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$ | Kreuzberg |
This currywurst stand in Kreuzberg has a cult following and just about any time of day or night you'll find yourself amid a crowd of cab drivers, students, and lawyers munching on currywurst mit Darm (with skin) or ohne Darm (without skin). Go local and order your sausage with a big pile of crispy fries served rot-weiss (red and white)—with curry ketchup and mayonnaise.
Mehringdamm 36, Berlin, Berlin, 10961, Germany
Known For
- Berlin's most famous currywurst
- Vegan currywurst for non-meat eaters
- Late-night eats (open till 5 am)
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$ | Kreuzberg |
The 100-plus-year-old Kreuzberg stalwart has managed to stick around thanks in part to its most famous dish, which is still just about all it serves: a crispy, fried half chicken. The rest of the menu is short: coleslaw, potato salad, a few boulette (meat patty) options, and several beers on tap; for "dessert," look to the impressive selection of locally sourced brandies and fruit schnapps.
Leuschnerdamm 25, Berlin, Berlin, 10999, Germany
Known For
- Scrumptious fried chicken
- Front-yard beer garden
- Charming historic setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$ | Mitte |
Known for having one of the best breakfasts in Berlin (think avocado toast and toasted brioche with berry preserves), the filtered coffee at Distrikt is far from an afterthought, with beans chosen from some of Europe's top roasteries. Tea lovers aren't left out with a fine selection from Kreuzberg's Companion Coffee & Tea, served up with a scrumptious choice of cakes.
Bergstr. 68, Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
Known For
- Breakfast served every day till 4 pm (and till 5 pm on Sunday)
- Instagrammable brick-walled interiors
- Hipsters waiting outside
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$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
Though Berlin’s awash in Neapolitan pizza places, this sweet neighborhood spot bucks the trend with innovative topping combinations on a soft yet chewy sourdough crust. Sophisticated seasonal pizzas, such as charred broccoli and buffalo mozzarella or bacon with cauliflower and Swiss chard, please kids and adults alike, while the fine selection of cocktails, wine, and beer gives the adults even more to appreciate.
Kopenhagener Str. 12 A, Berlin, Berlin, 10437, Germany
Known For
- Outdoor dining adjacent to a playground to keep kids amused and adults happy
- Large natural wine selection
- Coconut sundae with dark chocolate, almond, and sea salt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
Under the tracks of the elevated U2 subway line is Berlin's most beloved sausage stand. Konnopke's is a family business that's been around since 1930 and, though there are several options on the menu, this place is famous for its currywurst, which is served on a paper tray with a plastic prong that can be used to spear the sauce-covered sausage slices; with French fries and a pilsner, this is one of the quintessential Berlin meals.
Schönhauser Allee 44b, Berlin, Berlin, 10435, Germany
Known For
- Much-loved currywurst with fries (there's also a vegan option)
- Throngs of people all day long
- Quick, cheap eats
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Mitte |
This cozy Mitte spot has two different spaces: the bustling and sometimes drafty front room with high tables where walk-ins are seated, and a darker, more romantic back room for those who remember to reserve ahead—as you should. The short but well-thought-out menu includes small and large antipasti plates of grilled vegetables, olives, cheeses, and meats, as well as unusual pastas like a tagliatelle with crawfish in a lemon-mint sauce, or one with pine nuts and balsamic-roasted figs. Chestnut-filled ravioli with pears is a favorite in winter. The lunch menu, with an appetizer and a pasta dish for only €8.50, is a great deal, especially for the area.
Alte Schönhauserstr. 12, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Known For
- Chestnut-filled ravioli with pears
- Affordable lunch specials
- Panna cotta
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun., No credit cards
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$ | Kreuzberg |
Thanks to the efforts of local activists, this century-old market hall was saved from becoming a chain supermarket and instead turned into a center for local food vendors, chefs, wine dealers, and brewers. From Monday to Saturday, a large and rotating variety of food and drink is on offer for lunch and all afternoon; Tuesday to Saturday finds the weekly market with tempting food products for sale, from fruits and vegetables to bread and fish (with an expanded market on Friday and Saturday); and the space also hosts a dazzling array of rotating events, so it's best to check what's on before heading there.
Eisenbahnstr. 42/43, Berlin, Berlin, 10997, Germany
Known For
- Tasty and varied food choices from local entrepreneurs, from barbecue to crepes to Turkish dumplings
- A fun, hipster scene
- A good selection of beer, wine, and coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | Mitte |
In the renovated Ehemalige Jüdische Mädchenschule (Old Jewish Girls' School), this deli-style café serves delicious versions of Jewish deli standards along with regularly changing vegetable-based salads and mains. The space, with wood floors and tables and low, deep purple banquettes, is trendier than any traditional deli.
Auguststr. 11–13, Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Known For
- New York–style deli sandwiches, like Reubens and pastrami on rye
- Chicken liver brûlée with grilled challah
- New York cheesecake
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$ | Charlottenburg |
Every weekend from spring to autumn, in decent weather, the main lawn at Preussenpark in Wilmersdorf fills up with Southeast Asian families (mostly Thai, but some Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indonesian) who set up cooking equipment and prepare authentic delicacies like beef noodle soup, skewered fried meat, and spicy green-papaya salad. Come with a picnic blanket, cash, and a lot of napkins, and stay for the afternoon. Sundays in summer are especially popular.
Brandenburgische Str., Berlin, Berlin, 10707, Germany
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Weekends in warm weather, No credit cards, Runs Apr.--Nov.
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$ | Mitte |
One of Berlin's original third-wave coffee joints, this tiny café in the heart of Mitte’s gallery district serves up superlative hand-brewed coffees (always served black) and espresso drinks with trendy add-ons like oat milk, alongside a small but tasty selection of baked goods and sandwiches. There's limited indoor seating and laptops are banned, so this is a better place to sit outside when the weather's nice or to get your coffee to go.
Auguststr. 58, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Known For
- Top-notch filtered coffee
- Sustainable, single-origin beans roasted in-house
- Delicious daily changing pastries
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$ | Mitte |
By day, this is a quiet café reminiscent of a classic Viennese coffeehouse (the name means "Old Europe"), with shabby but trendy decor, and fashionable Mitte-ites chatting and paging through newspapers and magazines. At night, it turns into a comfortable but bustling neighborhood pub serving classic Berlin dishes, just crowded enough to look like a scene but never too packed.
Gipsstr. 11, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Known For
- Traditional Berlin dishes like meatballs, schnitzel, and spätzle
- Daily changing seasonal dishes
- Being a locals' hangout
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$ | Kreuzberg |
Anchored by an indoor vertical garden filled with vegetables and herbs used in many of its dishes, this casual eatery inside the Gropius Bau museum focuses on ancient Jewish recipes from around the world. Choose from a selection of organic vegetable-forward mezzes including labneh (strained yogurt) with challah bread, cauliflower with herbed tahini, and zucchini latkes, finished off with tasty cakes baked by renowned Berlin pâtissière Cynthia Barcomi.
Niederkirchnerstr. 7, Berlin, Berlin, 10963, Germany
Known For
- Inexpensive nibbles and more substantial plates
- Freshly made vegetarian dishes
- Herbal lemonade
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
The name isn't an exaggeration: Bonanza really was one of the first "coffee heroes" to champion artisanal roasting and brewing methods in the German capital. From its tiny home next to Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, Bonanza roasts its own beans, runs a catering business, offers their beans wholesale to customers all over the city, and serves some of the smoothest, tastiest coffee in town; sometimes there are croissants, pain au chocolat, or cookies to enjoy as well, but not always. There's a second outpost in Kreuzberg, at Adalbertstrasse 70, and another in Gendarmenmarkt in Mitte.
Oderbergerstr. 35, Berlin, Berlin, 10435, Germany
Known For
- Friendly service
- Queues out the door
- Delicious hot chocolate and baked goods
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Just across from the Nauener Tor, Café Heider has been serving coffee in this Viennese-style café since 1878. In warmer weather, the outdoor seating has views of the gate; the indoor dining room has large bay windows and plush seating. The menu includes both Berlin and Viennese specialties, like Berliner currywurst, potatoes with quark cheese, and a classic Wiener schnitzel. For dessert, you can choose from cakes, ice cream, and the traditional Viennese dessert Marillenknödel (apricot-filled dumplings), which are difficult to find outside Austria. Sunday brunch is served here as well.
Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 29, Potsdam, Brandenburg, 14467, Germany
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$ | Prenzlauer Berg |
A local favorite, this cozy, casual café is open from early morning into the wee hours, making it the perfect spot for everything from breakfast to a light lunch to evening drinks. There’s an affordable daily quiche and salad plate as well as a nice selection of cakes; if the weather is agreeable, find a spot on the sunny terrace, across from pretty Helmholtzplatz park.
Raumerstr. 36A, Berlin, Berlin, 10437, Germany
Known For
- Outdoor seating
- Tasty breakfast options
- Fine choice of cakes and tarts
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$ | Neukölln |
Located in a small courtyard off the busy Karl-Marx-Strasse in Neukölln, Cafe Rix is a quiet oasis with a golden ceiling—a remnant from the building's heyday as a dance hall. The café is popular for its extensive menu all day long; on a nice day, stop by for a "Kaffee und Kuchen" (coffee and cake) to enjoy on their outdoor terrace.
Karl-Marx-Str. 141, Berlin, Berlin, 12043, Germany
Known For
- Historic building
- Large breakfast selection till 2 pm every day
- Relaxed atmosphere
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$ | Mitte |
Tucked into a courtyard behind the bflat jazz club, this elegant restaurant benefits from fresh ingredients, expert cooking, and an enticing exotic tea list. It has a lovely location; the outdoor space is adorned with paper lamps and canopies. You'll find the usual suspects, like fresh summer rolls and skewered meats with peanut sauce, but there are also some excellent original dishes, like the pickled Vietnamese eggplant and the rice "burger" with smoked tofu and lotus root. Brunch is served on the weekends.
Rosenthalerstr. 13, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards
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$ | Mitte |
The narrow, blink-and-you-miss-it ramen joint Cocolo has had it right for years; the noodle kitchen is packed almost every night of the week and has gained a devoted following—and it doesn't take reservations, so prepare to wait in line. Tasty pork-based broths come in flavors like creamy tonkotsu with pork belly, salty shio with smoked chicken, or rich niboshi shoyu with fish stock, pork, and veggies.
Gipsstr. 3, Berlin, Berlin, 10119, Germany
Known For
- Authentic-seeming ramen
- Busy, lively atmosphere
- Gentle prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted, Closed Sun.
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$ | Friedrichshain |
Located inside the bookshop Shakespeare & Sons, Fine Bagels is their in-house coffee shop and bakery. They serve hand-rolled and boiled New York–style bagels (don't miss the Zaatar-spiced bagel) and other traditional Jewish pastries, breads, and cakes.
Warschauer Str. 74, Berlin, Berlin, 10243, Germany
Known For
- New York-style bagels
- Jewish food specialties (especially around Jewish holidays)
- Great casual atmosphere
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$ | Kreuzberg |
In addition to brewing first-rate, quality coffee from beans roasted on the premises, Five Elephant serves some of the best cake in town, including a cheesecake that has become something of a local legend. Inside, the café is bright, modern, and welcoming, usually with cool jazz playing on the sound system. Like most of its coffee-brewing brethren, the café sources its own coffee directly from growers, and makes sure interactions along every step of the chain are fair and humane.
Reichenbergerstr. 101, Berlin, Berlin, 10999, Germany
