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Berlin is a city that’s packed to the rafters with hidden history, cool cuisine, and quirky surprises.
Yes, there’s the well-trodden tourist trail to follow, but where’s the fun in that? To really get under the skin of the fascinating German capital, you need a local on your side. Former producer of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and Paris cultural expert and personal guide Ute Biefang has recently returned to her country of birth to create a series of tailored tours of Berlin for inquisitive travellers. She’s passionate about helping people discover the city’s unique personality.
Here are ten of Ute’s tips to get you started. Gute Reise!
1. Enjoy breakfast at Café Anna Blume
Popular Prenzlauer Berg offers no end of people watching opportunities and one of the best options for breakfast with a street view is Cafe Anna Blume. Pull up a pew on the big sunny terrace and order the special three-tier etagere filled with tasty German breaky treats. At night, the café turns into a fully-fledged restaurant with a diverse menu.
2. Take a stroll along the Spree
Walk off your breakfast indulgence with a stroll by the River Spree. Start at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Museum Island for views of the latest addition to Berlin’s amazing architecture — the James Simon Galerie, which opened in mid 2019. Walk past the Tränenpalast at Berlin Friedrichstrasse railway station — a former border crossing point between East and West Berlin — and continue on to the Reichstag. Admire the stunning architecture of the parliamentary buildings and the German Chancellery. Allow one hour for the walk.
3. Indulge your inner foodie in Schöneberg
South of the city centre is the Schöneberg district, which is home to the Winterfeldtplatz Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It’s one of the best markets in Berlin and a must-do for foodies if your dates line up. Visit Caros Imbiss in the middle of the square for an authentic Berliner currywurst, and Bauer Lindner for sausages, dairy products, and ever changing lunch specials.
4. Perk up with a good coffee
As you would expect, the cafe choices in Berlin are endless. One option that’s uber popular with Berliners is The Barn. There are various locations across town, with the main roastery located at Schönhauser Allee 8 in Pankow in the city’s north.
For Australian-style coffee and a rustic-chic setting, drop by Silo in Friedrichshain.
5. Chow down on the best of Berlin street food
Berlin’s street food scene may come as something of a surprise for the first time visitor, but it’s a key component of the local culinary landscape. Cult-status currywurst (pork sausage in curry sauce, usually accompanied by a serve of French fries) is on offer at Curry 36. There are three outlets across town, but the main one is at Mehringdamm 36 in Kreuzberg. If meat is not your thing, just next door is Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebab — renowned for the best veggie kebabs in the city.
6. Relax by the river at the Holzmarkt
For a microcosm of Berlin art, music, and culinary culture, make your way to the Spree-side Holzmarkt in Friedrichshain. This urban playground is full of kooky nooks and offers casual eats and yet more people-watching opportunities.
7. Get to a gallery
Art aficionados should definitely check out Sammlung Boros — a private contemporary art collection housed in a former military bunker. Book for a guided tour of the facility well in advance. Also visit the Koenig Galerie in Kreuzberg, which occupies a former church built in the Brutalist style of the 1960s.
For those who love classical music, concert hall Piano Salon Christophori offers a highly unique sonic surprise.
8. Sip on a rooftop cocktail
The Bikini Berlin concept retail mall by Berlin Zoo is one-of-a-kind. Shop for an eclectic array of designer wares, then rehydrate with a cocktail at Monkey Bar on top of the 25 Hours Hotel. It’s a refined but relaxed rooftop space that offers sweeping views over the city and zoo.
9. Dine on vegetarian fare with flair
The capital has hundreds of amazing restaurants, but one that is particularly good is Cookies Cream. This upscale vegetarian eatery is so very Berlin! Even confirmed carnivores will love the chef’s incredible plant-based concoctions.
10. Hide out with the cool crowd
Hidden behind an unmarked door under Friedrichstrasse station, you’ll find super cool Bar Tausend. This stylish mirrored bolthole is always full of fun-loving locals dining, drinking and dancing until the early hours.
Ute Biefang offers personalised tours of Berlin that incorporate culinary highlights and cultural gems. For more information, visit www.uteinberlin.com.
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Do you have any tips to add to our insider’s guide to exploring Berlin? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Ruby Boukabou is a travel, culture, and food writer based between Europe and Australia, and has written for The Age, The Australian, Qantas, Issimo, The Diplomat, Paris Voice, and Inside Film. She has also produced culture and travel stories for the ABC, SBS, and Screen Australia. Ruby’s books — The Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Paris (White Owl Books) — are available in bookshops and to order online.
