There’s a confluence of holidays this spring weekend, each with their own food traditions: ham, lamb and chocolate bunnies for Easter; matzo, horseradish and brisket for Passover; and, uh, nothing for Ramadan (at least until sunset, then all bets are off). From classic brunch to quirky local gift baskets, here’s everything you should be eating.
Mark Easter at Marktlokal
Markthalle IX’s legendary restaurant is serving up a seasonal, regional feast of next-level comfort food. It kicks off with a celeriac soup topped with marinated trout, and continues with cured egg yolk and Jerusalem artichoke cream, cordon bleu and Spargel, and a parfait with rhubarb and Berliner Weisse. Vegetarians, don’t fret: you’ll get your money’s worth as well.
Pücklerstr. 34, Kreuzberg, April 13-16 from 6pm, www.marktlokal.berlin
Celebrate the French way at Ganymed
Brecht’s old haunt on Schiffbauerdamm is serving up fish, lamb and lots of savoir faire this Easter. Look out for a “surprise lamb dish” from chef Pietro Solito, preceded by a seafood “Plateau Royal” featuring French oysters, Black Tiger shrimp, crab claws, scallops, grilled octopus and salmon tartare. You’d think you were on the Seine, not the Spree.
Schiffbauerdamm 5, Mitte, daily 11–23, www.ganymed-brasserie.de
Bougie brunching at Schlosshotel
If you’re really looking to go all-out for Easter, head to this luxe oasis in Grunewald, where you can choose between a €145 “French-European” holiday menu starring spring lamb, lobster and monkfish carpaccio, or a €129 Sunday brunch where you can dine on “the finest of delicacies” prepared a la minute while your kids hunt for Easter eggs.
Brahmsstraße 10, Grunewald, dinner Apr 15-18 from 6pm, brunch Apr 17, 12-4pm, www.schlosshotelberlin.com
A private Easter at the Michelberger
Berlin’s locavore-est hotel restaurant isn’t serving a special Easter menu, but big groups of friends or family members can reserve one of their private separées for a lavish brunch: homemade bread and pastries (try the Basque cheesecake!), fruit and vegetables from the hotel’s own farm in Spreewald, cheese, spreads, hot dishes and of course a variety of vegan options.
Warschauer Str. 39, Friedrichshain, www.michhelbergerhotel.com
Easter bread from Beumer & Lutum
There’s no Easter in this country without Osterbrot, and nobody does it like this celebrated mini-chain of organic bakeries. Sweet and fluffy, enriched with butter and almonds, it’s a perfect addition to any Easter table. For something more colourful, pick up a few chicks – cute bird-shaped confections with chocolate eyes and coconut plumage.
Cuvrystraße 22, Kreuzberg and other locations, Mon–Fri 7–18, Sat 7–14, Sun 7–14, closed Good Friday and Easter Monday, www.beumer-lutum.de
Brest wishes at Canal
We love Canal for its arty eclairs in winter and fantastic ice cream in summer, but also for its always-creative holiday concoctions. This Easter, for example, they’re baking up the patisserie classic Paris-Brest, but replacing the choux pastry’s traditional hazelnut cream filling with passionfruit curd, throwing in pistachio praline, ganache and chocolate eggs while they’re at it. Reserve yours in advance!
Linienstraße 54, Mitte, Wed-Sat 12-19, Sun 12-18, www.canal.berlin
Theresienzöpfe at Domberger Brotwerk
The traditional Easter Hefezopf is a braided, challah-like loaf made, as you might guess, with yeast (Hefe). At Florian Domberger’s bakery, though, only sourdough is allowed as a rising agent, necessitating a name change. Maundy Thursday is your last chance to pick up the delightfully tangy treat at any of Domberger’s three locations.
Essener Strasse 11, Moabit and other locations, Thu 8–18.30, closed Easter weekend, www.domberger-brot-werk.com
Easter at home from Brikz
Arne Anker’s fine dining restaurant began life as a delivery business, and it’s returning to its boxy roots this weekend, sending out three courses, an amuse bouche and a petit four to at-home diners with €69/person to spare. Think lamb ragout with white asparagus, or panna cotta with sea buckthorn. Simply email the restaurant to order yours.
Grolmanstraße 53/54, Charlottenburg, online
A Passover dinner from Beba
The traditional Passover seder is a lengthy ritual in which one must expound and reflect on the Jews’ liberation from Egypt for hours before dinner is finally served. We won’t blame you if you skip the ceremony and just dig into the tempting delivery specials from the Gropius-Bau’s modern Jewish restaurant, including aubergine salad, matzo ball soup, and leg of lamb with Jerusalem artichokes and pomegranate sauce. You’ll have to source your own matzo, though – try Kosher Life on Brunnenstraße.
Niederkirchnerstraße 7, Mitte, order online at www.beba.berlin
Easter bunnies from Candide and Pars Pralines
Just say no to the grainy chocolate rabbits from Netto and co.: two of our favourite artisanal chocolatiers are offering epicurean takes on the leporine classic. The one from Candide comes with a handwritten message in its belly; the one from Pars was designed in Bauhaus style by artist Omer Polak in collaboration with Nobelhart & Schmutzig. If dismembering bunnies isn’t your thing, both are also offering eggs – Candide’s with passionfruit, yoghurt chocolate and mango; Pars’ in an angular shape filled with nougat or a noisemaking surprise.
Order at www.candide.berlin or at Pars, Schönleinstr. 6, Kreuzberg, Thu-Sat 13–19, www.parspralinen.com
Local gifts from Up & Coming
Think global, stay local – and tasty. The Up & Coming delivery service curates products from Berlin’s small manufacturers and delivers them to new and old fans throughout Germany. For Easter, the team put together various combos to give to a loved one or squirrel away yourself – like a sweet-sounding package with meringues from Kreuzberg patisserie Latodolce, blueberry compote from Roots Radicals, gluten-free blueberry rolls from Oshione and chocolate from Komma.
Order online at www.upandcoming.market
