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$$ | Neukölln |
On the edge of Tempelhofer Feld, this cozy, minimalist farm-to-table restaurant has a daily changing menu featuring vegetable-focused ingredients paired in creative ways, such as chilled pea soup with cherries and almond, and gnocchi with pistachio pesto. Snag one of the few tables up-front or, better yet, try for a seat near the counter facing the open kitchen or at the communal table in the back, especially if you come with a group—you’ll likely want to order everything off the short but appealing menu so everyone can have a taste.
Okerstr. 2, Berlin, Berlin, 12049, Germany
Known For
- Medium-sized plates to share
- Comprehensive natural wine list
- Communal dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No lunch
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$$ | Kreuzberg |
A cross between a craft brewery, a hip outdoor beer garden (spring through fall only), and a casual indoor restaurant inside reused shipping containers, BRLO is a quintessential Berlin spot to spend an afternoon drinking and eating. If the weather's nice, grab a striped lounge chair outside and choose from a range of modern bar snacks at the beer garden, open every day except in winter; otherwise, head indoors for a choice of vegetable-focused mains along with meats cooked in their own smoker.
Schöneberger Str. 16, Berlin, Berlin, 10963, Germany
Known For
- Cool, fun outdoor and indoor setting
- Tasty barbecue and vegetables
- Beers brewed on-site
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Restaurant closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues.–Fri. Beer garden closed Mon.
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$$ | Mitte |
Opened in 1913, this former club has a new life as a trendy restaurant serving well-prepared German classics; dine inside amidst the soaring ceilings and peeling walls, or when the weather's nice, outdoors in the lovely courtyard. Try a three-course seasonal menu or opt for tasty flammkuchen, potato rösti, or schnitzel, washed down with a well-mixed signature cocktail such as a Clärchens (tequila, currant, lemon, sugar, and mint).
Auguststr. 24, Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Known For
- Classic German cuisine
- Cool, retro atmosphere
- Weekly dance instruction and parties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.–Fri.
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$$ | Mitte |
This lovely restaurant, hidden in a courtyard off a quiet residential street, is both elegant enough for a special occasion and homey enough to be a favorite local haunt. Local ingredients are used whenever possible on the inventive menu, and the restaurant is best known for its slow-cooked meats for two: choose pork or lamb, along with fresh vegetable-focused side dishes.
Bergstr. 22, Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
Known For
- Beautiful setting with courtyard seating
- 12-hour slow-roasted Duroc pork
- Interesting craft cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Mitte |
The menu changes daily at this celebrity meeting place—the location near Gendarmenmarkt makes it a popular power lunch spot for politicians and influential people, though the food and service are not what you'd expect from the high prices. The setting is wonderful, though, with high ceilings, plush maroon benches, marble columns, and an Art Nouveau mosaic that was discovered during renovations. The cuisine is French-German and there are generally several fish dishes and oyster choices on the menu, as well as carnivore classics like veal schnitzel or beef fillet. The courtyard garden is lively in warm weather
Französischestr. 47, Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Known For
- Elegant decor
- Distinguished clientele
- Classic cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Friedrichshain |
In the grand Berlin tradition of reinventing historical spaces, this lovely wine bar and Italian restaurant has taken over a former stamp shop (“Briefmarken” means “stamps” in German) on beautiful Karl-Marx-Allee; you can pick a regional Italian wine off the shelves (also preserved from the stamp-selling days) or leaf through the extensive list. Accompany your choice with antipasti like fresh mozzarella with speck, broccoli rabe, and marinated artichokes, or one of the daily menu of fresh pastas.
Karl-Marx-Allee 99, Berlin, Berlin, 10243, Germany
Known For
- Italian wine list
- Authentic antipasti
- Homey vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Schöneberg |
On a small winding street in an area between Kreuzberg and Schöneberg known as Rote Insel (Red Island) because of its location between two S-bahn tracks and its socialist, working-class history, this neighborhood institution was an early advocate of the slow-food movement. The food is Italian and focuses on high quality, locally sourced ingredients and everything—whether it's an innovative preparation of artichokes or beef fillet with green peppercorns—is tasty.
Hochkirchstr. 8, Berlin, Berlin, 10829, Germany
Known For
- Popular brunch with Italian delicacies
- Slow-food principles using seasonal ingredients
- Large choice of pastas and pizzas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Kreuzberg |
Within view (and earshot) of the elevated U1 line, Café Morgenland is a relatively unremarkable neighborhood haunt on weekdays but on Sundays it devotes an entire room to the extremely popular brunch buffet, which means table space can be scarce. The Turkish-inspired dishes (an ode to the home country of many a Kreuzberg native) are a delicious alternative to the more traditional brunches served elsewhere in Berlin.
Skalitzerstr. 35, Berlin, Berlin, 10999, Germany
Known For
- Brunch buffet
- Sidewalk seating
- Casual atmosphere
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$$ | Wedding |
There are plenty of places in Wedding for a quick falafel or döner but if you're looking for something different, head to Italian-inspired Café Pförtner, at the entrance to the Uferhallen on the Panke canal. The squat, brick café space may be small, but Pförtner makes good use of what there is, adding long tables out front in good weather and, in a nod to the Uferhallen's previous incarnation as a BVG garage, turning a brightly painted bus into a dining area next door.
Uferstr. 8–11, Berlin, Berlin, 13357, Germany
Known For
- Daily changing menus with veggie and meat dishes at lunch and expanded dinner menu
- Homey, seasonal Italian dishes, including homemade pasta and risotto
- Outdoor dining area with a cool vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Kreuzberg |
In a city full of Turkish restaurants, Defne stands out for its exquisitely prepared food, friendly service, and pleasant setting. Beyond simple kebabs, the fresh and healthy menu here includes a selection of hard-to-find fish dishes from the Bosphorus, such as acili ahtapot (spicy octopus served with mushrooms and olives in a white-wine-and-tomato sauce), as well as delicious meze and typical Turkish dishes like "the Imam Fainted," stuffed eggplant with tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and pine nuts.
Planufer 92c, Berlin, Berlin, 10967, Germany
Known For
- Large selection of traditional Turkish meat and seafood plates
- Delicious vegetarian dishes
- Lovely location on the bank of the Landwehrkanal, with outdoor terrace
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Charlottenburg |
The beer coasters are trading cards of the Wittelsbach dynasty at this relaxed neighborhood restaurant facing a park on Lake Lietzensee that focuses on food from Bavaria and the Alps. Excellent renditions of classics like Wiener schnitzel and grilled saddle steak use organic meats and vegetables, and the selection of beer—by the bottle and on tap—is small but includes a range of varieties and regions.
Witzlebenstr. 31, Berlin, Berlin, 14057, Germany
Known For
- Simple, seasonal Alpine cuisine
- Wiener schnitzel in two sizes with potato-cucumber salad
- Good choice of wine and beer
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat.
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$$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
The name means "butcher shop" and that's exactly what this meat lover's restaurant used to be. The stylishly stark interior pays tribute with black-and-white meat-locker photos on the walls. The menu is all about meat, of course, with several beef cuts available from the grill---tenderloin, rib eye, or entrecote---along with lamb chops, chicken, and sometimes a Berlin-style calves' liver (with apple, onion, and potato puree). The burgers are popular, too. Service can be slow and sometimes brusque.
Schönhauser Allee 8, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
Although far from Alsatian France and the Mosel and Saar regions of Germany's southwest that inspire the hearty fare here, a visit to this busy but homey Kollwitzplatz restaurant will leave you pleasantly surprised at the authenticity of the food. The raclette is the best you're likely to get this side of the Rhine, and classic choucroute comes with Blutwurst (blood sausage). Though the menu is meat-centric, vegetarians will also find some tempting choices.
Knaackstr. 37, Berlin, Berlin, 10435, Germany
Known For
- Excellent raclette
- Weekly changing dishes plus constant favorites
- Pleasant location in the heart of charming Prenzlauer Berg
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Charlottenburg |
In a city that's unfortunately full of mediocre pseudo-Asian restaurants that serve bland versions of curries, noodles, and rice dishes, Hot Spot stands out for its daring and authenticity. The menu features recipes from the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, and the freshest ingredients are guaranteed; mala dishes (numbing and spicy) are a specialty here, and the excellent selection of German wines—particularly Riesling—goes well with the spicy food.
Eisenzahnstr. 66, Berlin, Berlin, 10709, Germany
Known For
- Amazing wine list, unusual to find in an Asian restaurant
- Much spicier food than normal for Berlin
- Quick, friendly service
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$$ | Kreuzberg |
The front bar area and a cozy dining room are usually filled with chattering locals and the occasional dog peeking out from under the table (pets are allowed in unexpected places in Berlin, including many restaurants). The house specialties include Viennese classics like Wiener schnitzel and apple strudel, along with a few "modern" Austrian dishes, but look for surprises, too, on the seasonal weekly menu, which is full of interesting ingredients and unusual combinations.
Muskauerstr. 1, Berlin, Berlin, 10997, Germany
Known For
- A mixture of traditional and contemporary Austrian cooking
- Some of the best Wiener schnitzel in Berlin
- Classic Viennese desserts like Sacher torte and apple strudel
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat.
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$$ | |
This Dutch Quarter restaurant captures the essence of old-world France with its rustic decor and bistro classics, including Breton-style fish soup and coq au vin. The small outdoor area is the perfect spot to people-watch and enjoy a glass of wine on a sunny afternoon.
Mittelstr. 20, Potsdam, Brandenburg, 14467, Germany
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$$ | Schöneberg |
Venture to Schöenberg's far southern reaches to find one of the most talked-about pizza-focused Italian joints in Berlin (there's a second location in Prenzlauer Berg), which serves up Neapolitan-style pizza along with tempting appetizers such as eggplant in tomato sauce with Parmesan and arancini (stuffed rice balls). There's a lovely outdoor terrace that attracts a young, lively crowd when the weather's nice.
Hauptstr. 85, Berlin, Berlin, 12159, Germany
Known For
- Top-notch pizza with seasonal toppings
- Neapolitan dishes including pasta, fish, and meat
- Wines to wash it all down
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Kreuzberg |
In a city where it seems as if 10 new restaurants open every day, this Spanish and Portuguese tapas spot has been spared much of the hype, but that's a good thing: Marqués serves high-end, inventive food and Mediterranean wines, without pretension. The menu is extensive, so talk it over with friendly staff, who will advise and serve you delights like sizzling plates of chorizo, and salted, fried pimientos de padron, the small, green, Spanish peppers. To sate a larger appetite, try the beef fillets or pasta with mixed seafood—a rarity in land-locked Berlin. The cocktail bar in the basement serves stellar creations.
Graefestr. 92, Berlin, Berlin, 10967, Germany
Known For
- Speciality cocktails
- Outdoor seating
- Classic Spanish tapas
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$$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
Russian treats such as dumplings, borscht, blini (Russian pancakes), and much more are the mainstays at this casually refined restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace for when the weather is nice. There are several set menus available for lunch and dinner, and the breakfast selection is second to none, with a wide range of set menus and egg dishes (including delicious shakshuka) alongside standards like pancakes and French toast.
if you come for the weekend brunch you can try just about all of the delicious dishes, as well as dessert, in an extensive buffet.
Knaackstr. 22/24, Berlin, Berlin, 10405, Germany
Known For
- Gourmet takes on old-fashioned Russian dishes
- Charming setting inside and out
- Very popular and varied breakfasts
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$$ | Friedrichshain |
Friedrichshain locals have been enjoying this corner spot for years, drawn in by the alpine-inspired new German cuisine and lively atmosphere. Classics like Wiener schnitzel and cheese spätzle share the menu with more inventive dishes like pork belly with scallops or homemade pumpkin and walnut ravioli. Traditional Austrian desserts like apple strudel and Kaiserschmarrn (pancakes torn into pieces, with powdered sugar and blueberry compote) always make an appearance. The wine list, not surprisingly, also leans German and Austrian.
Simplonstr. 16, Berlin, Berlin, 10245, Germany
Known For
- Modern alpine cuisine
- Gorgeous all-white decor
- Kaiserschmarrn (pancakes torn into pieces, with powdered sugar and blueberry compote)
