mail: kontakt@noctivagus.de
Telephone: 030 74 74 91 23
One of the latest 'in' places to dine in Berlin is the
Dachgarten in the rooftop dome of the new futuristic Parliament
building (the Reichstag). From the dome, in the historic centre of
Berlin, there are amazing views across the city. The menu is
delightful too, including healthy traditional cuisine like the
light fish and venison dishes. Reservations are vital unless you
wish to join a long queue.
Address: Platz de Republik 1
E-mail: kaeferreservierung.berlin@feinkost-kaefer.de
Telephone: (0)30 2262 9933
| Bamberger Reiter |
$$$$$ | Local |
The renowned chef at the Bamberger Reiter, one of Berlin's
leading restaurants, insists on using only fresh market produce to
create his masterpieces of Austrian and new German cuisine, for a
menu that changes daily. The restaurant is known for having the
freshest fish in town and set menus of between five and eight
courses are recommended daily, besides a range of à la carte
choices. Typical dishes are roulade of quail, rack of lamb, bass
with Riesling sauce, and the like. The décor is understated
'old Germany', resplendent with fresh flowers. The restaurant does
not serve lunch and is closed Sundays and Mondays. Bookings are
essential.
Address: Regensburgerstrasse 7, Schöneberg
Telephone: (0)30 218 4282
| Grossbeerenkeller |
$$$$$ | Local |
To experience some authentic old-fashioned warm Berlin
hospitality, not to mention some great rib-sticking traditional
dishes, dive into the dark depths of the cellar restaurant
Grossbeerenkeller. With dark oak furniture and antlers adorning the
walls, the setting is original to complement wholesome meals of
diced pork with fries and herb sauce, or boiled salt pork and green
cabbage. Owner/bartender Ingebork Zinn-Baier's fried potatoes are
said to be the best in the city. The cellar is closed Sundays and
does not accept credit cards.
Address: Grossbeerenstrasse 90, Kreuzberg
Telephone: (0)30 251 3064
| Diekmann im Weinhaus Huth |
$$$$$ | French |
Emulating a Paris bistro the Weinhaus Huth is an interesting
dining venue not because of its décor or a particularly
outstanding menu, but because the building which houses it is the
only original standing building left on the Potsdamer Platz, having
survived the ravages of war and the demolition of the Berlin Wall.
It is now surrounded by the shining new Sony centre and draws
tourist interest. Highlights on the menu include tarte flambee and
fresh oysters.
Address: Alte Potsdamer Strasse 5, Tiergarten
Telephone: (0)30 2529 7524
| XII Apostel |
$$$$$ | Italian |
You cannot beat the thin base pizzas that keep customers
flocking to this lively restaurant in Charlottenberg. The XII
Apostel is trendy and popular because of its novel idea of offering
12 pizza varieties, one named for each apostle of Jesus Christ. The
biggest and tastiest is reputedly the Judas. The décor is
flashy Italian Renaissance and the atmosphere is usually busy and
bustling.
Address: Bleibtreustrasse 49
Telephone: (0)30 312 1433
| Zur Letzten Instanz |
$$$$$ | Local |
This historic establishment off Alexanderplatz should be on any
visitor's sightseeing list not only for its hearty German comfort
food (like Eisbein, potato dumplings, suckling pig and red cabbage)
and tankards of beer, but also because it is the oldest restaurant
in Berlin, documented as far back as 1525. The name, Zur Letzten
Instanz, was inspired by a nearby courthouse and means 'without
further appeal'. Napoleon is said to have dined here.
Address: Waisenstrase 14-16, Mitte
Telephone: (0)30 242 5528
For more than 20 years Florian has been regarded as one of the
top restaurants in the popular Savignyplatz, offering a daily
changing menu based on Swabian (ancient German) cuisine with a
French touch. The restaurant's legendary dish is Nurnberg grilled
sausages and sauerkraut. The relaxed, friendly ambience draws a
clientele of writers, artists and filmmakers who arrive late and
stay till the small hours. Reservations are essential.
Address: Grolmanstrasse 52
Telephone: (0)30 313 9184
| Schwarzenraben |
$$$$$ | Italian |
Two Italian brothers prepare the original new Italian cuisine in
this chic and trendy restaurant where people come to see and be
seen. The long, narrow dining room is not particularly attractive
or comfortable, and it can be noisy, but it is
the place to
be in Berlin, whether dining upstairs or relaxing in the downstairs
cocktail bar. Among the specialities are sea bass baked between
eggplant slices, wild boar pâté with chocolate, or
gnocchi with sausage and green olives. The chefs profess to know
150 fish recipes by heart, and stock 20 different types of salami.
Reservations are essential.
Address: Neue Schonhauserstrasse 13, Prenzlauer Berg
E-mail: info@schwarzenraben.de
Telephone: (030) 2839 1698
Traditionally a popular spot to dine after the theatre, Ganymed
has been around for decades serving good if not gourmet food in
generous portions, gamely continuing to do business in East Berlin
throughout the Cold War years. There are two formal dining rooms,
one overlooking the Spree. Examples of menu highlights are goose
liver terrine, Eisbein, schnitzels, mussels in Choron sauce and
pheasant breast wrapped in Black Forest ham.
Address: Schiffbauerdamm 5, Berlin-Mitte
Telephone: (030) 2859 9046
