Cafés

This a supplement to my earlier post on Berlin cafés and restaurants. Last summer I got to discover some more hidden and known treasures in Berlin, and I hope you like the recommendations (please send me your feedback). Thank you to everyone who suggested these places to me while I was there, and to everyone who came with me to discover them! I also decided to add some book stores to the list because there are so many great ones. Here are just a few that I got to hang out at the past summer:

Friedrichhain:

Burgeramt (Krossener Str. 22, Boxhagener Platz, 10245 Berlin, U+S-Warschauerstrasse) – open daily noon till 3am. This is the best burger joint in Berlin. They have an unlimited variety of meat and vegetable burgers, toppings, sauces, and sizes. Everything is made from fresh ingredients and fast. Located right next to the Boxhagener Platz square (popularized by the novel and film), in the heart of Friedrichshain, a lively area with many restaurants, boutiques, cafés, and bars. They have now expanded into the building next door and have inside sitting, which will be good for the winter. I’ve taken many friends to eat there and they all loved it and wanted to come back to it. So tell your friends!

Datcha (Gabriel-Max-Str. 1, 10245 Berlin) – open daily from 10am. Great atmosphere and a fusion of traditional Russian cuisine and the culinary innovations of today (as noted on their website). Owned by the same people who run Gorki Park in Mitte and Pasternak in Prenzlauer Berg. The food is exceptionally good. My friend Jasmine and I tried everything from their pelmeni to lamb burgers.

Kaufbar (Gärtnerstraße 4, 10245 Berlin, U+S-Warschauerstrasse) – Everything in this café is for sale: the furniture, the décor, art, the dishes. Try their raspberry-mint soy milkshake!

Kinkibox Nähcafé (Seumestr. 21, 10245 Berlin) – Sewing workshop and café. They offer different workshops and events, as well as a selection of coffees and cookies. Unfortunately, I found out about this place when it was too late, on the plane to Vienna. But it sounded too good not to mention it here.

P-Berg:

Café Fleury (Weinbergweg 20, 10119 Berlin, U-Rosenthalerplatz) – Open 8am till 10pm during the week and 8pm on the weekends. French café with black-and-white French New Wave pictures framed on the walls. Specialize in breakfasts, sandwiches, lunches, and deserts.

Heimatlos (Husemannstr 2, Kollwitzplatz, 10435 Berlin, U-Eberwalderstrasse) – great brunch place facing Kollowitzpark, a lively park surrounded by other cafés, shops, book stores, and restaurants. The name “stateless” refers to anyone who finds themselves in Berlin and is looking for a cozy place to hang out at (as the information provided on the menus states).

Wohnzimmer (Lettestrasse 6, Helmholzplatz, U+S-Schönhauser Allee) – open from 9am until last man standing. Cozy café with vintage couches, arm chairs, and chaise longues. Made to feel like your neighbourhood living room. Quiet and sunny during the day and turns into a lounge/bar in the evenings. Good for casual drinks.

Mitte:

Clärchens Ballhaus (Auguststrasse 24, 10117 Berlin, S-Oranienburger Strasse) – Dance hall, dance school, restaurant, ballroom for special events, beer garden – all in one. First opened in 1913, this old complex survived the wars and divisions, and is one of the most exciting places in Berlin. They serve great stone-oven pizza.

Tadschikische Teestube (Am Festungsgraben 1, 10117 Berlin, S+U-Friedrichstrasse) – 5pm-12am, located inside the Palais am Festungsgraben, the tea room was a gift to East Germany by the Tajik Emabassy. Serving over 25 tea varieties, presented in a samovar, with assorted Russian snacks like pierogis with herbs and pelmeni, this is a hidden treasure, not easy to find without insider knowledge. Shoes off at the door, seating is on oriental cushions.

Schöneberg:

April (Winterfeldtstr. 56, 10781 Berlin, U-Nollendorfplatz) – great place for brunch, lunch, and dinner. A mix of German and world cuisine and a wonderful atmosphere. The back room has white table cloths and black-and-white framed photographs of Cary Grant. All the brunch items are good and the Schnitzel on the dinner menu! Jasmine and I made this our hang out this summer, and Nina told me she used to live just around the corner and go there all the time. We all highly recommend this place!

Café Sorgenfrei (Goltzstraße 18, 10781 Berlin, Winterfeldplatz, U-Nollendorfplatz) – closed on Mondays, open 10am till 6pm. Retro café with snacks, coffee, cake, and vintage 1950s and 60s antiques, books, postcards, and other collectables. Great place to find rare and unique souvenirs of Berlin. Hawaiian Toast is their speciality. My blogger friend Emily introduced me to this place. We had cake and browed through the collections of antiques and souvenirs.

Book Stores:

Buchhandlung Walther König (an der Museumsinsel, Burgstraße 27, 10178 Berlin, S-Hackescher Markt) – 10am to 8pm, closed on Sundays. Great selection of art, design, and fashion books from all over the world. In close proximity to Humbolt University, Hackescher Markt, Museum Island, and the soon to be constructed Humbolt Forum.

Bücherbogen (Stadtbahnbogen 593, 10623 Berlin, S-Savignyplatz) – 10am-8pm, closed on Sundays – specialize in Art, photography, design, film, and fashion books. They have three locations in Berlin, but Savignyplatz is original because it’s in the brick arch-building under the subway tracks.

Do you read me? (Auguststrasse 28, 10117 Berlin, U-Rosenthaler Platz) – 10am-7:30pm, closed on Sundays – specialize in magazines and readings from around the world, fashion, photography and art, architecture, interior design, culture and society. An exhibition, entitled »what do you read?!« based on lists of books and magazines recommended by inspiring personalities is on display in the Reading Room in Potsdamer Strasse 98.

Dussmann KulturKaufhaus (Friedrichstraße 90, 10117 Berlin U+S-Friedrichstrasse) – open 10am – 12am, closed on Sundays – large collection of Berlin books, DVDs, Music, and now also a large English book section. Open late every day (except Sundays) and have occasional book presentations and readings.

pro qm (Almstadtstr. 48-50, 10119 Berlin, U-Rosa Luxemburg Platz) – 11am-8pm, closed on Sundays – specialize in Berlin books, politics, pop-culture, art, architecture and design.

St. George’s English Bookstore (Wörther Str. 27, 10405 Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg) – 11am-8pm, closed on Sundays – large selection of English books, special events on Wednesday night. Close to Kollowitzplatz.