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Berlin Hotels

 

Recommended Restaurants in Berlin

 

The one thing the Germans excel at is their impressive breakfasts; Fruhstuck, an experience to linger over and savour. Fortunately, these gargantuan meals are available 24 hours a day in many places and can fill you up for hours of brisk walking. ,Everything you ever expected to find in Germany is on the buffet style menu: Sausage, cooked eggs, sauerkraut, potato cakes, schnitzel, ham, cheeses, fresh rolls, yoghurt, muesli and an extensive list of juices and beers. The only problem you'll have is deciding what to eat and then managing to digest it all.

The German tradition of afternoon coffee and cakes has survived the health conscious drive sweeping through Europe. Kaffee und Kuchen remains a popular ritual that cuts across all social classes and is a good way to relax after sightseeing or shopping.The cultural diversity of Berlin is reflected in the city's eating habits and selection of restaurants. Visitors may be surprised to find that they're more likely to find themselves enjoying Greek, Turkish, Balkan, Italian or Indian food rather than typical German cuisine. However, when you do manage to locate a restaurant serving German food you'll find that many dishes on the menu will consist of different ways of preparing pork. Germany isn't a great country for vegetarians, but if you like bacon, gammon or sausages, you will be well served with local delicacies. Berlin specialities well worth trying are Kassler Rippen (smoked and pickled pork chops) and Eisbein (pigs trotters). Other delicacies include Rouladen (rolled stuffed beef) and Kartoffelpuffer (fried potato cakes).

Zum Hugenotten

Hotel Inter-Continental Berlin, Budapester Strasse 2-3, D-10787
Tel: 2602 1263 Fax: 2602 2600

This elegant restaurant is widely considered to be one of the top four places to eat in Berlin. Zum Hugenotten offers excellent German food with a French touch. Try the daily special "chef's dinner" which is always superb.

Alt-Luxemburg
Windscheidstrasse 31, D-10627
Tel 3238 370 Fax: 3274 003

Nouvelle German cuisine is served in this popular, well decorated restaurant where the seafood is excellent and the service impeccable.

Alt-Nürnberg
Europa Centre

The Europa Centre is not only a shopper's paradise it also has many good cafes. Head for this lively Bavarian tavern serving traditional food and, of course, beer. En route, look out for the multi-storey clock which operates on a system of intricate glass tubes and coloured liquids.

Tel: 2614 367
Mid price range

Bamberger Reiter
Regensburgerstrasse 7, D-10777
Tel 2184 282 Fax: 2147 4799

New German dishes are prepared using the freshest ingredients available from local markets. The menu changes daily, according to availability of produce. Book ahead, otherwise you probably won't get a table at this impressive, popular restaurant.

Borchardt
Französischestrasse 47, D-10117
Tel: 2039 7117

This is a highly fashionable restaurant, popular with celebrities. Gaze at the magnificent art nouveau interior beneath airy high ceilings while waiting to be served. The chefs prepare delicious French Mediterranean-style cuisine with an emphasis on fresh fish and meat dishes.

Vau
Jägerstrasse 55, D-10117
Tel: 2029 730 Fax: 2029 7311

Michelin starred Chefs create speciality game and fish dishes in this pleasant, fashionable restaurant. It has a light, airy dining area and cool, understated designer interior.

Rockendorf's
Düsterhaupstrasse 1, Berlin
Tel: 4023 099

This excellent restaurant is not only a gastronomic delight, it also has one of the world's finest restaurant wine lists with a choice of over 800 select vintages. Try the Prix-fixe menus, if you are serious about food, as some offer eight or nine courses. The refined, elegant tableware, attentive but understated service and superb cuisine all serve to make Rockendorf's one of Berlin's most desirable dining rooms.

Ana e Bruno
Sophie-Charlottenstrasse 101, D-14059
Tel: 3257 110 Fax: 3226 895

This light, bright, trendy Italian restaurant is run by Ana and Bruno who bring Michelin starred Italian cuisine to the centre of Berlin's Charlottenstrasse district
Expensive
Open 18.30 to midnight from Tuesday to Saturday

Telecafe
Panoramastrasse 1A, Mitte 10178 Berlin
Tel 242 33 33 Fax 242 59 22

Soar 200 meters above ground in only 40 seconds! Probably the highest restaurant in Berlin makes this a very special trip. The dining area is at the top of the Television Tower, located in the heart of Berlin. Enjoy the delicious food while watching the amazing view change as the floor in the Restaurant rotates twice an hour. Apparently, around 250,000 cups of coffee are drunk here every year, so it may get rather busy during the summer months.
www.berlinerfernseturm.de
Expensive, but worth it for the panoramic view.
Open every day from 10.00 to 01.00

Die Quadriga
Hotel Brandenburger Hof, Eislebener Strasse 14, D-10789
Tel: 2140 5600 Fax: 2140 5100

The chef's culinary delights are influenced by classical French cuisine and has received many awards. Located inside Hotel Brandenburger Hof, the standard here is very high. As an added attraction, diners can enjoy the view of the spacious and airy conservatory from their table. There is also music from the Piano Bar to ensure you have an entrancing evening.
Open from 7pm
Children's menus are available.

Zur Letzten Instanz
Waisenstrasse 14-16, Mitte 10179
Tel 242 55 28 Fax 242 68 91

Established in 1621, this is Berlin's oldest restaurant. Napoleon apparently warmed himself beside the tile stove. Mikhail Gorbachev also had a beer here in 1989. The menu is limited, but tasty.
Monday to-Saturday 12.00-01.00 Sunday 12.00-23.00
Price range: around 60 euros per person, excluding wine, tips and taxes.

Mao Thai
Wörther Strasse 30, Prenzlauer Berg 10405
Tel 441 92 61 Fax 443 42 090

Apparently the owner visited Thailand and fell in love with the country and its cuisine, especially dishes found in the northeastern region. Since then, he has been creating authentic Thai dishes in the thriving centre of the former East. Well worth a visit if you like spicy, imaginative cuisine
Nearest U-Bahn: Eberswalderstrasse (U2)
Open Monday -Friday 12.00-23:30
Saturday 12.00-24.00
Mid price range

Tuk Tuk
This Indonesian restaurant has been decorated like an exotic bamboo forest. It is worth going to for the décor, but the food can be a bit expensive.
Großgörschenstr. 2, U-7 Kleistpark, Tel. 781 15 88, 17:30 - 1:00 daily

Exil
This well-frequestned restauarant is one of the nicest places to sit along the Paul-Linke-Ufer (a canal-side terrace overlooking the Landwehr). In summer you can dine under a beautiful ceiling made of leaves. The food is good here, as testified by the large number of artist and filmmakers who used to regularly meet here. In the 1970s Fassbinder and his crew often visited Exil.

Paul-Lincke-Ufer, U-1/15 Kottbusser Tor, U-8 Schönleinstr. Open from 18.00, daily

Mid to expensive

Brazil
This is a very popular restaurant in Berlin at the moment. The menu isn't that extensive but offers an excellent choice of simple and imaginative Brasilian cuisine. There are a few vegetarian dishes as well as meat, fish and fowl For an exotic start to your meal, Brazil also serve a wide array of tequila and rum-based cocktails and some rather fine cigars.

Gormannstr. 22, U-8 Weinmeisterstr Tel. 208 63 13, 10:00 - 2:00 daily
Mid price range

Van Loon
Why not get away from land-locked Berlin and have dinner on a large Dutch sailing boat anchored in Kreuzberg's Urbanhafen? You can meet friends in the bar on the deck of this tall ship and enjoy a hearty meal in the ship's cabin. And naturally, food is served from the ship's galley
Carl-Herz-Ufer 5, U-1/15 Prinzenstr Tel. 692 62 93 or 694 91 91, 10:00 - 1:00, daily

Mid price range

Take away and cheap eats

Rani
Rani's simple décor, (no flock wallpaper) and well prepared Indian food make it a popular location fro many Berliners. There is a take-away counter next to the dining area, so even if a table isn't free, you won't go hungry. You can take your pick from vegetarian or meat options and waiters bring the food directly to your table.
Goltzstraße 32 Tel 2 15 26 73. From 11:00

Imbiss
A must is a take-away Currywurst underneath the U-Bahnhof Eberswalder Strasse. You can order the famous curry sausage from the Konopke Imbiss which has been making real Berlin-style Currywurst for over 70 years.

Open until late

Einhorn I & II
These two vegetarian cafés are both very popular, probably because all the ingredients the cooks use are organically-grown and quite delicious. Diners eat standing up but this hasn't deterred anyone, and another Einhorn stand-up café has opened in the city centre at Wittenbergplatz. More recently, a sit down, Parisian style bistro has been added to the mini-chain, but quality remains as high as ever.

Einhorn I, Mommsenstr. 2 , U-15 Uhlandstraße oder S-3/5/7/9 Savignyplatz
Einhorn II, Wittenbergplatz 5-6, U-2 Wittenbergplatz
Tel. 211 25 04, Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:30

Marcann's
Invalidenstrasse 112 Tel2832 6171. U6 Zinnowitzer Strasse
Open 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday 8.30-14.00 Saturday
No credit cards.
French pastries, filled sandwiches and things to take away.

Misuyen Asia-Bistro
Torstrasse 22 Tel 247 7269. U2 Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.
Open 11.00-21.00 Monday to Saturday
No credit cards.
Main courses  2.50- 6. Cheap
Fresh, tasty Eastern cuisine. One of the few places in Germany where you can find food from Laos.

Cream
You'll find plenty of trendy students in this new coffee house in the rough and ready Schlesisches Tor. The owners have restored the old wooden-panelling so the décor is not ostentatious but welcoming. The coffee is wonderful here and you can fill up on some home-made muffins and snacks too.
Schlesische Strasse 6 Tel 6107 4980. U1/15 Schlesisches Tor.
Open 8.00-midnight daily. No credit cards.

Öz Misir Carsisi
Despite being difficult to pronounce, this is one of the best Turkish snackbars. You can pick up a tasty Lamacun pizza and fresh salad for a couple of euros. A useful place to remember so you can drop by late at night after a trip to the cinema in Kreuzberg.
Adalbertstr. 96, U-15 Kottbusser Tor, 9:00 - 2:00, daily
Another street worth mentioning is Kastanienallee which runs from Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte to U-Bahnhof Eberwalder Str in Prenzlauer Berg.

There are some good independently run shops there as well as some small restaurants and other informal places to eat. There is a very good vegetarian international style imbiss which Berliners say is inexpensive but offers very good, healthy food. It is next to a cafe/bar called 103 on Kastanienallee.

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