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!

If someone would ask me, “Which christmas market would you visit if you only had time for one?”, I would wholeheartedly answer with the Gendarmenmarkt. Yes, it is a bit more touristy than cute and quaint little markets that are hidden away in outskirts of Berlin, but it is also more the prettier. So, if you come to visit Berlin and you would like to enjoy one christmas market, you ought to definitely hit this beauty in the city center, in a side street off Unter den Linden. Amidst the gorgeous surroundings of the Gendarmenmarkt with its church, the Hilton and various luxurious buildings looking out on the market proceedings, you cannot help but feeling a bit pampered. Even without actually indulging in the pleasures of this market. Yet.

The Best Christmas Market in Berlin

Well, there are many fabulous markets to visit in Berlin, but I fancy most people are not such avid fans of the christmas markets as I am, enjoying them enough to bike and travel for hours to visit as many markets as possible. So if you have to pick one, the Gendarmenmarkt is a good bet. After paying a mere €1,- to enter (and let this not keep you away, since it is a good trick to keep non-motivated visitors outside), you gain entrance to a beautifully decorated area filled with even nicer looking stalls, lights, christmas trees – and much more.

Among the many stalls, foods and drinks here, there are few essentials classics that are definitely worth a try. If you like mustards, you should check out the stall with authentic home-made Senf (mustard), combined with as many interesting variaties as you could ever dream of. My personal favourite: fig mustard, a great sweet and mustardy experience for dips and bread.

Best Food and Drink at Berlin Christmas Markets

The best Flammkuchen (they do not even call it Flammkuchen anymore) is to be had in a picturesque stall that even looks like an old-fashioned bakery and oven rolled into one. With the best and most flavoursome rustic bread, sour cream and little strips of bacon and some fresh leek this baked-as-you-wait delicacy is one of the best things I have eaten on the streets of Berlin. Share one, if you are only in for a nibble.

Looking for something nice in your cuisine for christmas? Then do pop by the cheese stall (on the other side of the picturesque bakery) and get your fix of Frischkäse (cream cheese), stuffed and flavoured with the best ingredients from your wildest dreams. Cream cheese with fresh cranberries and saffran, or cream cheese with sunflower seeds and even fresher rucola – up to a fig-based cream cheese. You can try all of the cheeses and make sure you get your favourites. The cream cheese – when purchased – is wrapped in a plastic container and a little plastic bag, and can be kept in the fridge for a few days.

Present-wise (and if you are looking for Weihnächtliche Geschenke) you might enjoy yourself at Käthe Wolfahrt, Germany’s largest christmas products brand, which often sports huge stalls on christmas markets throughout the country, selling the most gorgeously handcrafted christmas decorations. If you are not looking for specific christmas presents, there are more alternatives to be found at the christmas market on Gendarmenmarkt.

Gotten a bit thirsty? Apart from trying the classical Glühwein (which is always a great and safe bet), the Gendarmenmarkt also serves Feuerzangenbowle (literally: fiery thongs bowl), a delicious warm alcoholic drink. It is a great change from the traditional Glühwein, and as least as tasty as – or even better. Apart from Feuerzangenbowle and Glühwein, you can opt for non-alcoholic hot punch, Eierlikör (egg nogg) or hot chocolate with rum. More alcohol than you can imagine is to be enjoyed with this market’s delicious nibbles.

Where To Go?

When To Go?
21st of November until the 31st of December 2011.
Open daily from 10.00 until 22.00.
Christmas Day until 18.00.
New Year’s Eve until 01.00.

More Christmas Markets?

During Christmas market season (21st of November until Boxing Day) Good Food in Berlin will bring you Christmas market updates, live from the markets, via our Facebook Page. Like us now, to not miss any of our up-to-date Christmas ins and outs.

Berlin sports a great many of Asian eateries. Good lunch locations for a warm and spicy meal, atmospheric elaborate restaurants for romantic dinners and easy quick fixes for a brief bite. Amidst traditional places such as Goodmorning Vietnam and funky restaurant Transit, Berlin does know how to keep the Asian cuisine fresh and lively. We used to frequent the Berlin Mitte (Rosa-Luxemburg Platz Ecke) restaurant Ho Vang that does a great (and more than budget-proof) lunch meal. Not dissimilar, we recently checked out the Indonesian and Thai restaurant Goodtime on the Hausvogteiplatz in Berlin Mitte.

Goodtime Berlin: Executive Lunch Location

The Goodtime restaurants are part of a small chain counting three restaurants in total. They are all to be found in Berlin – two in Mitte (Hausvogteiplatz and the Chausseestraße) and one of the Teltower Damm.  In essence, Goodtime is a great lunch restaurant or a practical restaurant for a brief evening meal. Even though the decoration is quite fresh and atmospheric, it is not the kind of restaurant you go to for a long and special dinner. During lunch, you will find many suit-wearing professionals popping in for a delicious lunch – it is therefore a great place to go for an executive lunch meeting. Goodtime’s food offers a modest, yet flavoursome menu, supplemented by their daily specials.

The Goodtime restaurant on the Hausvogteiplatz sports an open kitchen, which shows off its chefs and meals being prepared. The slightly hustle and bustle atmosphere makes for lively dinner surroundings. Tables and chairs consist of funky Asian stools and the decoration of the place is hip and trendy with its bright colours.

Good Food at Goodtime Berlin

Apart from classical salads and soups, Goodtime offers a variety of warm dishes. In the department of appetizers, they have the popular and delicious spring rolls (Frühlingsrolle) in both a vegetarian and non-veggie version. The restaurant is well equipped to offer vegetarians a varied and yummy meal, also when it comes to main courses. We ordered a vegetarian spring roll, the Lumpig Sayur, with a sweet and sour sauce and a sour pickled salad. Nice and crispy, with the traditional flavour experience of your average spring roll. A bit larger, though, and with a proper bite – you have an actual idea and taste of the filling.

After this making-us-beg-for-more appetizer, we had the chicken on a skewer, with delicious peanutsauce and some more pickled salad on the side, supplemented by green beans. A simple, yet nice dish with a good balance of meat, sauce and fresh greens. Not a mind-blowing original dish, but Goodtime does classics best. Their menu boasts classical Asian (Thai and Indonesion) fusion foods, with a focus on doing the best with traditional dishes. A great and yummy place for a good and budget-proof lunch with friendly and helpful staff.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• For €9,- you can eat your heart out with an appetizer and a main course.
• Good, flavoursome and authentic Asian food.
• Friendly staff and a trendy atmosphere.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• Don’t take your special date here. It’s a fab lunch location or a quick dinner spot, but it is not the place for an elaborate meal.

Where to Go?

Goodtime
Hausvogteiplatz 11a
10117 Berlin

I used to have this silly thing with Italian restaurants and going out to dinner in them. I would always try to shy away from Italian places, fearing boring pizzas and flavourless pasta dishes. And even though such places still exist, fabulous Italian restaurants in Berlin have taught me well. After the cosy and authentic Giorgio and the conceptually exciting Lavanderia Vecchia, I am officially hooked.

Italian Restaurant in Berlin Schöneberg: Belmonte

Another great little Italian restaurant is to be found in Schöneberg, in between the Bülowstraße and the Kleistpark. Belmonte is classy, posh, yet sleek and not decorated with frustrating or over-the-top frills. It has a clean and beautiful atmosphere and the staff is friendly and authentically Italian. It is one of those semi-fancy Italian mini-restaurants that you tend to look for, but never find. And even though Belmonte does not look like much from the outside, the inside is all the more interesting. A romantic and intimate place for dining with a special someone, or impressing business acquaintances – or parents the like.

Schöneberg is also one of my favourite corners in Berlin that you should not leave to be undiscovered. In the many side-streets along the Barbarossaplatz there are many small and authentic restaurants and eateries that are more than worth a visit. Belmonte is one of these restaurants; generally a spot you would not normally stumble unto. Well, that is what this article is for.

Eating Good Italian Food in Berlin

With small wooden tables, large wine-racks and cleanly laid linen,  dinner could only be off to a good start. Like any self-respecting Italian, Belmonte has a decent wine menu with some proper wines for decent prices – drinkable per glass as well as the entire bottle.

The food menu consists of a consequent à la carte menu (with pizzas, a little bit of pasta) and a daily special menu. This latter menu is what you should be focused on: this is where the real specials and delights can be found. For an appetizer we chose an Italian classic: the mozzarella with rucola, cherry tomatoes, serranoham and pine nuts. The salad-esque appetizer was flavoursome and a delight to eat, with properly flavoured mozzarella and a good side of salad. Afterwards, we had home-made (fresh!) ravioli with boar, apple and sage. Oh, how I passionately adore authentic and self-made pasta, especially with delicious stuffing. Belmonte has good pasta down to a tee. This is the Italian stuff that I love so much, where I cringed from orgasmic flavor explosions at the Weinerei and where another Italian hot spot in Schöneberg made me enjoy life again.

Belmonte: a great Italian little restaurant for intimate dining and if you fancy some real good Italian food.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Classy, subtle decoration.
• Relaxed and intimate atmosphere with friendly and attentive (Italian) staff.
• Great, home-made food. Try the daily specials!

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• It is is residential Schöneberg, therefore the prices are slightly higher than in slummin’ East-Berlin. Nevertheless very decent and budgetproof foods. Pasta’s range from 6-10 euros. You can budget and indulge here as much as you want.

Where to Go?

Trattoria Belmonte
Schwäbische Straße 5
10781 Berlin
030 – 2 111 990

Since some of Berlin’s great sushi restaurants have closed their doors and others have blossomed – or changed for the worst, it is time for a second and current up-to-date list of the best sushi restaurants in Berlin. Sushi is and will always remain one of our biggest foodie passions. Many, many places in Berlin offer sushi as a delicious culinary experience, which makes it difficult for hungry people in Berlin to find the best and most special places. Sometimes we run into a little eatery that you would never initially enter, but which surprises you with great sushi. Some restaurants are beautiful and posh, others are more about the food than the decoration. That is why, in this version of the best sushi restaurants, we distinguish between beautiful locations (with the style and the service) and the low-key sushi eateries. Both are worthy in their own right and suit different occasions and needs. We also cater to lazy sushi fans with a sub-section on sushi take-away places.

Enjoy the list and please leave a comment if you have any sushi tips or experience to add. We are always looking for input, since we simply cannot eat every bit of sushi Berlin has to offer.

Stylish sushi restaurants

Sasaya (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

Sasaya is a quaint and original restaurant that gives off the vibe of authentic sushi eating. Sporting a large sushi bar in the center of the restaurant, it offers you a good view of the sushi chefs in action. Sasaya is the kind of place where you want to go for a special, fusion-esque experience. The menu changes regularly and they offer mighty interesting nibbles as well as sushi. Grilled squid is only one of the few delicious bites Sasaya prepares in its kitchen. Since their menu changes at least once a month, you will have to let yourself be surprised by the side-dishes and main orders that do not entail sushi. Their time-bound menu also gives you the choice to order special sushi rolls, but most beloved sushi classics can be ordered throughout the year. Essentially, Sasaya is a Japanese restaurant for the advanced sushi –eater. If you have grown bored of simple makis and run-of-the-mill selections, you should give this place a try. Cool and funky atmosphere, for the young at heart. Reservatiosn required.

Sasaya
Lychener Straße 50
10437 Berlin

Kuchi (Berlin Mitte)

A place I personally adore – it oozes beauty and a relaxed atmosphere while serving delicious sushi. It has the style of a fashionable restaurant, it serves both sushi and warm meals – and is simply pretty. Located in the middle of Berlin Mitte, it is a beloved after-work location for hip and trendy executives. A stylish place if you feel like eating good sushi in a proper atmosphere – and if you do not mind spending a little bit more than getting take-away. Kuchi is a proper sushi restaurant, but apart from the sushi, they also service warm main courses and Asian salads. But sushi is what you should go here for. Nicely prepared, beautifully delivered and simplistic food enjoyment. Kuchi is the sushi restaurant that you go to if you want to show someone a culinary as well as visually good time.

Kuchi Mitte
Gipsstraße 3
10119 Berlin

My Keng (Potsdam)

Not in Berlin, but located in the beloved tourist village of Potsdam, you can eat some fine sushi on the Brandenburger Straße in the middle of the shopping crowds. My Keng is a tiny, atmospheric little restaurant with an open kitchen. It is always warm, full and stuffed with mouth-watering smells. This is the essence of good sushi eating rolled into one small restaurant. Even though My Keng is not large, they offer a nice ambiance without resorting to tackiness. A pretty and special little place that does some of the best sushi rolls I have had the pleasure of eating. My personal favourite is a tempura sushi roll (with lightly fried dough on the outside) and scallops on the inside. Absolute heaven – perfectly balancing the crunchy exterior with the subtle soft texture of the inside. Whenever I visit Potsdam, I cannot not visit My Keng.  A great location for a rewarding and much-desired elaborate sushi meal after a daytrip in Potsdam. Cosy, romantic, great food and friendly staff.

My Keng
Brandenburger Straße 20
14467 Potsdam

Zaza (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

This sleek, hip cocktail and sushi bar on the Kastanienallee is to be found in the middle of Prenzlauer Berg. Amidst young and fashionable people and right in the middle of the lively hustle and bustle of one of Berlin’s most popular Bezirke.  A great location with a large outdoor space in summer and also a large smoker’s lounge where you can chill, eat and sip in that nicotine. Trendy at times, relaxed and chilled at slow evenings. Zaza offers nice Asian appetizers, good sushi and an elaborate menu of sushi choices. If you feel like eating good sushi and you want to do it in a trendy and good-looking kind of place, without overspending, you want to go to Zaza. Next door to many of Berlin’s fun bar and clubs, you are in a great location to start off a long night. Sushi restaurant Zaza has a happy hour, every day until seven (for cocktails) and after eight (for sushi). Keep an eye on that clock, and start enjoying. Good quality sushi, a large and extensive menu for every kind of sushi foodie.

Zaza
Kastanienallee 12
10435 Berlin

Simple sushi restaurants

Bamboo (Berlin Zehlendorf)

If you are a bit out of the way of the city center, or exploring other parts of Berlin, you should give Bamboo a try. Do not let the thirteen-in-a-dozen cheap name fool you, this restaurant does some mighty nice sushi. In a traditional Zehlendorf-esque house, with a classical-romantic vibe to it, you find the sushi restaurant Bamboo. Modern and sleek decoration determines its style – nothing too beautiful or fancy, but you do feel at home. The reason why you should be visiting Bamboo is the sushi. A lot of delicious, fresh sushi. Their menu offers your traditional sushi, but also good appetizers, exciting soups and large sushi menus. If you order a menu-selection of Bamboo’s sushi, you get a great variety of fresh fish, ranging from eel to scallops. With some  good wines on the wine menu and helpful staff, Bamboo is a great recommendation.

Bamboo
Machnower Straße 23
14165 Berlin

Cube (Berlin Kreuzberg)

Small, no-nonsense cosy sushi eatery. Affordable prices, practical cubes for sitting at and freshly prepared sushi. Cube is a great place for meeting up with friends in Kreuzberg, hanging out after a shopping spree on Bergmannstraße. This little restaurant is a comfortable place that seats around 15 people. Small, but atmospheric and relaxed enough to spend a languid Sunday afternoon. Cube’s menu is traditional, yet offers some more luxurious and special rolls for the more advanced sushi hunger.

Cube
Zossener Straße 18
10961 Berlin

Ishin (Berlin Mitte)

This restaurant is definitely my simplistic favourite because of its very specific style. Ishin is one of the few actually authentic places you can find in Berlin when it comes to sushi eating. It is not a posh restaurant, but a down to earth Asian eatery with sushi and sashimi. When you enter this large space you smell fish – lots of fish. You can order off laminated menus after getting your free unlimited green tea fix. For merely a few euros you can easily stuff your face with delicious sushi. You do not come here for the class or the fanciness, but for the sushi. A beloved place for local lunches and quick dinners. Great if you have been craving sushi for a long time and you want to engage in all-you-can-eat-esque binges.

Ishin Friedrichstraße
Mittelstraße 24
10117 Berlin

Mikoto (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

Prenzlauer Berg must be one of the Berliner Bezirke with the highest sushi to inhabitant-ratio. You can practically eat sushi on every streetcorner here. Nonetheless more so reason to be careful. Some sushi restaurant are simply disappointing when it comes to price-quality and especially the extent of their menu. Depending on what kind of sushi-eater you are, it is essential you can order to your heart’s desire. Where some people are satisfied with a sushi maki roll, others may demand fresh scallops, lobster and exotic fusion sushi creations. Mikoto is a simple sushi restaurant that sports a healthy, elaborate menu that will satisfy even the more advanced sushi-eaters: inside-out rolls, California rolls, futo maki and all the way up to tempura. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and brimming with young trendy excitement during the weekends. Great lively place with good sushi and with a budget-proof price.

Mikoto
Pappelallee 22
10437 Berlin

Cogai (Berlin Schöneberg)

Oh, how this place will always have a special place in my heart. I love its semi-futurist decoration, the clean and hip look in the middle of the busy Bülowstraße in Berlin Schöneberg, merely a stone’s throw away from the infamous Kudamm and its KadeWe. Cogai is a cool restaurant in a location where you would not expect it – practically hidden from beautiful views by the U-Bahn rolling by. Nevertheless, a great place for eating sushi and other Vietnamese-related nibbles. Apart from a relatively elaborate sushi menu, Cogai makes delicious salads (beef and spicy papaya) and flavoursome summer rolls. If you are in the neighbourhood of Schöneberg and you are looking for affordable foodie indulgences, this is worth a try.

Cogai
Bülowstraße 9
10783 Berlin

Ordering sushi and sushi take-away

Steel Shark (Berlin Neukölln and Mitte)

A low-key and cheap sushi ordering little place. With locations in Mitte and Neukölln, you can only order food from within these respective areas. Steel Shark has an elaborate menu for a sushi-ordering kind of place and with very budget-proof prices. The staff is friendly and helpful, yet their German sometimes leaves something to be desired. Some of our orders have gotten mixed up in the past, but the Steel Shark staff is ever so friendly to solve everything. But do not let that keep you from ordering here: the salads, soups and sushi are absolutely delicious. If you want to make sure you get the good stuff: visit one of their locations and get sushi take-away style. It is worth it.

Steel Shark
Karl-Marx-Straße 13
12043 Berlin

Hangi (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

A small, non-descript sushi eatery on the picturesque Zionskirchstraße in Prenzlauer Berg, bordering on the Torstraße of Berlin Mitte. I used to frequent this little place during my lunch hours, or for a quick after-work bite. Hangi offers a traditional selection of different types of sushi, ranging from simple maki rolls to California rolls, soups and other flavoursome appetizers. Hangi sushi is budget-proof and easy to take-away. The location itself is simple and fine for a quick bite, with cubistic seating arrangements. Nothing too fancy, just proper sushi for proper prices.

Hangi
Zionskirchstraße 42
10119 Berlin

Yuuka (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

There are not many sushi delivery places in Berlin that offer a) an extensive menu, b) decent prices and c) good sushi. Yuuka is one of the few that actually does decent sushi and has a lively menu. Whenever I order from Prenzlauer Berg, this is the place I order from. Yuuka offers vegetarian, classical and more exciting maki rolls, appetizers, soups and salads. For decent prices you can order a lazy night of scrumptious sushi. Basically, the place to order from if you are looking for good sushi, for an affordable price.

Yuuka
Schönhauser Allee 134
10437 Berlin

Sushi Number One (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

A no-frills and no over-the-top decoration location. With three different restaurants in Berlin (all in Prenzlauer Berg), you can believe in Sushi Number One’s success. It is simple: a restaurant that offers your main sushi favourites, soups, salads and a few hot daily specials. All for good and budget-proof prices, in a relaxed atmosphere where you can sit inside, or lounge outside. Or, if you fancy eating at home, to take away. Sushi Number One is the kind of restaurant you go to if you are peckish for some sushi loving, and you wish to add some summer rolls or a salad to your order. Lovely and friendly staff – and a big plus: you can pay with your ec-karte. Also a cool place to hang out with friends, if you are not looking for any luxurious restaurant locations. Not for ordering sushi, you have to come and get it yourself.

Sushi Number One
Oderberger Straße 51/52
10435 Berlin

For more sushi, check out all our sushi restaurants in Berlin.