96 Best Restaurants in Berlin, Germany

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.

In her airy, brick-walled shop, ice cream maker extraordinaire Gabrielle Jones whips up small batch ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt in tempting flavors like lemon and blueberry jam, whiskey and pecan, peanut butter and glazed bacon, matcha and white chocolate, and salted butter caramel. There are also locations in Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg.

Hidden away in a courtyard off a busy Neukölln street, in a space that used to contain an old launderette (hence the Italian name), Lavanderia Vecchia offers a prix-fixe-only Italian menu that includes two appetizers, a pasta or risotto primi, a meat or fish secondo, and dessert (vegetarian versions also available), accompanied by a half-bottle of wine and followed by coffee and a digestif; à la carte options, as well as three- to five-course menus, are available at lunchtime only. The white-painted industrial space is decorated with vintage kerchiefs strung along old wash lines.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This Mexican restaurant is an unassuming space on Prenzlauer Berg's Danziger Strasse. The young owners (hailing from Texas and Australia) had different ideas of what Mexican food could be, but shared one dream: to bring the authentic cuisine to Berlin. They succeeded, as fans will attest, and the hot sauce is satisfyingly hot in a country known for sensitive taste buds and blandly spiced dishes. The margaritas, made with mezcal, are particularly good—and quite potent.

This bright, welcoming space just off Kreuzberg's Lausitzer Platz serves tasty Catalonian tapas created from locally sourced ingredients that put a bit of sunshine on the plate during the dreary months. The colorful dishes on the daily changing menu are often unique pairings of sweet and savory ingredients, which combine well with the list of Spanish wines. Expect at least one fresh fish dish, like octopus with potatoes and grilled tomatoes; one soup, like the classic Spanish salmorejo (tomato and bread); and a few meat dishes with at least one expertly cooked, juicy steak, best accompanied by a glass (or bottle) of tempranillo.

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.

At the tip of the Neuer Garten, Meierei brewery serves classic German beer and local cuisine, with hearty dishes like schnitzel and roast pork knuckle. The outdoor terrace has great views of the lake and boats during the warm weather; the indoor tavern seating has rustic charm.

This hip Vietnamese eatery is a convenient place to meet before hitting Mitte's galleries or bars, or for a light lunch after browsing the area's popular boutiques. There are only a handful of items and daily specials to choose from, but the delicious curries, pho (noodle soup), and noodle salads keep the regulars coming back.

On Kantstrasse---Charlottenburg's unofficial Asiatown---this Thai restaurant serves tasty and affordable dishes with fresh vegetables, nuanced sauces, and, if you request it, the long, slow spiciness that's a rarity in Germany: the menu has a spice ranking system, including Thai scharf, which means "Thai spicy," and means super spicy. It's particularly busy at lunch time.

This casual, colorful spot is tucked into a pleasant, tree-lined, cobblestone street just up the hill from Alexanderplatz. The lunch and dinner menus focus on globally influenced, innovative salads, soups, burgers, and sandwiches, with a few mains like steak frites and chicken tikka masala. On two Saturday nights each month, Muse hosts a local chef or a nomadic supper club; you can reserve a seat to these popular events online.

For the traditional döner kebab, head to Mustafa's for mouthwateringly delicious vegetable kebabs (also available with chicken for those who can't resist a bit of protein, but the vegetarian is what people rave about). The line can sometimes stretch down the block, but it's well worth the wait, and this is a traditional street stand, so no seating.

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.

Austrians from the small village of Ottenthal own this intimate restaurant with white tablecloths that serves as an homage to their country, with interesting and delicious combinations using many organic ingredients. It's a good option for a leisurely meal before catching a show at Theater des Westens around the corner. 

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, head to this half-timber house—built more than 100 years ago as a pub and guesthouse along the Paris–Moscow railway—that stands dwarfed by a government complex and the hotels and office buildings around Hauptbahnhof. Today, it serves dishes so intricately prepared they look like works of art, with unique flavor combinations; in addition to the à la carte menu, there are three- or four-course set menus, with vegetarian options, in the evening.

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.

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.

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.

Potsdam is proud of its past French influences, and the highly praised French food at this intimate restaurant on the edge of the Dutch Quarter is served in a lovely space, with brick walls and a fireplace. Restaurant Juliette is affiliated with four other more casual French restaurants in Potsdam, including a creperie and a café.

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.

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 current owners continue to focus on high-quality ingredients in their tasty selection of pizzas, salads, and pastas.

\n Döner kebab aficionados love this bright, casual spot for the delicious food—the fact that it's in the middle of the city and open 24 hours a day is an added bonus. The friendly staff expertly carve paper-thin slices of perfectly cooked meat from the enormous, revolving spit; if you like things spicy, ask for the red sauce.

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.

In a city that still sometimes struggles to get sushi right, Sasaya's concept can seem groundbreaking: simple, authentic Japanese food in an equally comfortable, no-fuss atmosphere. Don't expect sushi to be the center of the menu, though—the focus is on reasonably priced small plates made for sharing, including pickled vegetables, seaweed salad, and crispy pork belly. The best seats are the tables by the windows, where long, low couches let you recline languidly during your meal.

Forget the fast-food options at Zoo Station. Instead, follow the train tracks to the back of the taxi and bus queues, where you'll enter Tiergarten and within 100 yards come upon the best hideaway in the area: Schleusenkrug. In warmer weather you can order at the window and sit in the beer garden or on the back patio, watching pleasure ships go through the lock. Inside is a casual restaurant with a changing daily menu.