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$$$ | Charlottenburg |
Chic foodies frequent this sleek Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant from renowned Berlin restaurateur Duc Ngo, which sits behind a graffiti-covered door. The cocktails are top-notch, the sushi and sashimi some of the freshest in town, and the food is wonderfully prepared. South American-inflected dishes such as sashimi taquitos and variations on grilled beef, while not groundbreaking, are full of flavors just a bit different than what you'll find in Berlin's other Asian eateries.
Kantstr. 135, Berlin, Berlin, 10625, Germany
Known For
- Tiradito (Peruvian marinated raw fish)
- Sashimi taquitos (raw fish rolled into tortillas)
- Enticing cocktail, sake, and wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Charlottenburg |
This eatery makes culinary art from the Japanese snack, kushiage, breaded and fried skewers of meat, fish, and vegetables, accompanied by an array of colorful dipping sauces. The Kushinoya team uses a special cooking process to deep-fry the doughy exteriors of the skewered ingredients without letting them get oily, and offers at least 30 different skewers daily, using fresh, local ingredients. There's an interesting selection of beer and sake to go with your meal. Make sure to save room for the Japanese desserts, too.
Bleibtreustr. 6, Berlin, Berlin, 10623, Germany
Known For
- Kushiage (Japanese breaded, fried skewers of meat, seafood, and veggies)
- Interesting sake selection
- Upscale setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
Billed as a classic all-day hangout, with selections from the vinyl records lining the walls played by the friendly staff, this more casual offshoot of neighborhood favorite Mrs. Robinson’s serves up coffee, drinks, and French bistro-inspired meals from morning till night. Opt for freshly baked goods—including sourdough bread, made daily—at any time of day, or nibble on retro dishes like Oysters Rockefeller or oeuf à la mayo along with Berlin’s black-clad foodies.
Lychener St. 37, Berlin, Berlin, 10437, Germany
Known For
- Wide selection of vermouth
- Soft serve made from raw milk
- Seasonal ingredients from local producers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$ | |
Potsdam is surrounded by lakes and rivers so the fish served here is almost always local—try the rainbow trout or the eel, fresh from the Havel River; the house beer is brewed in Potsdam. It's just a block from the busy pedestrian shopping area, and has a casual, friendly atmosphere that makes this an excellent spot for a light meal.
Gutenbergstr. 25, Potsdam, Brandenburg, 14467, Germany
Known For
- Fresh fish from the Havel
- Sustainable seafood
- Local wines and beers
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$$$ | Charlottenburg |
This upscale restaurant on the far western end of Kurfürstendamm is one of the best-kept Italian secrets in Berlin; you won't find many tourists here, but the posh neighborhood's residents pack the cheerful, rustic dining room. The high-quality, straightforward cooking means incredibly fresh salads and appetizers (the bruschetta is excellent), as well as homemade bread, exquisite pasta dishes, and more-refined Tuscan and Umbrian creations.
Kurfürstendamm 90, Berlin, Berlin, 10709, Germany
Known For
- Top-notch classic Italian cuisine
- Tables on the sidewalk in warm weather
- Reasonable prices for the neighborhood
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Mitte |
Under the arches of the S-bahn tracks connecting Friedrichstrasse with Hauptbahnhof, Habel am Reichstag seems unassuming from outside, but inside you'll find old Berlin elegance melded with industrial chic: leather banquettes, crystal chandeliers dangling from the arched brick ceilings, and rumbling trains overhead. The no-nonsense waiters serve local classics, like lamb, Wiener schnitzel, weisser Spargel (asparagus), and Knödel (dumplings) with mushrooms and ham. There's a huge wine selection.
Luisenstr. 19, Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Known For
- Huge wine selection
- Cool underground location
- Seasonal menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Mitte |
This beautiful, wood-paneled restaurant is spacious but almost always crowded. It's located right in the middle of the action at bustling Hackesche Höfe, and a solid place to eat German food while doing some excellent people-watching. The clientele is a fun mix of tourists and locals, which gives the place a vibrant, lively atmosphere; when the weather is good there are tables outside in the courtyard, too.
Rosenthalerstr. 40–41, Berlin, Berlin, 10178, Germany
Known For
- Good-quality German dishes
- Brandenburg wild boar (when available)
- Convenient, central location
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$$$ | Mitte |
This popular restaurant, located on the corner of one of Berlin's prettiest streets, serves locally sourced dishes like Brandenburg wild boar, lake trout, or venison on stylish long wooden tables to an equally stylish crowd. The unfussy German standards are favorites with local gallerists and shop owners, and on warm weekend nights the place opens up to the street, beckoning passersby with the cozy sound of clinking glasses and the low hum of conversation.
Linienstr. 160, Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
Known For
- Seasonal, local ingredients
- Daily changing menus
- Welcoming, casual vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Charlottenburg |
Named after the famous Berlin film director Ernst Lubitsch, this sophisticated restaurant attracts an equally refined crowd with its hearty local fare (and lighter international options) that's hard to find these days. Dishes like Königsberger Klopse (German meatballs in a creamy caper sauce), baked eggs in mustard sauce, and Wiener schnitzel are examples of the home-style German cooking, plus there are frequently rotating seasonal specials.
Bleibtreustr. 47, Berlin, Berlin, 10623, Germany
Known For
- Well-prepared classic German dishes
- Elegant old-fashioned atmosphere
- Good location off of lively Savignyplatz
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$$$ | Tiergarten |
Tucked into a courtyard in the Tiergarten district near galleries and cool boutiques, Oh, Panama (named after a popular German children's book) has a contemporary, artsy decor that perfectly matches its eclectic international cuisine—think small, shareable plates or more substantial mains, with a fine selection of fish, meat, and veggie options. Hip Berliners and in-the-know tourists enjoy expertly mixed seasonal cocktails or a glass of natural wine with their meal.
Potsdamer Str. 91, Berlin, Berlin, 10785, Germany
Known For
- Well-presented small plates
- Inventive, unique flavor combinations
- Fun vibe with charming waitstaff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Charlottenburg |
This intimate restaurant with white tablecloths is owned by Austrians from the small village of Ottenthal and serves as an homage to their country, with interesting and delicious combinations using many organic ingredients. It has the added benefit of being open on Sunday evening, when many of Berlin's fine restaurants are closed. It's a good option for a leisurely meal before catching a show at Theater des Westens around the corner.
Kantstr. 153, Berlin, Berlin, 10623, Germany
Known For
- Huge Wiener schnitzel that extends past the plate's rim
- Homemade strudel
- Excellent Austrian wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Schöneberg |
Black-and-white photographs by the German landscape photographer Albert Renger-Patzsch, the restaurant's namesake, decorate the dark-wood-paneled dining room at this beloved local gathering place that focuses on top-notch ingredients, respecting the classics while also reinventing them. The menu changes daily but might feature blood sausage with lentils or perhaps venison with choucroute, along with lighter bites like a selection of Flammkuchen (Alsatian flatbread tarts) that are perfect for sharing.
Wartburgstr. 54, Berlin, Berlin, 10823, Germany
Known For
- Daily changing seasonal specials
- Alsatian Flammkuchen in savory and sweet options
- Lovely outdoor terrace seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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$$$ | |
For a taste of Potsdam’s finer side, enjoy a meal at Hotel am Jägertor’s restaurant. Chef Rene Tinz highlights regional products and local recipes in creative dishes like rabbit liver with wasabi foam or a deconstructed Waldorf salad with apple gel and walnut oil. A summer terrace offers views of the nearby Jägertor (Hunter’s Gate) while the ritzy dining rooms include gilded accents and baroque decor.
Hegelallee 11, Potsdam, Brandenburg, 14467, Germany
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$$$ | Kreuzberg |
On an industrial Kreuzberg street, Richard isn't relying on foot traffic to bring in customers; but everyone who knows about it raves. The unassuming facade hides an elegant white interior with stained-glass windows, an intricate, carved wood ceiling, and modern paintings. The food, which is French influenced, is equally elegant: try the appetizer of clams, mussels, and octopus, a simple but perfectly prepared dish of polenta with mushrooms and black truffles, and excellent mains like venison or roast suckling pig. You can order à la carte or choose one of the prix-fixe options.
Köpenickerstr. 174, Berlin, Berlin, 10997, Germany
Known For
- Elegant decor
- Classic French cuisine
- Roast suckling pig
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$ | Kreuzberg |
Along the Landwehr Canal, this charming half-timber former customs house turned Rutz restaurant’s little sister has a cozy interior with arched windows inside and an expansive outdoor terrace in summer. Chef Florian Mennicken, who trained at Michelin-starred Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer and Facil, prepares hearty German classics, accompanied by a wonderful selection of wines from both Germany and across Europe.
Carl-Herz-Ufer 30, Berlin, Berlin, 10961, Germany
Known For
- Choice of 200 wines
- Königsberger Klops (meatballs in creamy white sauce)
- Locally sourced meat and fish dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. Apr.–Sept. and Sun. and Mon. Oct.–Mar. No lunch
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$$$ | Mitte |
Spicy, flavorful curries are front and center on the menu at this upscale Thai restaurant, excellently complemented by salads and raw fish starters that play with some of the freshest ingredients around. Save room for the "deconstructed" yuzu cheesecake dessert, and make sure to sample the cocktails, which also pay homage to Southeast Asia with ingredients like chili, ginger, mango, and sesame oil. If you're here on a Tuesday, take advantage of Dim Sum Dienstag, which allows you to try several small dishes at a reasonable price.
Behrenstr. 72, Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Known For
- Attentive service
- Dim sum
- Locations in Bangkok and St. Moritz
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$ | Mitte |
Berlin's oldest restaurant (established in 1621) is half-hidden in a maze of medieval streets, though it's welcomed some illustrious diners over the centuries: Napoléon is said to have sat by the tile stove, and Mikhail Gorbachev sipped a beer here in 1989. The small, well-priced menu focuses on some of Berlin's most traditional specialties, including Eisbein (pork knuckle), and takes its whimsical dish titles from classic legal jargon—the national courthouse is around the corner, and the restaurant's name is a rough equivalent of the term "at the 11th hour."
Waisenstr. 14–16, Berlin, Berlin, 10179, Germany
Known For
- Grilled pork knuckle with red cabbage
- Meatballs with mashed potatoes
- Historic setting with charming ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
