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Once one of Berlin's edgier neighborhoods, Prenzlauer Berg has become more of a food destination over the years, as it's welcomed an ongoing influx of creative professionals and new families with young children. Many of the restaurants here are well-established stalwarts, with a loyal clientele. Newcomers are just as likely to offer large, welcoming spaces, but have friendlier service, and more international menus.
Billed as a modern take on a classic neighborhood bistro, with selections from the vinyl records lining the walls played by the friendly staff, this casual eatery serves up seasonal small plates along with tasty drinks. Don't skip the daily house-made sourdough bread before nibbling on vegetable-forward dishes like Borlotti beans with cockles and turnips, and Bresse chicken with pippara peppers and chanterelles alongside Berlin’s black-clad foodies.
Though Berlin’s awash in Neapolitan pizza places, this sweet neighborhood spot bucks the trend with innovative topping combinations on a soft yet chewy sourdough crust. Sophisticated seasonal pizzas, such as charred broccoli and buffalo mozzarella or bacon with cauliflower and Swiss chard, please kids and adults alike, while the fine selection of cocktails, wine, and beer gives the adults even more to appreciate.
Under the tracks of the elevated U2 subway line is Berlin's most beloved sausage stand. Konnopke's is a family business that's been around since 1930 and, though there are several options on the menu, this place is famous for its currywurst, which is served on a paper tray with a plastic prong that can be used to spear the sauce-covered sausage slices; with French fries and a pilsner, this is one of the quintessential Berlin meals.
The Barn roasts their coffee beans on the premises and offers a limited menu of near-perfect brews—they take coffee seriously, and can get a bit dictatorial about how much milk or sugar you should add. There are baked goods and sandwiches on the menu as well, but the focus here is definitely on the coffee. There are several other locations scattered around the city, including the original Barn in Mitte, at Auguststrasse 58, at the corner of Koppenplatz.
Yes it's run by Americans, and yes it serves burgers, but the Bird, overlooking a corner of Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, is more than just an expat burger joint—it serves some of the best burgers in Berlin, and it's one of the few spots where "rare" actually means pink and juicy on the inside. Besides cheekily named burgers like the "Bronx Jon" (mushrooms and Swiss cheese), "Da Works" (everything, including guacamole if you ask for it), and the "Lousy Hunter," which is a vegetarian burger, the Bird also serves a mean steak frites suitable for two.
The name isn't an exaggeration: Bonanza really was one of the first "coffee heroes" to champion artisanal roasting and brewing methods in the German capital. From its tiny home next to Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, Bonanza roasts its own beans, runs a catering business, offers their beans wholesale to customers all over the city, and serves some of the smoothest, tastiest coffee in town; sometimes there are croissants, pain au chocolat, or cookies to enjoy as well, but not always. There's another outpost in Kreuzberg and two others in Mitte.
A local favorite, this cozy, casual café is open from early morning into the wee hours, making it the perfect spot for everything from breakfast to a light lunch to evening drinks. There’s an affordable daily quiche and salad plate as well as a nice selection of cakes; if the weather is agreeable, find a spot on the sunny terrace, across from pretty Helmholtzplatz park.
The menu is all about meat, of course, with several beef cuts available from the grill---tenderloin, rib eye, or entrecote---along with lamb chops, chicken, and sometimes a Berlin-style calves' liver (with apple, onion, and potato puree). The burgers are popular, too. Service can be slow and sometimes brusque.
The eclectic mix of oddly matched couches, chairs, and tables in this tiny space create a cozy setting for enjoying excellent coffee and pastries. The latte art and the "godshot" logo on the coffee cups make for some Instagram-worthy photos, too. If you're interested in learning about the tools and practices of the barista trade, brewing and latte art workshops are offered. While these are normally given in German, instructors can accommodate English-speaking students, or you can book a private class in English.
Although far from Alsatian France and the Mosel and Saar regions of Germany's southwest that inspire the hearty fare here, a visit to this busy but homey Kollwitzplatz restaurant will leave you pleasantly surprised at the authenticity of the food. The raclette is the best you're likely to get this side of the Rhine, and classic choucroute comes with Blutwurst (blood sausage); though the menu is meat-centric, vegetarians will also find some tempting choices.
This Mexican restaurant is an unassuming space on Prenzlauer Berg's Danziger Strasse. The young owners (hailing from Texas and Australia) had different ideas of what Mexican food could be, but shared one dream: to bring the authentic cuisine to Berlin. They succeeded, as fans will attest, and the hot sauce is satisfyingly hot in a country known for sensitive taste buds and blandly spiced dishes. The margaritas, made with mezcal, are particularly good—and quite potent.
This casual, colorful spot is tucked into a pleasant, tree-lined, cobblestone street just up the hill from Alexanderplatz. The lunch and dinner menus focus on globally influenced, innovative salads, soups, burgers, and sandwiches, with a few mains like steak frites and chicken tikka masala. On two Saturday nights each month, Muse hosts a local chef or a nomadic supper club; you can reserve a seat to these popular events online.
Russian treats such as dumplings, borscht, blini (Russian pancakes), and much more are the mainstays at this casually refined restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace for when the weather is nice. There are several set menus available for lunch and dinner, and the breakfast selection is second to none, with a wide range of set menus and egg dishes (including delicious shakshuka) alongside standards like pancakes and French toast.
\n\nif you come for the weekend brunch you can try just about all of the delicious dishes, as well as dessert, in an extensive buffet.
In a city that still sometimes struggles to get sushi right, Sasaya's concept can seem groundbreaking: simple, authentic Japanese food in an equally comfortable, no-fuss atmosphere. Don't expect sushi to be the center of the menu, though—the focus is on reasonably priced small plates made for sharing, including pickled vegetables, seaweed salad, and crispy pork belly. The best seats are the tables by the windows, where long, low couches let you recline languidly during your meal.
Although there's a full menu of Chinese dishes at this nondescript local favorite, it's the jiaozi you want: juicy, perfectly wrapped dumplings with vegetable, pork, or lamb fillings, to be dipped in a sour black vinegar and spicy chili paste. Start with addictive appetizers like tofu with crispy shrimp, cucumber with garlic, or Kaofu—silky tofu skins with bean sprouts and soybean—then dive into the dumplings, which can be ordered in batches of 20 or 40.
