« Back to Berlin Guide

Restaurants  :  German
When ranking the average German’s favorite pastimes, “enjoying a fine meal” should appear near the top of the list. For Berliners, dining out is a particularly serious business, especially in light of the city’s ever-evolving roster of chic European and quality ethnic eateries. Along with classic city delicacies like rouladen (beef rolls with bacon, onions, and pickles) and schlachtplatte (a plate of cold meat and sausage), die einheimischen incorporate cuisine from India, Japan, and Thailand into their weekly regimens. In fashionable Mitte and Schöneberg, fare from Italy and France is strongly represented, and restaurants like Charlottensburg’s Alt Luxemburg and Paris-Moskau near Tiergarten herald Berlin’s status as a city with a knack for the gourmet. Oenophiles, meanwhile, happily discover that wines from the Rhone Valley and abroad have an esteemed place in most restaurants and street-side cafés. Turkish food, too, plays a prominent role, especially in Kreuzberg, thanks to corner stands that specialize in falafel and döner kebabs (flat bread-wrapped grilled lamb).

Alt Luxemburg
Windscheidstrasse 31, Berlin  10627 • +49-(0)-30-3238-730
Description: CHARLOTTENBURG – WILMERSDORF. Intimate. Elegant. Historic. This Charlottenburger is located in a renovated customs house. Attractive décor, antique furnishings, an attentive waitstaff, and a skilled kitchen work together to create a most pleasant dining experience. Menu selections feature traditional German cuisine tempered by a dash of Eastern spice, including honey-glazed duck breast and Brandenburg duck with pineapple chutney. Guests may choose from three-, four-, or five-course prix fixe menus. Reservations required. U-BAHN: Sophie-Charlotte-Platz

Details 

Altes Zollhaus
Carl-Herz-Ufer 30, Berlin  10961 • +49-(0)-30-6923-300
Description: KREUZBERG. Housed in a timber customs house that overlooks the Landwehrkanal, Altes Zollhaus specializes in organic nouvelle fare. Indeed, the restaurant, adorned with rustic furniture and set amid tall trees, recollects the charm and elegance of a bygone era. Menu highlights include seasonal dishes like Brandenburg duck with cream potatoes and roasted steinbutt with lobster sauce, spinach, and cauliflower purée. A wonderful wine list complements these choices, and during warm weather, you can choose a charming garden as your dining backdrop. Three-, four- and five-course prix fixe dinners are available. Reservations are a must. U-BAHN: Prinzenstrasse

Details 

Margaux
Unter den Linden 78 Eingang Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin  10117 • +49 30 2265 2611
Description: MITTE. Recipient of a coveted Michelin star after only seven months of operation, this Central Berliner soundly served notice to older, more established competitors. Classic design elements (black marble floors, gold-leaf ceilings, and well-appointed tables) meet headfirst with a sleek, uptown attitude. The result is an interior that impresses even the most critical of eyes. Make no mistake, though: owner-chef Michael Hoffman's traditional French fare is Margaux's forte, thanks to dishes like venison with foie gras and ravioli "von Kürbis." It's little wonder that his culinary classes have become near legendary with jetsetters! Reservations are necessary. S-BAHN: Unter den Linden

Details 

Paris-Moskau
Alt-Moabit 141, Berlin  10557 • +49-(0)-30-3942-081
Description: MITTE. Located on the northwest side of Tiergarten, Paris-Moskau subtly joins Old World elegance and modern-day panache, resulting in one of West Berlin's more unique dining experiences. The restaurant, set in a circa-1898 railroad signalman's house, earned its name from its proximity to the line connecting Paris and Moscow. Featured entrees include Limousin lamb with pepper-bean ragout, rotbarbe with pea purée, and chicken prepared in Riesling with vegetable risotto. The impeccable wine list includes bottles from Spain, Portugal, the Rhine Valley, France, Tuscany, and even Australia. Reservations are encouraged. S-BAHN: Bellevue

Details 

Restaurant Quarré
Unter den Linden 77 Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin  10117 • +49-(0)-30-2261-1555
Description: MITTE. Located on the ground floor of the Hotel Adlon, this elegant restaurant gets high marks from locals and travelers alike, thanks to outstanding, globally-influenced German cuisine. Of course, impeccable service and spacious, well-appointed environs earn their fair share of applause as well. A patio seating area opens wide to Pariser Platz, allowing natural light to bathe the main dining room and affording terrific views of Brandenburger Tor. Quarré is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and Sunday brunch is an unforgettable affair. Reservations are strongly encouraged. S-BAHN: Unter den Linden

Details 

VAU
Jägerstraße 54-55, Berlin  10117 • +49-(0)-30-2029-730
Description: MITTE. Business people enjoy this trendy restaurant for its refreshing decor and creative cuisine. The skilled kitchen staff is known far and wide for creating such intriguing dishes as aspic of suckling pig with sauerkraut and leg of lamb with braised vegetables. Although the interior is thoughtfully decorated in contemporary style, courtyard dining offers the optimal experience. Large wooden umbrellas set the scene for guests to enjoy a respite from their stuffy offices and take advantage of a pleasant dining experience. Reservations recommended. S-BAHN: Hausvogteiplatz

Details 

Alpenstueck
Gartenstraße 9, Berlin  10115 • +49-(0)-30-2175-1646
Description: MITTE. In the south of Germany, west of Bavaria, lies the Schwäbische Alb (or Swabian Alb), a high plateau known for its harsh living conditions over the centuries. Alpenstueck offers a contemporary take on the cooking traditions of this region, with a little "Austrian kitchen" thrown in. While the menu is surprisingly small, what's on offer is fine fare, and the tender Wiener schnitzel is a definite hit. The interior palette is a stunning mix of soft greys and pale woods. S-BAHN: Nordbahnhof

Details 

Anna Blume
Kollwitzstrasse 83, Berlin  10435 • +49-(0)-30-4404-8749
Description: Named after a poem by German artist Kurt Schwitters, Anna Blume is notable for its large range of homemade cakes, tasty crepes, and its big breakfasts. Order the filling "Früstücksetagere" – breakfast for two served on a 3-tiered platter layered with fruit, cold meats and delicious cheeses. The interior will also help transport you back to the time of Schwitters - it's nicely styled after Art Nouveau. U-BAHN: Eberswalderstrasse

Details 

Blockhaus Nikolskoe
Nikolskoer Weg 15, Berlin  14109 • +49-(0)-30-8052-914
Description: STEGLITZ – ZEHLENDORF. This restaurant is housed in a lodge built by Prussian King Frederick Wilhelm III for his daughter and her husband, Czar Nicholas I. In temperate weather, outdoor riverside dining is a popular option. Specializing in game dishes, the menu is varied, and the prices range from inexpensive to pricey.

Details 

Curry 36
Mehringdamm 36, Berlin  10961
Description: Kreuzberg's most famous address for that Berlin speciality, Currywurst. The magic recipe is to take one pork sausage, slice it up into bite-size pieces, add some tomato sauce and sprinkle curry powder on top. Order a beer and chips ("Pommes") on the side to enjoy it like a local. U-BAHN: Mehringdamm

Details