I love weasels. It is this thing that I have always had, ever since I saw my first weasel in the wild. Slender, furry and oh-so cunning creatures with centuries of beautiful myth and fascinating intertextual references surrounding them. Because of this, I like stuffed (vintage!) weasels. One of those you have left in your bookcase because your grandmother left it to you, not because you actually shot and killed a weasel. And Fuchsbau in Kreuzberg is the first bar-cum-brunch-spot that combines my love for alcohol and food with my love for weasels. Its name already implies a link to foxes, but Fuchsbau actually sports a stuffed weasel too. Comfortably curled up to the stuffed Fuchs.

Eating at Fuchsbau

The little and picturesque establishment Fuchsbau – literally: Fox burrow – is a hip and trendy bar, that also does nibbles, brunch and breakfast. This is the kind of place you go to if you want to meet inspiring and fun people, or before a night out on the town. Hip, trendy and oh-so Kreuzberg. It looks cosy and informal and Fuchsbau is located on the corner of the Kottbusser Straße, looking out over the Planufer. A great view on sunny days as well as beautiful in winter.

The menu offerings at Fuchsbau are drink, drinks and breakfast, brunch and lunch-related foods. The menu is nicely sized: not large, but varied enough to make most picky breakfast eaters enjoy themselves here. Brunch foods range from bread baskets, baked, boiled or cooked egg dishes, veggie cheese plates to varied meaty platters. You can personalize your breakfast with small side dishes, such a goat cheeses, extra croissants or dips.

Brunch and Lunch at Fuchsbau

I tend to be hungry on early mornings in the weekend, when you can feel that special tingle that tells you that is weekend! Fuchsbau is a great and low-key place to start off any kind of weekend: either lounging in your relax-a-pants or all dressed up for a day of shopping or a nights of partying.

On the weekend-y morning I ventured into Fuchsbau, I was hungry as usual. And I like eggs. I like eating eggs and egg-related dishes for brunch and lunch. Therefore I happily ordered the eggs on toast dish off the menu. Fuchsbau’s food is great yet simple. Toast with eggs is not eggsiting you say? It is at Fuchsbau: with delicious dips (a curry-based butter and fresh tomato chutney) that add a whole culinary perspective to the eggs. Other delicious breakfast platters include a Gemischtes Frühstück (a mixed breakfast) with a selection of cheeses (such as brie and sliced cheese), meats (from chorizo to ham) with a large and varied bread basket – and olives and tomatoes on the side.

The prices are just as humble as the menu: budget-proof and smile-inducing. You can breakfast here from 4 (for the simplest choice) to 8 euros (for a more elaborate breakfast) p.p.

Where to go?

Fuchsbau
Planufer 95
10967 Berlin
(+49) 30 6917595

Berlin – like many other European cities – has rapidly expanded its culinary offering with restaurants from all over the world. With our elaborate foodie explorations from all over the world, this comes as no surprise. Yet today we are here to tell you about a new visitor in town. She flies a red and white flag and has become a surprising yet welcome visitor to the Berlin restaurant scene. We are of course talking about Swiss restaurants which in the last year or two have been springing up more and more on our city streets.

Seriously: Swiss cuisine?

Despite the geographical proximity between Germany and Switzerland, it seems that Swiss cuisine never really caught on, until now. In the past few years, Swiss restaurants have begun to spring up all over the German capital. But what does Swiss cuisine have to offer, and which are some of the best Swiss restaurants in Berlin? Well today we want to share some of our recommendations.

Despite its relatively small size, Switzerland is a very diverse country. This diversity is also reflected in local food, which has clear French, German, and Italian influences. And although the country is one of Europe’s most influential financial hubs, agriculture and farming are still important economic activities in Switzerland. This means that products like cheese, chocolate, meat, and root vegetables feature strongly in the local cuisine.

More than just raclette

On a cold winter day, there could be nothing more comforting than sitting down to sample a mouthwatering Swiss raclette or a fondue. Another hearty cheese-based dish is Alplemagronen, which combines pasta (usually macaroni) with bacon, onions, potatoes, and layer upon layer of melted Swiss cheese. Meat pies, rosti (a potato and cheese dish), and savoury quiches are other Swiss staples. Fish is also a popular option.

Wine is a fantastic accompaniment to Swiss fare, and in fact Switzerland is a producer of wine varieties like Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chasselas. Recommended wines include the Riesling X Silvaner 2010 and the Pinot Noir Rosenauer 2009.

Like many countries the Swiss tend to prefer locally made things and this is certainly true in their restaurants. You will often see a whole host of things including locally made furniture and the un-missable perfume dispensers. These make for a unique yet comfortable experience and it won’t take you long to notice them.

Swiss Restaurant in Berlin: Chalet Suisse

Now, for a real Swiss dining experience in Berlin there is no better place than the Chalet Suisse, which offers a business lunch menu as well as a-la-carte dishes, like rosti with veal fillet, boar in a honey glaze, and salmon swirls with a leek and potato fondue. Alternatively, if you are wanting the real deal then why not cross the border and try somewhere like, the Flora Alpina hotel and restaurant. Here you can sample dishes like sliced veal with mushroom sauce and hashbrowns, poached salmon fillet in a horseradish and wine sauce with potatoes and sauerkraut, or a scrumptious cheese spatzli with melted Swiss cheese, baked tomatoes, and roasted onions. So why not head down town and try some for yourself.

We have written a few suggestions on the best romantic restaurants in Berlin to spend a passionate evening dinner with your special beau – and we used to do this every Valentine’s season. Since so many loved up couples flock to Berlin for a Valentine’s weekend break, we thought it appropriate to go all out with a top 10 list of romantic suggestions. A brief list, but with links to a more elaborate exploration. Something fabulous for each type of couple!

1. Eating Oysters for Brunch at the KadeWe

Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a surprise feeling of luxury. While ‘shopping’ at this luxurious shopping haven, lure your loved one into the top floor champagne corner and invest in a nice batch of oysters. Feed each other this aphrodisiacs and your Valentine’s passion is guaranteed.

2. Pink Class and Style at the Bamberger Reiter

What is more Valentine’s Day than a pink restaurant? Nothing! And that is why the Bamberger Reiter is a full-blown loved up restaurant with great, home-made and authentic food. Perfect for those longing looks into each other’s eyes.

3. Cosy and Hip Brunch at A.Horn

Not much of a classical lover, but more so hip and trendy? How about surprising the one that makes you feel so special with a great and elaborate brunch at one of the best locations in Kreuzberg? Spend the entire morning enjoying the great home-made food at A.Horn and indulge in a few glasses of prosecco: happiness is here to stay.

4. Feeding Each-other Cheese at Ars Vini

Love cheese? Go for a cheese fondue at Ars Vini. Romantic, atmosphere and perfect to play with your food. This place is another love-ly place to spend your Valentine’s evening. Help each other eat by dipping pieces of bread and vegetables into the pans with warm, simmering cheeses. Foreplay has never been this delicious.

5. Intimate Italian Food at Giorgio

Enjoy some real personal attention at this beautiful and personal Italian restaurant. Practice some Italian words and woo your lover with real passion, both on and off the plate. Delicious pastas and pizzas will find the way to both of your hearts.

6. Love for Meat at the Fleischerei

We love our meat, but if you are a real sucker for a good steak: this is the place to spend your Valentine’s dinner. Trendy, classy and beautifully luxurious, the Fleischerei in Berlin Mitte has it all. Gnaw on your soft and tender flesh and nibble like there is no tomorrow.

7. Passionate Italian at Lavanderia Vecchia

If you do (or do not) enjoy doing your laundry and you have a passion for Italian food, this quaint and authentic Italian restaurant is the place to be with your beau. Daily specials, great fresh food and fabulous déco in the style of an old laundromat will make your Valentine’s an unforgettable one.

8. Ethnic African Dining at Massai

Always wanted to take your special someone on a trip to Africa? Why not start with taking them to an African restaurant in Berlin. Massai is an obviously themed restaurant that offers a fun and ethnic experience of African food and style. A dinner location that will transport you two to another continent.

9. Drinking Champagne at Galeries Lafayette

Some say love and food are closely linked, but about some bubbly? If you are a lover of champagne (or your lover loves it), pop into the Galeries and hang out at the fabulous champagne corner. You can choose from a wide variety of champers – and the best thing is: you can combine it with some shopping.

10. Classy Asian & Sushi Food at Sasaya

Rather go for the Asian style? In that case: Sasaya is the restaurant to pick for a very special, delicious and atmospheric Valentine’s food indulgence. Their menu is fusion-esque, but also authentic and will be a treat for anyone familiar with all sorts of Asian food. Sushi is a large part of Sasaya’s menu.

To me, eating vegetarian meals is very normal. Most of the time, I will eat something without meat when I go out to dinner. Not to say I am a vegetarian, I do sometimes eat meat. But all of the locations and reviews here are thereby saturated with a vegetarian consciousness. A restaurant that does not offer vegetarian food, will get a negative remark about that. Multiple sushi restaurants that did not offer vegetarian (non-fish) sushi, I got explicitly sad about. But of course, we should also offer a more explicit vegetarian food review. I have, from today onwards, also added the tag ‘vegetarian food’, which I will add to all past reviews that I feel are good locations for eating vegetarian food.

And hereby, to compensate for the lack of explicit vegetarian locations and reviews, my personal list of great restaurants that are also great in their non-meat-ness. And we would love to have you join in and help us with a larger, delicious selection of restaurants and eateries suitable for vegetarians and/ or people who enjoy not eating meat.

Sushi for Vegetarians

Yes, all sushi restaurants are great vegetarian restaurants. Well, not completely. If you are a vegetarian who does not eat fish, you can have a bit of trouble finding a good sushi restaurant that offers a great and good variety of vegetarian sushi. My personal favourites on the front of vegetarian sushi are Steel Shark and Ishin. I enjoyed a great many of vegetarian non-fish sushi rolls that actually taste good and are not of a lesser quality than the fish rolls, which can often be the case. Steel Shark (mostly recommended to order from) has a lot of great and original maki rolls, such as plums with rucola and mango-meets-rucola and cream cheese, for example. Ishin is a very authentic sushi restaurant that accordingly also offers a nice collection of veggie-based sushi and other non-sushi dishes that do not include fish. Basically, if you find a nice sushi restaurant, they will easily offer vegetarian varieties of original fish-related dishes. Mikoto in Prenzlauer Berg is another cosy and easy-going sushi place where you can enjoy an elaborate sushi meal without sacrificing any of your veggie beliefs.

Datscha and its Russian Food for Vegetarians

This Russian restaurant is one of my personal favourites and offers a great and original selection of dishes for the vegetarian foodie. Why, you might wonder. Russian cuisine loves its dead animals and hearty meat dishes. Yes, but at Datscha, you can easily get around this possible barrier. One of the most delicious dishes on the menu at Datscha, are the blinis. Blinis are small, thin and crêpe-like Russian pancakes. These pancakes are filled with all sorts of flavoursome hearty fillings. And that is where the vegetarian possibilities come in: you can order your blini the way you like it. With spinach, cream or grilled vegetables. Or all other delectable fillings – and without meat. Great food for a hefty lunch or a refreshing dinner.

Vegetarian Dumplings at Yumcha Heroes

Okay, maybe we are going out on a limb here. Dumplings are generally enjoyed with meat. Steamed in their cosy baskets and deposited on your table with that warm and steamy stickiness only known to freshly steamed dumplings. Yes and no. Dumplings are also enjoyed with veggie fillings, such as exotic mushrooms and vegetables. And they are not less delectable of it. Not to mention the atmosphere at Yumcha Heroes is cool and cosy – a great place to hang out with your friends. They can eat meaty dumplings, while you can easily enjoy veg-friendly food.

Green Warriors at the W-Imbiss

Another small selection of restaurants that offer yummy vegetarian dishes. I love and adore this place, both for its easy concept as well as its culinary refinement. They make good, delicious and authentic home-made food. Most of their meals are veg-only and thereby made from the freshest and flavoursome produce. The sauces and flavours at the W-Imbiss taste like they have directly been pulled off a picturesque field. And that is what it tastes like. Great for quick bites or take-away pleasures.

Have not found the veggie restaurant you were looking for?

How about:

• Cheese Fondue at Ars Vini
• Tofu dishes at Onkel Ho
• The weekly bio-vegetarian option at Sauvage

We will aim at writing more about vegetarian restaurants and will add more restaurants to our lists of great places with great dishes for vegetarians. You can always browse through our tag for vegetarian food. Most of these restaurants we list are not exclusively vegetarian: we focus on the food.

If you have recommendations of your own, do not hesitate to add them as a comment to our post, or join in at Facebook, Twitter and/ or Google+.

Soon, soon it shall be that time of year again. Our favourite, joyous season during which we will spread alcoholic and food-clever joy and cheer. The time of the German Christmas markets in coming soon. Since many of you will either be visiting or exploring Berlin during the season of its beautiful and enticing Christmas markets, we organize our Christmas markets special each and every year. We write extensively about as many Christmas markets as we can, while posting pictures, tips and tricks on our Facebook page. This year is no different. We will kick of the season of Christmas markets in Berlin 2012 with this article, to help you prepare for the coming Christmas time!

 Christmas markets in Berlin 2012: When Does It Start?

 This year, the Christmas markets will start on the 26^th of November 2012. This applies to most, larger and well-known markets. Some of the small and independent markets may only be taking place for one weekend or one week. Some markets close before Christmas, some continue throughout Christmas. The final day of the longest running market (around the Gedächtniskirche in Zoologischer Garten), has its final day on the 1^st of January 2013. Check out specific markets for the detailed information regarding dates and times.

Christmas markets in Berlin 2012: What You Need to See

 Berlin has a huge collection of Christmas markets you can, could or should visit. Which ones you cannot miss depends on your own goals and wishes when looking for some Christmas fun. But we can recommend our personal favourites.

Classical and beautiful: Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market

It is a classic indeed, this Weihnachtsmarkt located in the city center of Berlin Mitte, on the Gendarmenmarkt. You will spot many tourists here, but due to the small fee you need to pay before entering, it is actually a mixed crowd of Christmas enthusiasts you will find here. Great for eating, drinking and buying presents – but simply the best for its beauty and gorgeous location. Definitely worth a visit.

• Opens: 26^th of November.

Authentic and Scandinavian: Lucia Christmas market

For the 13^th time this year: the cosy and beautifully traditional Scandinavian Lucia market in Prenzlauer Berg. If you like a good cup of hot Glögg, Glühwein or Apfelglühwein with a side of delicious regional delicacies: this is the Weihnachtsmarkt to visit. Lucia is located in the hof of the Kulturbrauerei, making the experience very comfy and extra charming with the large redbricked façade surrounding all little stalls.

•  Opens: 26^th of November.

Christmas markets in Berlin 2012: What You Need to Eat

We are Good Food in Berlin and one of the most important and delicious features of the Berliner Christmas markets are of course the foods and drinks you can enjoy while lounging at one of the cosy market hot spots. Our favourite food locations therefore are tips that will definitely give you one happy Christmas tummy. For the best Christmas foods, dips, snacks while browsing and food-based gifts (long-term and short-term) you need to visit the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt. Here you can buy special jars with sauces, dips and other home-made side dishes. Do not forget to taste some of the delicious pumpkin seed snacks, apple chips and freshly out of the oven Flammkuchen.

 More Christmas markets?

If you are coming to Berlin during the Christmas market season, or if you are living in Berlin and enjoying the Weihnachtsmärkte as much as we do, you should keep up with our updates of Christmas cheer on Facebook. And if you have contributions yourself, for example with pictures of the markets you visited: we love it when you share!

Schöneberg, Schöneberg – oh, how we adore Schöneberg. Not just because it is the gayest of Berliner Bezirke, but because of its surprising restaurants, shops and bars. Due to the classy nature of most of the areas in Schöneberg, you will get an instant dose of beauty poored down your eyeballs when you walk through the imaginary doors of its entry. Essentially, Schöneberg is an expensive Bezirk when it comes to renting or buying a flat here. Therefore, most buildings are gorgeous, the streets are clean and calm and in small sidestreets you may suddenly find a surprisingly delicious restaurant previously only known to the locals living in that exact street.

One of these restaurants is Der Bamberger Reiter, only around the corner from the sadly closed down Afghan restaurant Chraazan. When you enter this establishment, you will be blown away. It has an aura of the 20^th century Cabaret-style oozing down each and every one of the walls. Chandeliers, pink silk adorning the walls and slight-sparkling notes on the table we had reserved.

 Eating Food at Der Bamberger Reiter

We explored one of their menus, consisting of three courses: an appetizer, main course and dessert. Before the meal itself started, we received some bread-based nibbles supplemented with some nice dips. I always love places that give their guests something on the house to nibble on. And with an atmosphere as the one you experience when at the Bamberger Reiter: you will definitely enjoy yourself. If you like pink, that is.

We ordered a variety of food, consisting of appetizers, mains and desserts. The classical tomato and mozzarella salad that I nibbled on, was delicious and fresh. Personally, I could have done without (so much of) the dressing. But the ingredients were fresh and very flavoursome.

After that refreshing salad, I had ordered a deer steak with home-made gnocchi and red wine sauce. Since I absolutely adore gnocchi, I am generally inclined to ordered it whenever I see it on a menu – especially when it is home-made. The main courses at the Bamberger Reiter are mostly meat-centered dishes, so I would advice ordering a delicious meat dish here. The deer was very tender, soft and moist and perfectly complemented by the creamy and softly textured gnocchi and the heavy and powerfully sweet flavour of the red wine. A classic dish for a cold evening: simply fabulous.

As a dessert lover, I enjoyed a raspberry ice with fresh berries and honey as its companion. A refreshing and sweet closing deal after the so deft main course with deer.

Restaurant the Bamberger Reiter

The restaurant has recently undergone a make-over, added a small stage and upgraded its outdoor area. In summer and spring it is a great place to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere of Schöneberg in a soothing way with greenery all around. With a classical menu that focuses both on German food as well as other culinary influences, it is a traditional restaurant with an edge. A beautiful place with super-friendly staff that we can only recommend whole-heartedly. Daily specials also on offer.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Great, fresh and quality food.
• Authentic and beautiful deco and atmosphere.
• Good price-quality ratio.

What Makes this Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• If you are not into the more heavy, German-esque meals than maybe this is not the best place for you. Although you can order one (or more) of the delicious salads and/ or appetizers.

Where to Go?

Der Bamberger Reiter
Regensburger Straße 7
10777
Berlin
030 / 749 200 90

We have got chills and they are definitely multiplying. And just so we do not lose control: we pop into the nicest and coziest restaurants of Berlin to warm up our cold and chilly hands after a long and refreshing autumn walk.

Berlin is beautiful in fall and you should enjoy its gorgeous colours and delicate scents while you can. Before soft and white snowflakes will turn Berlin into a whole different kind of magical fairy tale city (but that is all in Weihnachtsmärkte-modus, and it is not that time just yet). So: what kind of things should you get up to Berlin during this season and what are the most suitable locations to chill and eat at afterwards?

What to Do in Berlin During Autumn

f you are visiting Berlin for the first time, or if you are a passionate resident of Berlin – sometimes you can do with some inspiration. And during the fall season, there is inspiration galore in and around the streets and gasses of Berlin.

Zoologischer Garten Stroll

The first thing you need to be during in Berlin is walking, strolling and languidly stepping around the town. Make the walk the goal itself and do not worry where you might end up. Berlin is full of U- and S-Bahn stations, so you will never have a problem getting back. One of the great areas that are worth a stroll in the green area around Zoologischer Garten. Here you can enjoy the many large parks this area has to offer and even visit the actual Zoo. (If you really want to experience a great Zoo, we recommend you check out the Friedrichsfelde Zoo. Only a short ride on the S-Bahn away!) In the parks around the Zoologischer Garten you might take some mind-blowingly beautiful fall shots of the city. Plus: you are close to the main street Unter den Linden for a nice sit down or touristy shop.

Sauna Explorations in Berlin

One of my favourite things to do in fall and in Berlin is going to the sauna. It is at its best when the weather is getting chilly outside and the all-encompassing warmth of the sauna is a welcome variation on the continuously cold feet outside. So: why not relax in one of the many saunas Berlin has to offer? You can either hop in for a couple of hours (most saunas will offer two to three hour tickets) or enjoy an entire leisurely day in the sauna and spa. Larger sauna complexes that we can recommend is the sauna Thermen am Europacenter (Berlin Zoologischer Garten) and the Liquidrom (Berlin Mitte). Another great sauna spot that is unique to Berlin is the Badeschiff: a boat on which you can swim and sauna while looking out over the Spree. Sadly, this is closed due to renovation work during the winter of 2012.

What to East in Berlin During Autumn

It can get chilly in the October and November months in Berlin. What better way to solve those cold hands and feet than eating and drinking good food?

Drinking Hot Chocolate at Manolo

This place is our favourite when it comes to chilling with a cup of hot chocolate – they do a mean rum and chocolate, but it also tastes great without the delicious alcoholic shot. Manolo is situated on the big crossing with the Schönhauser Allee and the Eberswalder Straße. If you sit down here, you have a lively view of the many Berliners crossing and walking around: a great spot in autumn as well as the cold winters. We spent many wintery evenings here, looking out over the snowed in streets while sipping our warm drinks. Great spot for meeting up with friends, having a break from shopping through the Kastanienallee and even for working for a few hours.

Warm Cheese Fondue at Ars Vini

What better way to shoo the cold chills away but a warm, sticky cheese fondue? We know just the place: Ars Vini is a small chain with two restaurants in Berlin. You can order whichever way you like your melted cheese here, from spicy cheeses to mushroom cheeses. With cosy restaurant locations to boot, you will have problems getting out of this place when the winds are blowing outside. A great idea and a cute place for a long and intimate dinner.

Sometimes you want to find a small, secluded and low-key place to shut yourself away in. With a little bit of wi-fi, a freshly baked bread roll and some strong and flavoursome coffee. Nothing too special or crazy, just a small moment of relaxation in Berlin’s busy and fast-paced life. Especially since autumn has introduced its cold chilly winds, beautifully coloured leaves and the promise of winter in the air. But finding those nice and special coffee and sit-down places can be a drab. Especially when you just want to go out and be there – instead of having to wander through the streets looking for a place that is just right.

Coffee and Breakfast in Berlin Kreuzberg

We have written on a variety of nice breakfast and lunch places in Berlin, but the majority of that selection is rather nice or special. The kinds of places you go to if you want to spend time with a special someone, a long-not-seen friend or just for some great food. But a low-key place for some personal space?

Tagesbrot, a small and functional little bread-and-coffee place in Berlin Kreuzberg, is exactly the kind of place you want if you want to have a quick(ish) seated down coffee with a pal, or if you want to dip your croissant in dark caffeine while reading through some work e-mails. Easy-going and located off the beaten path in a small side street off Kottbusser Damm.

Eating Breakfast at Tagesbrot

Tagesbrot has a couple of nice comfy armchairs that you can drown your sorrows in. You order at the till, get a nice strong coffee (or which way you want it) that you can complement with one of their ready-to-eat (and take-away) breads, or with a more elaborate breakfast/ lunch order. You can get your boiled or cooked eggs and some other traditional side orders to be expected with a breakfast meal. After which you can sit down in one of the nice and intimate seating corners and log on to the wifi or just browse through a few magazines or newspapers.

The coffee is nice and big, a good strong one to wake up with when Berlin has been calling all night. The bread products are fresh and for just a coffee and a croissant, Tagesbrot is a great place. It is basically what it’s own title already suggests: perfect stop for your daily bread.

Not a fancy place, but highly functional and well-suited for a brief coffee morning moment. Especially when you want to enjoy such a moment on your own, without having to sit in an overcrowded coffee shop or overly hyped brunch hot spot. Budget-proof prices and a great casual atmosphere.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• It is cosy, small and very functional (incl. WLAN).
• Good coffee, fresh bread.
• Low prices for a functional coffee-n-bread relax spot.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• They offer basic breakfast and bread amenities. If you are looking for an extensive brunch location, I would recommend one of the many other options in Berlin.

Where To Go?

[googleMap name="Tagesbrot" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Dieffenbachstrasse 52 10967 Berlin[/googleMap]

Tagesbrot
Dieffenbachstrasse 52
10967 Berlin
030-521 326

Berlin is known for its promi hot spots and fashionable visitors. Not irregularly one can spot great German (or international) famous faces amidst the masses of Berlin-loving locals. One of the greatest German actors that we have a personal weak spot for, ever since his charming burp in the nostalgic Goodbye Lenin!, is Daniel Brühl. With his boyish good looks and charming smile, he could probably wink us out of our clothes in no time. But: we write about food. And Daniel happens to own a restaurant in Berlin Kreuzberg, a tapas place called Bar Raval. With flushed cheeks and highly dressed up oufits, we found it time to pay a visit to this foodie Brühl location.

Tapas at Bar Raval

Bar Raval is located on the corner of the Lübbener Straße, in the middle of the lively Schlesisches Tor-meets Görli-Kiez in Kreuzberg, squashed between Kottbusser Tor and the Warschauer Straße. The deco in Bar Raval is very modern and trendy, styled into a nice sense of cosiness by its rugged wooden furniture. When you enter here, you will notice immediately this is not one of Berlin’s many budget proof and student-friendly eateries. The people filling up the tables (because yes: it is mostly fully booked here) are of a more mature and corporate kind, with well-stocked wallets and serious conversations to boot. Not the kind of restaurant you will be disturbed in by large groups of boisterous youngsters.

The menu at Bar Raval is a tapas menu. It sports a classical selection of tapas and you can mix and match yourself, or choose one of the few platters that include a wide variety of the tapas offered on the menu. We chose a platter and added some of our personal favourites. I missed the dates wrapped snugly in a blanket of bacon, but I settled on some Spanish tortilla, meatballs in tomatosauce, calamares and more.

The tapas were properly sized: not too little nor too large for our party. The best thing about the food was it is authenticity and subtlety. For example: calamares. Most tapas places will bring you double or triple fried fatty rings of squid flesh that will have lost all of their juiciness and flavour. Not at Bar Raval. Here you get actual flavoursome calamares, with a subtle crunch and bite to its texture. Great stuff. The rest of the tapas were well-prepared, but not mind-blowing of nature. The tapas on Bar Raval’s menu do offer a few interesting choices that give their food an extra edge.

But the best part were the desserts. Avid readers will know I am an absolute sucker for the sweet Nachspeise after every meal. Bar Raval has a few highly interesting choice in the dessert department. For one: crema catalana, a personal Spanish dessert favourite of mine. This dessert is similar to crème brulée, but with a softer and more frothy creme filling. The other seducative dessert was basically a chocolate soufflé. Which we also thankfully ordered.

What makes this restaurant fabulous?

• Good authentic tapas and fab desserts
• Great and classy-meets-lässig atmosphere
• Perfect for an intimate dinner

What makes this restaurant less fabulous?

• Prices are not budget proof in Berlin, but still very afforable

Where to Go?
Bar Raval
Lübbener Straße 1
10997 Berlin
030 5316-7954

Apart from Russian, Vietnamese and the Dutch cuisine, Berlin has so many more culinary countries to offer. Today we discovered a very special little place that is Hungarian of nature. Located not far away from the Russian restaurant Datscha in Friedrichshain, we found the small bar-cum-eatery called Szimpla.

Hungover Lunch in Berlin

It was one of those fabulous Sunday mornings after a long and heated night in one of Berlin’s many fabulous bars and clubs. One of those mornings during which you crave food in such an incredible way, that you could easily claw your way through a big bowl filled with fatty food. But no, we chose to enjoy ourselves and go to a nice, yet low-key restaurant that is perfect for a hungover breakfast or brunch. And since we stear clear of buffet-style brunch locations, it was actually quite difficult to find a nice and new place in Friedrichshain. When one is hungover, walking around town without a targeted purpose is not the best thing in the world.

Hungarian Brunch at Szimpla

Anyhow, our efforts were rewarded when we stumbled into Szimpla, a simple yet very atmospheric Hungarian-style little restaurant. When I say restaurant, I mean a small eatery that specializes in a small à la carte brunch and breakfast and is fabulous for hanging out in. Not a proper-proper restaurant, in case you wanted to dine here elaborately. The déco is an eclectic combination that partly reminds of Wohnzimmer, but with a distinct Hungarian touch.

We started off our order with a large, ridiculously large glass of orange juice (Osaft, as the Germans say) to still our hungover thirst. Szimpla offers a small, yet classic menu when it comes to breakfasts. It was exactly the kind of the choice we wanted – and it is exactly what I personally enjoy in a brunch. A variety of breads, different sweet and savoury toppings, eggs, fresh fruits and some home-made specialities.

I chose a dish with bread, croissants, egg, Hungarian eggplant paste, spicy chorizo-esque sausage slices, jam, your mandatory butter and a variety of cheeses. Fresh fruit included. A simple, yet varied and sufficient meal that lead to an immediate reinvigoration of our numbed alcoholic-induced veins.

The greatest thing of Szimpla being that the food, as well as the drink, is very affordable. A budget-proof location to stroll to for a cosy and casual brunch.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Great and simple food.
• Budget-proof prices.
• Authentic decoration.
• Laid-back atmosphere.

What Makes this Restaurant less Fabulous?

• Just keep it casual here. Nothing fancy or overly fabulous, but Berlinerisch in it’s cosiness.

Where to Go?

Szimpla
Gärtnerstraße 15
10245 Berlin