Hungry? In Kreuzberg you’ll find Berlin’s silkiest hummus and flakiest croissants, not to mention next-level vegan bites, Sicilian pastries and Greek brunch in a hidden Kreuzkölln courtyard.
Here’s where to go for breakfast and brunch in Kreuzberg.
Mugrabi
The hummus at Mugrabi is as beautiful as the guests. On the sunny terrace next to Görlitzer Park, hummus is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with toppings so mouthwatering that it’s hard to pick just one. Soak it all up with laffa bread, a soft pita flatbread that has a spongy crumb and is great to use instead of cutlery. The hummus is prepared the Israeli way; plain, with lots of tahini and stirred until velvety smooth.
- Café Mugrabi Görlitzer Straße 58, Kreuzberg, daily 10-22, more info here
A. Horn
At A. Horn on Carl-Herz-Ufer, only fresh, homemade food is served. Bread, bagels, cookies and muffins are all made in-house every day. Here, it’s about quality and attention to detail on the plate. We live for the hearty topped bagels, the muesli bowls made from hand-roasted and fruity ingredients and the fluffy pancakes. On nice days, sit outside A. Horn and watch the world go by in the Kreuzberg sun.
- A. Horn Carl-Herz-Ufer 9, Kreuzberg, Mon-Sun 10.30-17.30, Tel. 030/60 05 98 88, more info here
Two Trick Pony
Light wood, lots of white, a green wall – Two Trick Pony somehow looks like many other cafés Kreuzkölln hipster haunts. This could be because the interior designer here is Cecilia Buffa, who also designed Companion Coffee and Tea on Weserstraße. But the place is more than just another identikit new opening.
Here, brunch classics are reinvented without ever seeming too conceptual or overwrought. Take the kopytka, Polish potato dumplings – served fried with sour cream, dill, spring onions and trout and roe. Instead of avocado toast, courgettes are gently cooked until they collapse and piled on a thick piece of sourdough. Be sure to leave room for the coconut cake with banana and crème fraîche.
- Two Trick Pony Bergmannstraße 52, Kreuzberg, Wed-Mon 10-16, Tel. 030/28 66 25 43, more info here
Annelies
This beloved brunch spot doesn’t rely on the usual avocado monotony and has a culinary vision that goes far beyond the “poach an egg and post it on Instagram” hype. The menu is small and the options it describes are simply wonderful. So what does it taste like? Straightforward dishes made using excellent produce that will transport you and your tastebuds out of the city for a moment.
- Annelies Görlitzer Straße 68, Kreuzberg, Wed-Mon 10-16 more info here.
La Maison
Everyone knows that Paul-Lincke-Ufer is Kreuzberg’s Côte d’Azur. The far eastern end of the promenade even features a large boules court where one can enjoy a bit of sporty savoir-vivre. And then there’s the charming café known as La Maison. The wonderful, crispy croissants – which may indeed be the city’s best – are baked fresh right here. We recommend trying the vegetarian croissant sandwich filled with red beet and goat’s cheese.
La Maison is one of the precious few cafés where both the bakers and the baristas are masters of their craft. This terraced corner shop – which enjoys radiant sunshine throughout the day – is so inviting just the way it is that we’re thankful the owners chose to go easy on the renovations, preserving the original charisma of the partitioned space. In short, this is the singularity which joins old and new Kreuzberg – and blessed are those who take time to enjoy it.
- La Maison Paul-Lincke-Ufer 17, Kreuzberg, Tue-Thu 7-18, Fri-Sun 7-20 more info here.
Cicala Caffetteria Italiana
Cicala exudes an air of southern Italy with the bustle and noise of nearby Kottbusser Damm and its delicious ricotta croissant. Here you’ll find a range of Sicilian pasticcini: Sfogliatelle, ricotta-filled shortcrust pastries, pistachio croissants or cannoli. A short, strong espresso is the ideal accompaniment. While this may not be a place to linger, it’s one to come back to again and again.
- Cicala Caffetteria Italiana Kottbusser Damm 1, Kreuzberg, Mon-Fri 7-19, Sat 7.30-19, Sun 9-19, Tel. 01575/647 00 73, more info here.
Simitdchi
Simitdchi Café and Bakehouse is a large Turkish breakfast institution on Kotti, serving freshly baked sesame rings with eggs, cheese, vegetables, jam and olives. Our favourite accompaniment is a fresh mint tea. Simply a little breakfast oasis in the noisy, chaotic heart of Kreuzberg.
- Simitdchi Café & Backhaus Adalbertstraße 97, Kreuzberg, Mon-Sat 6.30-20, Sun 7-20, Tel. 030/74 07 38 31
No milk today
As the name suggests, this eatery takes veganism seriously, but with a healthy side of humour. The menu is small but good, with vibrant drinks like the spinach, apple, banana and lemon smoothie sure to brighten any day. The Vietnam-style coffee with coconut milk is worth a try, as are the homemade cakes. A wide range of breakfasts, including gluten-free, are served all day with options including ‘smoked salmon’ – made from carrots, natürlich.
- No milk today Fichtestraße 3, Kreuzberg, Tue-Sun 10-18, Tel. 030/81 79 77 97, more info here
Pala
Behind the controversial Karstadt on Hermannplatz lies the charming Pala, founded by Stavros Katsivas and Simon Avgenikos, both originally from Rhodes. The menu combines contemporary brunch and lunch classics such as avocado toast and porridge with ambitious variations of Greek cuisine. Highly recommended: frappé, pita with vegetable topping and the sun terrace.
- Pala Hasenheide 4-5, Kreuzberg, Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-18 more info here.
Le Bon
Another gem: Le Bon sits between Urbanstraße and Kottbusser Damm. An intimate living room restaurant with a simple, weekly changing menu and carefully placed details. Here, it’s all about breakfast. And a real craft is made of it at Le Bon. In addition to classics like Eggs Benedict and banana bread with maple syrup, the restaurant also stands for the unusual – think caramelised grapefruit refined with ginger. Each dish can be complemented on request with extra ingredients of outstanding quality: sautéed chorizo and roasted cherry tomatoes, for example.
- Le Bon Boppstraße 1, Kreuzberg, Wed-Sun 10-15, Tel. 030/63 42 07 94 more info here.
Hallesches Haus
Since 2015, Hallesche Haus has existed as a concept store, event venue and deli. The cuisine is American-inspired, but with a Mediterranean vibe. Despite its size, the atmosphere in the huge hall is cosy and friendly. Breakfast is offered Wednesdays to Sundays (until 3pm), with the likes of homemade granola with poached pears or waffles with coconut yoghurt and salted caramel served alongside focaccia with hummus and scrambled eggs, steak sandwich or baked sweet potato with vegan cinnamon butter and kale salad. If you can’t decide, order the brunch plate with waffle, poached egg and pumpkin puree.
- Hallesches Haus Tempelhofer Ufer 1, Kreuzberg, Wed-Sun 10-18, more info here
Kaffee 9
The ever-busy café in Markthalle Neun is a neighbourhood hub and home to an upscale, ethically responsible coffee culture. Their baked goods are supplied by the city’s best – Albatross, Frau Zeller or Sironi. The yoghurt with fruit is made using produce from small organic farms belonging to the Markthalle Neun network.
- Kaffee 9 Eisenbahnstraße 43, Kreuzberg, in Markthalle Neun, Mon-Sat 7.30-18, Sun 10-16, more info here
