If you are coming over to the wonderful city of Berlin, either for moving here for an indefinite amount of time, or for a brief trip: there are different ways of arriving in and travelling to Germany’s capital. We will sum up some the essentials and will thereby hopefully help you along with your travels.

Airports and airplanes to Berlin

Berlin has two major airports: Berlin Schönefeld and Berlin Tegel. If you are taking a flight to Berlin, you will most likely end up in one of these airports. Tegel is the biggest airport when it comes to a proper amount of facilities and amenities, such as shops and restaurant. Nowhere near the size of other international capitals such as London or Amsterdam, though. Schönefeld on the other hand is especially large when it comes to the daily inbound and outbound airtraffic. Facilities such as a proper place to sit down for a meal or browse for some new perfume however, are not something one should expect at Schönefeld. Excluding a few stalls and a small Burger King tucked away in a corridor.

How to get from the airport to Berlin

Schönefeld is especially practical if you want to get to the city center by public transport and do it as easily as possible. There is a direct train connection from the airport Schönefeld to Berlin Alexanderplatz, which will deliver you right in the middle of the Bezirk Mitte. (For more information about the different parts, Bezirke, of the city of Berlin, check out our Berlin for Dummies.) You can buy a ticket on your way to the train, and getting to and from Schönefeld will always cost you an ABC-ticket, since Schönefeld is located in the outer “C” area of Berlin.
Do beware that this train may not always run (especially at odd times, such as really late in the night and really early in the morning). There will always be cabs available, or you can take the S-Bahn straight to Prenzlauer Berg, if that is where you are staying. Check specific times and data on vbb-fahrinfo.de.

How to get from Berlin-Tegel to Berlin-City

If you arrive at Tegel, you will have to take a bus. There are various buses going to different locations in Berlin. There is one bus going straight to Alexanderplatz, if you need to be in Mitte. Our tip: take any bus that drops you off at Jakob-Kaiser-Platz (the first stop on the line) which lands you at the station to the nearest U-Bahn (subway) stop also called Jakob-Kaiser-Platz, which is the U7. Take the U-Bahn in the direction of Rudow to get into the city. With the U7 you can easily and cheapily navigate your way through the city and to where you want or need to be. Especially if you need to be in Schöneberg, Mitte, Kreuzberg or Neukölln, this is the quickest way to travel. Plus: the U-Bahn is an epitome of Berlin culture.
If you travel into the city from Tegel, all you need is a ticket that covers the AB-areas of Berlin. You can use this same ticket to get onto the U-Bahn.

Tips for getting around:

• Download the VBB app for your smartphone.
• Check the practical U & S-Bahn map of the city.

More information on travelling can be found on the website of Berlin’s public transport system. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch via Twitter or Facebook. We wish you happy travelling – and try out some of the restaurants on our website!

Brunch in Berlin is an essential post-dancing-the-night-away activity, also adopted by trendy parents in the outskirts of Prenzlauer Berg. In Kreuzberg and Neukölln brunching is still young and populated mostly by the trend setting hipsters that Berlin is so well-known for. Mathilda is one of these places, with its small-scaled restaurant located in the Graefestraße right in the middle of the super hip Graefekiez in Kreuzberg, known only to those whose blood is filled with that Kreuzbergian edge. Some Kreuzbergers are even said to never leave their Bezirk, proud of their Kreuzhipsterness.

Brunching at Mathilda in Berlin

Hipster, trendy or Kreuzberger or not – if you are looking for that Berlin-y edge to chilling and eating, Mathilda is a good bet. Put on your too-cool-for-school glasses and mismatched designs and hop onto your Dutch bike. Matilda’s essential Kreuzköllnian atmosphere and clientèle will be just your cup of tea. Young, hip and trendy and located in a small restaurant on a side street off the Kottbusser Damm, it is right in the middle of Kreuzberg leading up to Neukölln. If you feel like chilling with your friends or on your own in casual surroundings for budget-proof prices, Mathilda is the place to be.

Basically, after a long and pleasure-filled night and morning, Mathilda is the place where you can regain your strength while sipping on some freshly squeezed orange juice and/ or Sekt. This little place offers your run of the mill traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as fresh fruits, bread baskets with either cheeses, meats or both and a large collection of warm egg dishes. All for affordable prices, home-made affection and LP-spinning DJ’s. But do not worry, they spin chilled music during the hours of brunching.

The menu at Mathilda is fashionably brief, but includes all of the brunch ingredients you might be craving for. Yoghurt and fruits, croissants, bread baskets with a variety of cheeses, bread baskets with a variety of meats, and so much more. For about five euro’s you can satisfy any traditional breakfast and/ or brunch needs. Mathilda is also a nice place for a drink, a piece of pie, or a nibble.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Budget-proof: you can enjoy an elaborate brunch here for less than 10 euros
• Freshly home-made dishes
• Chilled atmosphere

What Makes this Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• This is a low-key chillzone, do not expect posh or luxurious brunching

Where to Go?

Mathilda
Graefestraße 12
10967 Berlin
030 8179 7288

Easter is probably the best time to visit Berlin. The last four years that we celebrated this bunny-induced and egg-rich holiday, it has been mindblowingly fabulous weather in the center of the Deutschland universe. Sunny, hot and basically smoldering like a summer’s day. So if you are considering visiting the German capital over Easter: definitely do it.

And apart from walking through one the city’s beautiful parks, lounging in the sun in Mitte and maybe visiting a relaxing spa or sauna, one needs to eat. Over Easter you traditionally meet for an Easter brunch, mostly outdoors when it comes to celebrating Easter in Berlin. So what kind of places are the best for the kind of Easter brunch you are looking for? We bring you some sumptuous suggestions.

Easter Brunching in Berlin

Quite some restaurants offer proper and exclusive Easter brunches. If you would like to engage in one of these brunches, you can check the restaurant of your choice and reserve some places rightly in advance. But, if you are spontaneous or do not know where to start when it comes to hot spot for yummy brunching, you can always wander the streets and pop in. Do beware that basically everyone will be brunching over Easter; expect lively bustling brunch locations. Easter is essentially an elongated Sunday: chilled and relaxed. But do not let this hold you back: Easter brunching is fabulous.

Oranium (Mitte)

If you are a tourist, or not very familiar in Berlin, we recommend you definitely brunch at Oranium. It is a traditionally classic restaurant right in the middle of the vibrant Bezirk Mitte, on the Oranienburger Straße. Perfect if you are exploring the city and like to be centrally located with some delicious food. Oranium also caters to your German food wishes and is perfect for a luxurious champagne brunch. The Ausstrahlung of Oranium is dark wooden furniture, cosy corners and interesting views from the windows. Oranienburger Straße is one of the most well-known streets in Mitte, filled with a large collection of shops and food spots. After brunching here, you can easily turn the corner and walk up to Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden.

Oranium’s strength is surely the brunch and breakfast platters that they offer. You can wallow in fresh fruits, nibble on croissants, order egg dishes, enjoy crêpes – or have it all. My personal favourite breakfast-meets-brunch food at Oranium is the süßes Frühstück (sweet breakfast), which is budget-proof at around 4 euros, which gets you a fresh croissant, a Brötchen (bread roll), a boiled egg, a plate with a crêpe with mango cream , fruits, jam and butter. A perfect little elaborate breakfast for an Easter morning. They also serve fresh fruit and yoghurt breakfasts. For a restaurant on the Oranienburger Straße, this is a very decently priced spot with some nice dishes.

Oranienburger Straße 33/34
10117 Berlin‎
030 3088 2967‎

Mathilda (Kreuzberg)

If you are looking for that Berlin-y edge to chilling and eating, Matilda’s essential Kreuzköllnian atmosphere and clientele will be just your cup of tea. Young, hip and trendy in a small location on a side street off the Kottbusser Damm in the middle of Kreuzberg leading up to Neukölln. If you feel like chilling with your friends or on your own in casual surroundings for budget-proof prices, Mathilda is the place to be.
Basically, after a long and pleasure-filled night and morning, Mathilda is the place where you can regain your strength while sipping on some freshly squeezed orange juice and/ or Sekt. This little place offers your run of the mill traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as fresh fruits, bread baskets with either cheeses, meats or both and a large collection of warm egg dishes. All for affordable prices, home-made affection and LP-spinning DJ’s. But do not worry, they spin chilled music during the hours of brunching.

Graefestraße 12
10967 Berlin
030 8179 7288

Kuchenrausch (Friedrichshain)

If you fancy something more luxurious, elaborate and classy, Kuchenrausch is the place for your brunch. This semi-large restaurant in the middle of Friedrichshain on the popular Simon-Dach Straße specializes in Kuchen (pie), which is apparent as soon as you enter. A large Tresen filled with about a dozen of different pies tempts you inside. But regardless of the pies and your desire for them: before eating a piece of pie, you could and should indulge in a fabulous brunch here. Kuchenrausch offers a cosy-meets-luxurious vibe to its eating surroundings and even the menu reeks of down-to-earth luxury. You can order anything from a sweet breakfast, a basket of croissants, any egg-combination imaginable up to meat, cheese and elaborate mixture platters of brunch delicacies.

Kuchenrausch is the place you go to if you wish to enjoy a long-winded brunch and if you want to eat a lot of food. Do not take me wrong: you can eat as little as you want here, but with the elaborate offer on display here, it is best your stomach is empty and hungry enough so you get to enjoy most of it.

Simon-Dach-Straße 1
10245 Berlin
030 55953855

Café Bilderbuch (Schöneberg)

Our last, yet very special, suggestion for brunch places over Easter weekend is one of my personal favourites. Café Bilderbuch is a brunch restaurant based on Märchenbücher (fairytale storybooks). All of the dishes and platters are named after well-known fairytale characters, such as the little mermaid and puss in boots. The decoration of this surprisingly large restaurant is an eclectic mixture of your grandmothers furniture with vibrant colours, musical instruments, big bookcases filled with books and even a doll’s house. At Café Bilderbuch you can sit down at nine in the morning and still be there in the evening. Desserts, drinks, many many different breakfast and brunch platters (order-able all day!) will make it impossible for you to leave, especially when curled up in one of the many comfy chairs. For example, the “Tausendundeine Nacht” (one thousand and one nights) breakfast dish. This oriental fairytale on a platter consisted of goat cheese, garlic sausage slices, cheese, olives, jam, butter, vegetables and two rolls (one white, one sunflower seed) and three slices of dark bread. A very filling, flavoursome and well-balanced brunch. They also offer larger platters perfect for sharing, and fresh orange juice and a glass of Sekt is often included.

Little tip: the Café Bilderbuch has its largest seating area behind the bar (after walking past the toilets). If you do not know this, you might end up sitting in the smaller room looking over the street, but the magic is to be found at the back.

Akazienstraße 28
10823 Berlin
030 78706057

Want more?
If you need more inspiration: you can always check out our tags for the best places for brunch in Berlin.

Since I generally go out to eat sushi most of the time in Berlin, I have not been able to explore the various options of sushi ordering too much. (I mean: why order in when for the same price, you can enjoy it outdoors and have a funky experience to boot?) Well, sometimes one does need that lazy Sunday night on the couch, for which ordering sushi is absolutely perfect. One of my recent discoveries is an actually real good place for sushi, with budget-proof and wallet-friendly prices and a very nice menu to choose from. Apart from Yuuka sushi in Prenzlauer Berg, I had never before found such potential in ordering sushi in Berlin.

Sushi-ordering in Berlin

Sushi for you is a sushi ordering service that is usable from any area in Berlin somehow close to its center – ranging from Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg to Friedrichshain. Regardless of the online portal you choose to order from, Sushi 4 you has a respectable menu you can choose from. Classic sets of maki sushi, slightly more exciting inside-out rolls – and all the way up to tempura rolls and special sets. Now, the key to orderering here is to order one of their big menus. They are very affordable and offer a fabulous and varied collection of the best types of sushi. Especially when ordering for at least two people, you should not even considering ordering anything else.

Since I was feeling particularly lazy as well as hungry, I chose to order the luxury Takashi menu with no less than 28 pieces of sushi. This menu includes a nice selection of tempura (slightly fried) rolls, classical inside out rolls (two varieties), vegetarian avocado maki, special rolls with salmon and more. For around 13 to 14 euros you can order one of these menus, with some quite luxurious sushi rolls. Most menus include only basic sushi, which I find always disappointing and this is exactly where Sushi for you managed to positively surprise me.

For two people, a menu with 28 to 30 pieces is just right.

Eating Sushi for you sushi in Berlin

One remark has to be made about Sushi for you: they may take their time and getting the sushi to you. If you are unsure or they are taking too long, make sure to give them a call. The quality of the sushi however is really good. Great even, for a takeway and ordering sushi kind of place. Like I mentioned before, I have not really found any really good place where I can order sushi and that is why I generally tend to stick to the ‘proper’ sushi restaurants that I am actually physically sitting in.
The menus from Sushi for you however, are a great alternative to going out if you are in need of some home-delivered comfort food. Great prices, good, fresh and varied sushi. Especially great if you like some fancy-schmancy sushi in your menu and suitable for romantic sushi dinners from the comfort zone of your own couch.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Good quality sushi.
• Elaborate selection of order-able sushi.
• Great budget-proof prices.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• Sometimes they may forget your order. Give them a ring, you may very well get a discount out of it.

Where To Go?
Online. You can order straight for their own website (www.sushi-for-you.de), of use one of the larger ordering platforms such as pizza.de.

Brunch Buffet in Berlin?

Many restaurants offer buffet brunches, which means that for a set amount (usually around 8 to 10 euros) of money, you can eat at much as you want from the displayed buffet in the restaurant. The buffet-style is a cheap fix, in mostly overcrowded restaurants where you eat more than you want, and cannot indulge in the relaxed languid breakfast that ought to traditionally be combined with breakfasting and brunching in a city like Berlin. So, my  personal advice: stay away from the buffets. For the same price you can enjoy a proper brunch, in a more beautiful and friendly restaurant.

À la Carte Breakfast in Friedrichshain

Yes, I am a fan of the à la carte brunch and I do not enjoy breakfasting/ brunching the buffet way. Especially in Berlin. With this exact state of mind, I wandered the streets a few Sundays ago in the the most Wochenende Bezirk of all: Friedrichshain. I wanted classy, slightly posh and simply cosy, classic and à la carte for my brunch location. The night before had lasted traditionally long and with a tired and slightly post-intoxicated smile, we came across Kuchenrausch (Rush of Pie). I used to suspect this place is only interesting for their pies and cakes, but Kuchenrausch is actually a great breakfast restaurant too. Classy and German, the way I like it and with that attentive kind of extra service I enjoy.

We were hungry. Really, really hungry. That kind of hungry where you cannot even have a normal conversation anymore, but need to order (immediately!) and keep eyeing the waiters in an obsessed-kitten kind of way, drooling at the sight of other people’s meals.
Anyway, we were hungry. So we ordered an elaborate brunch. Kuchenrausch offers classic and traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as platters (of the basic, elaborate and luxury variety – in both cheese or meat types), egg dishes (with bread baskets includes) and simple combinations (croissants, jam, the likes). Freshly squeezed juice on the side, a nice cup of coffee and the proper awakening for the weekend can begin. Apart from these meals, you can also enjoy

Brunch at Kuchenrausch

We ordered a cheese and a meat platter and two dishes of omelet. One omelet with mushrooms and one with onions and tomatoes. And after an excruciating wait – which actually did not take long – we received our desired dishes. The cheese and meat platters came with luxurious bread baskets filled with bread and bread rolls in white, dark and wholegrain varieties. If you order an omelet without another dish that includes the bread basket, you will get bread to go with it as well. The cheese platter consisted of a large variety of cheese-y delicacies, ranging from Frischkäse (cream cheese) with dipp-able vegetables, slices of cheese (with cumin, paprika and traditional) and home-made strawberry jam. On the meat platter you can find Serrano Schinken (ham), pepper salami, chorizo and some normal ham – plus a bowl of jam. All complemented with creamy butter and fresh fruits.

Brunch was delicious. The cheese was yummy, the meat was fresh, the bread was nice and warm and the omelets were a fabulous addition to our platters. Afterwards we were so stuffed, we could only manage a cup of coffee and had no space for one of the tempting pieces of pie Kuchenrausch is so famous for. We will be back.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?
•    Great atmosphere, a perfect and slightly luxurious for a languid Sunday brunch.
•    Delicious food, good traditional brunch dishes.
•    Friendly staff.
•    Decent prices. You won’t stuff yourself with brunch for 2 euros here, but with prices ranging from 5 to 10 euros for the elaborate brunch dishes, it is a safe place for your wallet.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?
•    The fact that they have too many delicious pies on display. The temptation can at times be too much.

Where to Go?

Every time I biked up to Prenzlauer Berg from Mitte or Schöneberg, I panted heavily when passing by Yumcha Heroes. With its bright neon lights showing off their logo and a look of happy and eating customers inside, I alway wondered about the delights that were hiding behind the doors of this restaurant. That this spot is about Asian and fusion, has always been apparent by the colouring and look of the place. Last week, I finally made it to Yumcha. On a busy Saturday night the place was packed, but we managed to get a reservation in (popped over to Gorki Park for a drink, and after half an hour, the heroes of Yumcha were ready for our hungry tummies). “Yumcha” is a traditional Chinese style of early afternoon tea that involves the eating of dim sum dishes, which explains the naming of this funky establishment.

Yumcha Heroes is a sleek, modern and trendily coloured restaurant with the style of an eatery. The restaurant sports an open kitchen, small cozy tables and larger benches with traditional Asian stools. With pink and purple lighting, modern decoration and a lively crowd, this is the kind of place where you enjoy spending your Saturday evening eating with friends. Food-wise, Yumcha is about dim sum, the traditionally Chinese dough-based food often referred to as dumplings with all different kinds of filling. The core business of their menu is about dim sum – they offer traditional variations and fillings (beef, shrimp, chicken, vegetarian) as well as seasonal specials (halibot, mussels and green asparagus). Apart from dim sum, Yumcha’s menu collection also offers related dishes such as rolls, salads and soups (with or without dim sum filling). Each order of dim sum, you can choose whether you want it fried or steamed.

This Sum is not dim

We ordered a large selection of various dim sums, soups, rolls and a nice bottle of wine (you can order from different categories, the cheapest being ‘good’ and the most expensive ‘best’). Surprisingly enough, this Asian restaurant actually serves good wine, generally a rarity among sushi and Asian eateries alike. The dim sum arrives most appropriately in the bamboo baskets that they were steamed in, looking all authentic and cozy on your dinner table. Each order of dim sum contains four pieces and the various baskets are perfect for sharing among dinner companions.

Among our collection of dim sum were the dark beef dim sums, which were very nice and subtly spicey in their meatiness. The dim sum with shrimp, as well as the dim sum with pork and caviar were nice. Apart from the delicious dim sum, we also tried the beef soup (which was very tasty and filled to the core with fresh vegetables as well as beef dim sum) and the vegetarian rolls (nice and steamed, with crispy vegetables).

A special mention goes to the seasonal special with halibot and mussels, which tasted absolutely divine. Supplementing the dim sums are three different dips – a balsamic vinegar, a sweet plum dip and a sweet and sour sauce.

Even after the main dinner activities, Yumcha Heroes offers more culinary delights to enjoy. Their dessert menu consists of around four exciting creations – ranging from chocolate parfait to sweet dessert dumplings. We ordered both and were pleasantly surprised by the presentation as well as the flavours. The parfait was soft, correct light texture and simply beautiful. The biggest surprise were the sweet dessert dumplings, with a warm vanilla dip and a soft chocolate center.

The seasonal menu changes at least four time a year, but the core of classical dim sum remains the same. After dinner, Yumcha Heroes may offer you a bamboo Schnapps (shot), which a nice yet strong touch that closes off a delicious night of atmospheric dining. I wholeheartedly recommend this spot.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• The food. Delicious dim sum.
• The funky and lively atmosphere.
• Friendly and attentive staff.
• Great prices – €4,50 for a set of four dim sum.

Where To Go?

Yumcha Heroes
Weinbergsweg 8
10119 Berlin
030 7621-3035

When I first heard of the concept being explored at the restaurant Sauvage, I could not believe my ears. Their website and folders advertise their food, bio Paleo-style. So what the hell is Paleo? Paleo food amounts to eating like our Prehistoric ancestors (in the Paleotological times) did. Apart from a restaurant-style, Paleo is also up and coming as a lifestyle and a way of dieting. When you are sticking to a Paleo-diet, you eat only authentic and close-to-nature food, free from any additives and non-natural supplements so present in our current day food lifestyle. When eating Paleo food, this does not mean you cannot indulge in meat or carbs – far from it.

Paleo Restaurant Sauvage

But, let’s look at the restaurant Sauvage. In one of Neukölln’s hip and still slightly secretive streets, you can find the small restaurant location of Sauvage. The name already hints to the slight posh and fashionable exclusivity you find behind its doors. With a rugged, typically Berlin-Neukölln deco, around ten small and a few bigger tables and some beautiful bits of art, Sauvage is a gorgeous spot for an elaborate meal. Their menu for dinner is small – with four different main courses and various appetizers, salads and daily dessert specials to choose from. The main courses generally consist of two meat dishes and two fish mains. Sauvage also offers a vegetarian option on every meal. Their menu changes very regularly and is based on seasonal ingredients.

Eating Bio and Paleo

As an appetizer we ordered wholegrain nibbles with a home-made pesto of rucola. The nibbles were reminiscent of dark bread with the texture of a crispy baked roll. A fairly fascinating appetizer of which I found the flavours too much – both bread as well as the pesto had very dominant flavours that did not seem to go together very well.

Afterwards, the daily mains during our visit were based on wild boar and pollack. We ordered a goulash with wild boar, a red wine sauce, grilled pumpkin – the second main consisted of pollack with a sauce of green cabbage and root-vegetable delicacies. All mains at Sauvage come with a large and tasty (and extremely fresh) salad. Portions are huge, to say the least, in proper Paleo caveman-style. The boar goulash was very tender, soft and basically melted in the mouth. The pollack, a white fish with more flavour to it than your average white filetted fish, was also huge – it looked like the entire actual fish was present on the plate.

After dinner, we were so absolutely full because of the huge portions (and a bottle of wine), we did not manage to explore the desserts. These change as often as the menu does, and consists of a collection of original takes on modern classics – such as a coconut crème brulée or home-made tarts.

What Is This Paleo Thing?

What makes the food at Sauvage have this typical ‘Paleo’ hint to it, is a bit difficult to describe. Flavours are more authentic, you practically taste that someone just dragged the vegetables from their own garden, after personally shooting the boar you are enjoying. Flavours are more direct, dominant and simply very present – compared to your traditional pre-prepared food. Consequence: it fills you up mightily. Sauvage is a great place to go to if you want something particularly special, both food as well as atmosphere-wise.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Great, original concept.
• Beautiful and authentic atmosphere.
• Great and surprisingly interesting food.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• It is quite pricey for Berlin standards with around €20,- a main. Use it wisely – for special occassions.

Where to go?

Sauvage
Pflügerstraße 25
12047 Berlin
030 53167547

Christmas Markets

This may not come as a surprise, since we are such avid fans of the Christmas markets. But you should definitely visit one of the dozens of Weihnachtsmärkte in Berlin. They are filled with Christmas joy, cheerful, cosy and perfect for spending a couple of hours basking in that special Christmas glow. Great if you want to do some shopping, perfect if you just want to hang out with someone special, even better for a great bite and a warm cup of Glühwein. We have written many reviews on the various markets in Berlin, you can check them out at the Christmas Markets in Berlin.

Christmas Brunch

Another classic that we enjoy in Berlin as often as we can: the brunch (or breakfast, or lunch – whichever way you wish to call it). Even though we have called it a ‘Christmas’ brunch, it does not have to be on Christmas per se. The days before or after can be just as enjoyable as anything. Beware if you want to go for brunch on the Christmas days: some locations are completely booked, offer special Christmas brunches or may even be closed. Most great brunch spots however, will have their doors opened during the Christmas holidays. Browse through our list of the best brunch and lunch restaurants in Berlin to find something that suits your tastes and needs.

Christmas Dinner

Okay, we have to admit that we never ventured out to dinner on the Christmas days ourselves. But most Berlin restaurants offers special Christmas evenings, menus and stylish décor for Christmas dinners. A great occasion to dress up and spend a candlelight evening filled with luxury and special foods in a restaurant of your choice. Since most restaurants only publish their Christmas menus and evenings at the end of November, you will have to a do a bit of browsing and exploration to find the restaurant for you. A small selection of great restaurants that do Christmas dinners are Sauvage (Neukölln), the Fleischerei (Mitte), .HBC (Mitte) and Cape-Town (Prenzlauer Berg).

Christmas Park

A great activity to engage in during Christmas – in between the brunches, dinners and visits to Christmas markets – is walking around one of the many beautiful parks of Berlin. Whether it may snow or not, nothing is as refreshing as an outdoor walk. In the Zoologischer Garten park, around the Brandenburger Tor, you can even combine a spot of nature with some classical sights of Berlin. In the popular Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg you can join some of Berlin’s hip and trendy population and browse the market stalls on every Sunday.

All other things Christmas

Another few great things to undertake while spending Christmas in Berlin include visiting the Berliner Zoo (go to the one in Friedrichsfelde instead of the Zoologischer Garten one – it is much larger and so much more beautiful!), going on a relaxing trip to the sauna (we recommend the classical Thermen am Europa Center at Zoologischer Garten or the trendy Liquidrom in Mitte). If you fancy a little shopping trip, you should enjoy the fancy shops on Kudamm (Zoologischer Garten) or browse through the special little shops on the Bergmannstraße (Kreuzberg).  Here you find a huge and fashionable secondhand store where you can shop til you literally drop. You pay for your clothes per kilo. Last but not least: visit one or more of the fantastic art galleries and museums in Berlin!

And after all of the shopping, eating, drinking and excitement, do not forget to relax and indulge. Enjoy Christmas in Berlin!

Help?

Need any additional tips, hints or tricks? Drop us a line via Facebook or Twitter and we will help you make the best of Christmas in Berlin!

Another absolutely fabulous market (because actually: which Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt is not fabulous?) is the Christmas market at and around the Opernpalais. This palace of the opera is one of the most classically beautiful spots in Berlin Mitte and will wisk you away with its magic. Seriously: if you have not been here yet, whether a tourist or a long-term expat, you should definitely pop by the Weihnachtsmarkt am Opernpalais. Apart from your traditional Christmas market ingredients, you can have a varied nibble or dinner here and shop til you drop for some pretty Christmas presents. This is basically the market I go to if I need to get my Christmas shopping done.

Good Food and Drink at the Christmas market at Opernpalais

Classical red Glühwein, original white Glühwein (definitely worth a try if you like exploring Glühwein, with the white variety of  a lighter, not less alcoholic nature), Swedish Glögg and Feuerzangbowle – you can drink as much or as little of the exciting hot alcoholic beverages Berlin’s winter time has to offer. Apart from drinking, the large Christmas market on and around the Opernpalais offers all possible foods for light or heavier consumption. Bratwurst, grilled lachs (salmon) with potatoe, Flammkuchen, and much much more. Due to the large scale of the stalls and the variety of food, drink and non-edible products offered here, you can easily spend hours browsing through the fascinating bibs and bobs so typical (or actually untypical) to current day Weihnachtsmärkte. One of Germany most well-known Christmas companies is Käthe Wohlfahrt, a shop dedicated solely to make and selling the most beautiful and authentic Christmas decorations. On the Weihnachtsmarkt at Gendarmenmarkt and the market around the Gedächtniskirche you find stalls (or even large shops) by Käthe Wohlfahrt, as well as here on the market around the Opernpalais. Even if you are not buying, it is a treat to walk around in this little world of Christmas.

The market at the Opernpalais is mostly beautiful because of its many Christmas trees, elaborate decorations and overflow of stalls. It is always thriving with people here and in the evenings and late afternoons, this market sports a proper stage with musicians performing Christmas songs. A great market to spend with friends for a few hours and especially if you are on the hunt of some great Weihnachtsgeschenke (Christmas presents).

Where To Go?

Unter den Linden 5
101117 Berlin

Public Transport

Walkable from U-Bahn/ S-Bahn Alexanderplatz, or walkable from U-Bahn/ S-Bahn Friedrichstrass.

When To Go?

This Christmas market is opened until the 26^th of of December 2011 and opens every day at 10:00 and lasts until 23:00 in the evening.

More Christmas Markets?

During Christmas market season (22nd of November until Boxing Day) Good Food in Berlin will bring you daily Christmas market updates, live from the markets, via our Facebook Page. Like us now, to not miss any of our up-to-date Christmas tips and secrets. We will feature new and exciting Christmas market features that are not on our website… where to go and what to do… excitement guaranteed!

List of Christmas markets here.

All I want for Christmas, are the markets. My favourite,  my favourite, my most special and beloved Christmas market of all time. Among the large flurry of brightly lit Christmas markets in Berlin, I have fallen in love with Lucia. When we saw each other for the first time, my palms got all sweaty, my heart started racing in my chest and I could not stop smiling. This Scandinavian Weihnachtsmarkt in the courtyard of the in Prenzlauer Berg located Kulturbrauerei is absolutely beautiful. It is not a gorgeous Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market, nor is it a shopping walhalla as much as the market on Alexanderplatz, but it is cute, small and quite local. Here you may find more Berliners from the direct surroundings than  at any of the other (more tourist-focused) markets.

The Best Christmas Market in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Lucia is quite a silly market, with some fun and original features centered on the Scandinavian theme that surrounds this market. It is expressed in the presence of Swedish Glögg (hot water with hot rum, raisins and almonds – a real treat), a stall dedicated to everything elk (meaty foods, elk-decorations and more) and authentic home-made wooden toys, scarfs and the traditional decorations so often seen and enjoyed during the times of Christmas.

But above all, Lucia is beautiful, cozy and the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere that is so delicious about Christmas time. Warm and sweet alcoholic smells, slowly drifting from the quaint wooden stalls into your nostrils, freshly baked Flammkuchen, softly roasted meats – and intimate winter coats fired up by actual heaters. Lucia is an experience more than a boring buy-as-you-walk Christmas market. If you are a fan of the ambience  and mood that comes with Christmas, this is the market you should not skip.

Good Food at Lucia

Since I am a big fan of Flammkuchen at Christmas markets – since they taste heavenly in the cold chills of winter – I always used to get a Flammkuchen here. (A Flammkuchen is a traditionally German ‘pizza’ made out of thin dough, topped with sour cream, onions and little strips of bacon.) But, beware, at Lucia they are not called Flammkuchen anymore. As of the season of 2011, the delicacies at the best Lucia bakery are Dinnele. Dinnele is actually a dish very similar to Flammkuchen, but originally from Swabia (an area in Bavaria) and traditionally more varied when it comes to its topping. At Lucia you can get Dinnele with the traditional sour cream and onions, but also with Mediterranean vegetables, meat or cheeses. Definitely worth a try, for only four euros. The best bakery spot is to be found opposite the Swedish stall with Glögg.

Lucia also offers the classical German foods eaten at Weihnachtsmärkte, such as Bratwurst, Schweinenacken, Boulette and more meaty bites.

Where To Go?

Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt
Schönhauser Alle 163 (in der Kulturbrauerei)
10435 Berlin

When To Go?

The market is opened from the 21^st of November until the 22^nd of  December 2011.
Open daily (Monday til Friday) from 15:00, opens during weekends at 13:00 and closes at 22:00.

Public Transport

Take the U2 and hop off at Eberswalder Straße. The market is a mere stone’s throw away.

More Christmas Markets?

During Christmas market season (22nd of November until Boxing Day) Good Food in Berlin will bring you daily Christmas market updates, live from the markets, via our Facebook Page. Like us now, to not miss any of our up-to-date Christmas tips and secrets. We will feature new and exciting Christmas market features that are not on our website… where to go and what to do… excitement guaranteed!