While most of us were holed up in a state of hibernation this February, an impressive batch of new restaurants and bars have opened all over Berlin. Might one of these newly-opened spots become your next favourite?
Trio: Back to basics
Trio is a new German restaurant that’s opened right behind the Volksbühne – and it’s just the place we need. The cozy, welcoming vibes are perfect for the late winter nights, and the fact that Trio is attached to an inn makes it feel even more homey.
At Trio, they wanted to make a simple restaurant, welcome to all
The owners, Eva Alken, Clemens Roesch and Vadim Otto Ursus, know each other from their days working at Otto on Oderberger Straße. At Trio, they wanted to make a simple restaurant, welcome to all. Try the fried chicken and wine from the tap!
- Trio, Weydingerstrasse 20, Mitte, Fri-Sun, 18:00-23:00
Berta: Jerusalem to Berlin
Assaf Granit runs acclaimed, Michelin-starred restaurants in Jerusalem, Paris and London. With Berta, he adds Berlin to the collection. The casual, fine-dining restaurant impresses with a specially interpreted Israeli-Mediterranean cuisine with distinct North African, Yemeni and Eastern European influences.
- Berta at Precise Tale Berlin, Stresemannstraße 95–97, Kreuzberg, daily 18:30-23:00, bar Wed–Sat until 2:00, Tel. 0162/886 18 27, online
Bamia: Best brunch
The new Precise Tale hotel in Kreuzberg has opened with two restaurants: the aforementioned Berta, and Bamia. Here, chef Arie Oshir specialises in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with a European twist. The best part? Brunch every weekend, with European baked goods from the in-house bakery, as well as labneh shakshuka, sabich, hummus royal and eggs benedict.
- Bamia at Precise Tale Berlin, Stresemannstraße 95-97, Kreuzberg, Mon-Fri 7:00-23:00, Sat 16:00-23:00, brunch Sat+Sun 11:00-15:00, Tel. 030/202 20 09 50, online
Papillon: Dinner and dancing
The latest opening in Charlottenburg is a chic, modern spot – Papillon. It bills itself as a “dinner and dance” experience, where modern design fused with 1970s glamour create an all-out experience. With champagne, oysters, crustaceans and whatever the Israeli chef Nadav Kundel can think up.
- Papillon, Hardenbergplatz 15, Charlottenburg, Mon–Sat 18:00-2:00, Tel. 030/555 79 28 29, online
Sironi: New in Prenzlauer Berg
Great sourdough breads, ciabatta and focaccia are now available at Sironi’s new Prenzlauer Berg location, where they’re freshly baked at the main bakery in Markthalle Neun. For breakfast or afternoon coffee, there are sweet pastries like maritozzi, croissants with pistachio cream, cinnamon buns and vegan croissants. Bonus: espresso & cappuccino made with coffee beans from our new favourite roaster, We Roast Coffee.
- Sironi Prenzlauer Berg Gleimstrasse 38, Prenzlauer Berg, Wed–Mon 9:00-19:00, online
Manifesto: Futuristic food court
After finding success in Prague, Manifesto is opening a Berlin location – but what exactly is it? In short, it’s a gigantic food court. It’s the flagship food spot in Potsdamer Platz’s new “The Playce” shopping centre. Manifesto is spread out over 4,400 square meters on two levels, and accommodates over 40 vendors. We think it’ll be pretty hard to run out of new things to try here.
it’ll be pretty hard to run out of new things to try here
- Manifesto at The Playce, Alte Potsdamer Straße 7, Tiergarten, Sun–Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri+Sat 11:00-midnight, online
Macionga: Over 700 wines
Star chef André Macionga has opened his first restaurant in Berlin. The goal? Sustainable cuisine that is as regional as possible. For example, pine cones (trust us on this one) are transformed into a versatile food – from producing a sweet syrup, to becoming a crispy topping on roasted pork belly. There’s a practically endless wine offering, with over 700 wines, including Macionga’s own cuvées.
- Restaurant Macionga, Xantener Straße 9, Wilmersdorf, Thursday to Monday from 18:00, Tel. 0179/113 46 73, online
Son Kitchen: Fast and fabulous
Bulgogi beef meets burgers and fries meet kimchi: the street food legend Son Kitchen brings together the best of Korean and American street food, along with a fresh approach to mixing the flavours. After the success of their permanent restaurant in Charlottenburg, they’ve opened a new food truck at Potsdamer Platz – a perfect spot to grab delicious street food on the go.
- Son Kitchen Potsdamer Strasse, Potsdamer Strasse 107, Tiergarten, Mon–Sat 11:30-22:00, Tel. 030/84 51 37 15, online
Fisch-Borke: Excursion restaurant
Want to warm yourself by a cozy fire, overlooking a romantic lake view? This is the place: the heart of the new Fisch-Borke restaurant is the newly-designed window tables facing the lake. This is an excursion worth taking, even in Winter. Fisch-Borke is more than just a view, though. Try, for example, the exquisitely grilled Müritz catfish with Spreewald braised gherkins and bread dumplings.
- Fisch-Borke, Fürstenwalder Damm 848, Rahnsdorf, Winter hours: Thu+Fri 12:00-21:00, Sat+Sun 11:00-21:00, Tel. 030/61 20 10 07, online
Microkosmos: Bugging out
Nicole Sartirani’s mission: to make eating bugs socially acceptable. In Nicole’s new restaurant, the dishes are vegan, but some starters and deserts feature insects. Fried mealworms, crickets and grasshoppers bred in Germany are fried and carmalised and serve as a topping for deserts. Overcoming the deep-seated sense of disgust towards eating insects yields a tasty result – the fried bugs dipped in delicious soy-ginger dip are actually scrumptious.
- Microkosmos, Reichenberger Straße 122, Kreuzberg, Thurs–Mon 12:00-22:00, Tel. 030/23 29 90 20, online
Lütze: Cozy and colourful
The new Lütze restaurant in the Hotel Berlin presents itself as a colourful, relaxed cafeteria. Expect to find avocado-based dishes, pulled duck, beetroot hummus and egg, as well as bowls and soups. Most dishes are vegan, but they also have butter chicken or goat cheese bowls. To top it off, the new spot has delicious pastries from the in-house bakery.
- Lütze at the Hotel Berlin, Berlin Lützowplatz 17, Tiergarten, daily 12:00-22:00, Tel. 030/260 50, online
Fish Club: A “tail” of deliciousness
Margaux Friocourt is the founder of Fish Club, a food and wine experience available four evenings a week at Neukölln’s Treat wine bar. Sit back and allow her expert selections of wines and foods to take you on a journey of sights, smells and tastes. Our favourites are the brioche shrimp roll, the sardines in oil and the ancient cheese with the Chardonnnay flakes.
- Fish Klub @ Treat, Okerstraße 35, Neukölln, Wed–Fri 19:00-21:00, Sat 18:00-21:00, online
Kramer: Better than Seinfeld
Berlin has a new spot for open-fire cooking, but this one isn’t in Grunewald – it’s in the heart of Neukölln. At the Kramer, you get dinner and a show. A team of fire-tested chefs from Argentina, Italy, Japan and Germany offers seasonal menus of the charred and smoky variety. The experience here can be enjoyed as either a five-course menu or as a snack at the wine bar.
- Kramer Restaurant Pannierstrasse 41, Neukölln, Wed–Sat 18:00-23:00, Tel. 0160/757 57 84, online
Shan Rahimkhan: Bubbly at KaDeWe
Shan Rahimkhan is probably Berlin’s best-known and busiest hairdresser. He’s recently opened a branch of his beauty lounge at KaDeWe, but he does more than hair: the new salon features a chic, modern champagne bar. Just hope that the hairdressers don’t have too many drinks before cutting your hair!
- Shan Rahimkhan champagne bar in KaDeWe, 3rd floor, Tauentzienstrasse 21-24, Schöneberg, Mon-Wed 8:00-19:00, Thu+Fri 8:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-19:00, Tel. 030/88 71 79 00, online
Always Together: Asian dessert café
Until now, Coda Dessert Dining was Berlin’s only dessert restaurant. Luckily, we now have a new addition – Always Together. The specialty here is Asian desserts, like Bingsu – a milk-based, shaved ice cream with condensed milk, fruits and toppings. Don’t miss the striking interior design: everything here is in black and white, making you feel like you’ve just stepped into a comic book.
- Always Together, Große Hamburger Str. 24, Mitte, Mon–Sat 11:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-18:00, online
Le Feu: (More) Flammkuchen
There’s a new addition to Berlin’s already great flammkuchen scene: Le Feu, which opened in mid-February. Although new to Berlin, it already exists in cities throughout Germany. They specialise in freshly-baked tarte flambee, which can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including vegan options.
- Le Feu, Wielandstraße 38, Charlottenburg, daily from 17:00, Tel. 030/46 99 88 22, online
Still hungry? Take a look at Exberliner’s definitive guide to Berlin’s restaurants
