Last updated September 2022
Berlin, like most capital cities, has a wealth of restaurants, cafés, bistros, bars all from different countries. I have tried a lot but there are many left to try! They are expensive enough but the food is good so it’s worth it.
Just to note, most German people eat dinner – meaning, a hot, big meal – in the middle of the day and eat bread in the evening, hence the name, Abendbrot. But don’t worry, you won’t be restricted to this, you can get a small, light lunch in the middle of the day and a big dinner in the evening without any difficulty.
Here are some of my favourite food places in Berlin! I won’t pretend that I am expert on food in Berlin, there are so many other places left to try, but maybe this will give you one or two ideas!
For breakfast:
Benedict
Benedict specialises in breakfast – it is their thing, if you will. It is a 24 hour breakfast place so if you are thinking of breakfast and Berlin this is the only place you should be thinking of.
This place was on my list for a while but in the end I only got to go one time. I would love to go back again, for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon coffee and sweet treat, dinner, drinks and more. You get the idea, Benedict offers something for all your needs! And it is open 24 hours 7 days a week. When I saw it from the outside I thought it would be casual, more like a diner, the ones you see in some American movies. I misjudged it a lot. It is fancy, not overly so but very comfortable and cosy. And it is very CLEAN, I was very impressed by how thoroughly the staff cleaned each table even during their busy rush. They wiped down everything, even the salt and pepper shakers. The staff were really impressive in general, very polite, friendly and efficient, even though they were very busy.
NOTE: You may need to wait a long time for a table. We had to wait c. 1.5 hours for a table to become available. We did not realise it would be this long. The food and service and experience was absolutely worth it but I would recommend that you ask how long the wait is, then you will know and can choose to stay or go.
Also, if you choose to stay you can order a coffee at the bakery area and sit there while you wait. The staff will find you when it is your turn, you do not need to stand around and wait, you can relax and enjoy yourself. The area to the left of the door is for waiting and for the bakery. Definitely do wait here, I would have liked to know that before my visit!
Address:
Uhlandstraße 49, 10719 Berlin
Opening times:
Open 24/7
Website:
https://benedict-breakfast.de/
Social media:
Wi-Fi:
Yes
Toilets:
Yes
Price:
Moderately expensive
Table Service:
Yes
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes!
A very nice café
Café Baier
A very good friend of mine recommended this one. We went together one time and I really loved it! The coffee was delicious – note, in general, I did not enjoy the coffee I got in Germany unless I went to a café that was famous for its coffee. It is a really beautifully decorated café that has a little garden seating area and good views over Schloßstraße from the windows in the indoor café area. Stepping into this café feels like steping into a bit of luxury from another time, a more decadent and indulgent one!
It is a traditional German café with many typically German cakes. But there are, of course, cakes from other cuisines too. I had a very delicious tiramisu!
It is located slightly outside of the centre of Berlin (Mitte) but it is a lovely neighbourhood to spend some time in. The café itself is on Schloßstraße (Castle Street), this is a very good shopping street with many big shopping centres. My favourite centre is the one with a projection of the sea on the ceiling! It is truly beautiful.
The neighbourhood is very near the Botanic Gardens so it might be a good idea to go to the Botanic Gardens in the morning and then come here in the afternoon for some coffee, cake and shopping!
Oh, they also do breakfast and bigger savoury dishes so it has you covered!
Address:
Schloßstraße 26, 12345 Berlin (Steiglitz)
Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 20:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 20:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
Website:
Social media:
Wi-Fi:
Yes
Toilets:
Yes, they are beautiful.
Price:
A little expensive but it is worth it.
Table Service:
Yes – make sure you look carefully at the cakes on the counter so that you can make a good decision but they will never take your order at the counter, you must sit at a table.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes!
For hot chocolate:
Lindt
There a number of Lindt stores in Berlin and its locality. They are unique to Germany, either. But as we don’t have one in Ireland, I love going to them! The chocolates are always so colourful and the hot chocolates are delicious. Almost as good as Butlers’ hot chocolate in Ireland!
Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt
This is unique to Germany. And to Berlin. Ritter Sport is a German chocolate company and they have a centre in Berlin. It’s fun to look around and you could definitely pick up some nice presents for friends (or yourself!). Their café is very nice too. They serve savoury food but we just wanted to try their hot chocolates! They are delicious.
Address:
Franzoesische Straße 24
Website:
https://www.ritter-sport.com/berlin
Wi-Fi:
Yes.
Toilets:
Yes.
Price:
Standard for Berlin.
Table Service:
No, order at the counter.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes
For traditional German food:
1840 Hackesher Markt Station
People say that the restaurants here are expensive and tourist traps but I like them and I did notice a lot of German people eating in them too. 1840 is my favourite as it offers a variety of delicious, wholesome dishes – a lot of traditional German dishes but in general just good European food. Also, they have a delicious beer, König Ludwig. Personally, I like the light one, Hell. They come in a 1 litre glass (stein), if you are brave enough to try it! I did! So you can pretend you are at Oktoberfest if you like.
The décor is very nice too, if you try to think of a traditional German bar/restaurant then this is probably what you would be imagine.
TIP: If you are really stuck trying to find restaurants in Berlin then go to Hackesher Markt station or Friedrichstraße station and you will find many restaurants of varying prices, cuisine and formality. I went to another nice traditional, touristy restaurant in Friedrichstraße station.
Address:
Hackesher Markt
Wi-Fi:
Yes.
Toilets:
Yes.
Price:
Standard for Berlin.
Table Service:
Yes.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes, the atmosphere is very relaxed.
For Italian:
I do love my Italian food – who doesn’t? I will certainly be writing on my favourite Italian restaurants in Dublin and Kilkenny soon.
Piccolo
My first Italian in Berlin, I really enjoyed it. It is very casual with a lot of outdoor seating so it is great during the summer as you can sit outside. It is located in one of my very favourite parts of Berlin, in the beautiful, quirky Hackeshe Höfe. I would recommend staying in this area, if you can. There are many hotels around here and it means you can walk almost everywhere, you are a stone’s throw from Alexanderplatz, the Museum Island (Museuminsel) and possibly Berlin’s most famous street, Unter den Linden.
The food is not spectacular but it is still tasty and it is a bit cheaper than the average restaurant in Berlin. We did have a delicious vegetable platter when we there, that I would absolutely recommend!
I would mostly recommend it because of its beautiful location, it would be a great place for a casual dinner or even just a drink.
Address:
Hackeshe Höfe
Toilets:
Yes, inside.
Price:
Cheaper than the average restaurant in Berlin.
Table Service:
Yes.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes!
For Japanese:
Jabe
This restaurant is delicious, casual and authentic. They offer big dishes but smaller ones too, called japas. We had selection of these and really enjoyed them. All the food is very beautifully presented.
The street its on has a lot of interesting and unique cafés and restaurants.
Address:
Alte Schönhauser Strasse 7-8, 10119 Berlin (very near Alexanderplatz)
Opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 12:00 – 15:00 and 17:30 – 21:30
Friday: 12:00 – 15:00 and 17:30 – 23:00
Saturday: 12:00 – 23:00
Sunday: 15:00 – 22:00
Website:
Toilets:
Yes, downstairs
Price:
Maybe a little below average in Berlin.
Table Service:
Yes
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes, it is casual dining with lovely staff.
Some casual dining options:
Vapiano
There are many Vapianos in Berlin. They aren’t unique to Germany, you’ll find them around Europe. They are handy if you’re looking for tasty food and casual dining. I’ve been to quite a few of them and the food is always delicious. They have a good drinks selection too. In Berlin, I was happy to be able to get a big Krombacher beer!
You can order the pasta you want, sauce etc and order at the counter. The chef will cook it in-front of you. Then you can go sit down at your table.
Address:
Many! You’ll find one in the main touristic areas.
Opening times:
Depends on the specific restaurant
Website:
Wi-Fi:
Yes.
Toilets:
Yes.
Price:
Typical.
Table Service:
No, order at counter and wait for your food to be cooked. Then go and find a table.
Is it somewhere I can comfortably go alone?
Yes!
Traditional Berliner food and drink you MUST try during your trip:
Döner kebab
This is probably the most famous fast food in Berlin. It’s delicious! Brought over by a Turkish people, it’s become connected to Berlin. You’ll see it for sale all over the city. I won’t recommend a best one or anything, you’ll find them everywhere. Traditionally, it’s served in bread, but some places will give you an option of buying it in a box with chips. Sliced grilled meat, salad and sauce (you can choose which one) in bread.
It’s become so popular, there’s a dedication to it in Berlin’s Museum of European Culture (Museum Europäischer Kulturen / MEK) which is also well worth a visit! I’m sure I’ll be writing on it in more detail in the future. It’s in a lovely area of Berlin, called Dahlem, which is leafy and feels more like the suburbs. One of the city’s main universities are here too (The Free University of Berlin / Freie Universität Berlin).
Currywurst
These are the dishes typical to Berlin. I will not recommend a specific place for them as you will find them everywhere, trust me. If you are finding it hard to find one then just go to one of the bigger train stations and you will find one.
I don’t have any pictures, sorry! Personally, I’m not a bit fan, I prefer döner kebab but it is definitely a traditional dish to try.
Beer:
Berliner Kindl is probably the most typical beer in Berlin.
Well, there you have it. As the title says, these are only a few suggestions. Berlin is a huge city, you’ll find your own places to eat and drink. If you do find anywhere that’s well-worth a visit, please let me know in the comments!
