We just returned from Berlin, and here are some of our highlights (beyond the standard tourist stuff).

First, we rented an apartment in Prenzlauer Berg. 1-bedroom with small kitchenette and its own bath. It was quiet, reasonably priced, clean -- very comfortable for us. We found it on www.berlin-sofort.de (sorry, site in German only). The TLX Tegel airport bus took us to within two streetcar stops of the place.

In general, this side of town (the old DDR) is really the place to be. Not nearly as pretentious or stuffy as Charlottenburg or the Kudamm. We spent most of our evenings in this area.

One evening we went to the Prater beer garden -- it's supposedly the oldest in Berlin. Take the U2 to Eberswalder and follow the signs on the street. Good food in the restaurant area; in the beer garden itself just light fare (soups, wurst, salads). Sitting under the trees in the warm weather was just so nice!

After that, we dropped into a funky jazz club, the b-flat, in Rosenthaler Platz (U8, Roserthaler Platz stop). A hole-in-the-wall music club filled with enthusiastic jazz lovers. No big names our weekend, but some enjoyable latin jazz.

The most memorable meal we had the entire trip was at a restaurant called Zur Haxe (Erich-Weinert-Str 128), take the M4 streetcar to Thomas-Mann Strasse. Just about my favorite German dish is a Schaeufele, and I got a HUGE piece of meat with all the trimmings, and it cost only 11 Euros. I'm a big eater, but even I couldn't clean my plate this time. My daughter ordered pork medallions on a bed of cream spinach, all with cheese baked on top. Another huge portion, and it cost just 9 Euros. Delightful atmosphere sitting on the street, friendly waiter, lots of locals dropping in, just a great place.

-- Paul (an ex-pat American living in Zurich)

Hi Paul,

Thanks for posting. I'm going in July and will check out some of the places you've listed.

An ex-pat living in Rothenthurm

ditto!

I wish I was an ex-pat!

Just saw this report, Paul. Thanks for the tips. I'll be back in Berlin in Sept. and will check out your restaurant recommendations.

Thanks for the report. We love Berlin, too. We don't find the parts of Charlottenburg we stay in to be all that "stuffy" but of course all that is subjective isn't it?

Thanks for the report. We tried to visit the Prater 3 years ago and it was closed. SUCH A SHAME. But I really liked Prenzlauer Berg. Berlin was such an experience for me and I can't wait to go back. Even since I last visited, so much has been added: Holocaust memorial, Helmut Newton museum, etc.

I can hardly think of Berlin being stuffy even in Charlottenburg. It's such a large liberal city, however I do notice that Prenzlauerberg seems to appeal more to the younger artsy crowd. I also find it more authentically interesting than other parts.

I know this post started last year, but I discovered it looking for information about jazz places in Berlin. If anyone can add to pgschreier's jazz club recommendations, or has any ideas about what jazz lovers should check out in Germany, please add to this post or check out my request under Any Jazz Lovers with Advice About Germany.

Thanks

Some Berlin jazz info for you danigirl:

For world music and modern jazz:
B-flat
Rosenthaler Straße 13, a really fun place to go as recommended by pgschreier. Here’s the website: www.b-flat-berlin.de/

For blues & soul jazz in Kreuzberg:
Yorckschloessen
Live jazz & blues on Wed & Sat nights(9pm till midnight), also Sunday afternoons(2-6pm)
www.yorckschloesschen.de/
They serve wienerschnitzel and good swabian cooking. They also serve good & cheap breakfast/brunch.

Jazz for wine lovers in Charlottenburg(West Berlin):
Jazz Wine Club Duke Restaurant at the Hotel Ellington
Nürnberger Str. 50-55, on the same side street as Kadewe (across the street). Nice live jazz with a piano bar singer singing Gerschwin tunes.Good food from weisswurst to risotto,steak and fish. Perfect for Sunday brunch.

For a relaxing brasilian jazz scene in the Mitte:
Smooth Jazz Berlin
Zimmerstr. 30, 3 blocks south of Leipzigerstrasse just a couple blocks east of Friedrichstrasse near the Marriott Courtyard.

If you are thinking of going to a real jazz concert: www.jazzecho.de/index_5669.jsp

Thanks to all who gave great tips.

Have a look at the picture slideshow at this page here (the orange "play" button):

http://www.germanplaces.com/germany/berlin-sights.html

you will get very good impressions of berlin, so you can decide which places are interesting for you.

My personal tip: vist Potsdam and the awesome castles of Potsdam (World Heritage). Potsdam ist 45 miutes away by S-Bahn (train) from Berlin city center.

Some impressions:

http://www.germanplaces.com/germany/...am-sights.html

have fun