So far, I only knew Berlin from visiting the tourism fair ITB - and my knowledge of the city was limited to taxi rides in snow or cold rain between the hotel and the exhibition hall. I was all the happier to get to know a completely different Berlin in summer: sunny, colorful and cheerful. My Berlin friends showed me not only the sights of the city, but also many well-known and lesser-known places to relax and enjoy: shady beer gardens, cool bars, cozy cafes ... and a quaint market hall. In my little Berlin travel guide today I would like to tell you the personal "Berlin where to go" tips of real insiders and take you on a small culinary tour of the capital. All details are from the time of my trip to Berlin in August 2018. All Berlin travel tips can also be found at the end of this article in the Berlin City map.
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The Prater Garten is a well known place in the district of Prenzlauer Berg. Thirsty guests have been drinking their beers here under shady chestnut trees since 1837. We were there on a Tuesday afternoon and it was pretty empty, it was not until late afternoon when it became full. Drinks and food you get at the dispensaries in the back of the garden. The menu is short and hearty: bratwurst, meatloaf, roast potatoes, potato salad. For vegetarians, there are corn on the cob with butter and baked potatoes with herb quark. In bad weather you can sit in the attached restaurant. Depending on the season, there are also specialties such as asparagus, mussels or roast goose. Conclusion: ideal for a relaxed summer afternoon after a strenuous sightseeing tour.
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My favorite beer garden in Berlin is the "Schleusenkrug", directly at the old Tiergarten sluice of the "Landwehrkanal" water way. In the old days, boat people already were supplied here with drinks while waiting at the sluice. In 1954, the beer garden opened at the historic lock building. Incidentally, the iron curtain ran right up here on the Landwehr Canal until 1989. We were lucky in our visit and were able to get hold of a table right at the lock to watch the ships passing by. The menu is very varied and long for a beer garden. In addition to classics such as Schnitzel with chips or "Leberkäse" with potato salad, there are specialties such as asparagus risotto, fish soup or "Königsberg Klopse". From 5pm (at the Weekend from 1pm) there are steaks and Merguez sausages directly from the live grill.
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Centrally located between Chancellery building and Reichstag building lies directly on the Spree the beautiful, large beer garden of the Zollpackhof. The restaurant belongs to the Augustiner brewery and exudes a discreet Bavarian flair in the middle of Prussian Berlin. Accordingly, the menu is dominated by "Leberkäse", grilled chicken, "Schweinshaxe" and "Obatzda". But there are also tarte flambée and Berlin Currywurst (which, however, is judged very critically by true Berliners). We made ourselves comfortable under the more than 150-year-old chestnut tree and enjoyed the view of the Spree and the Chancellery building. For children there is a large playground. And for the adults, every evening at 6pm there is the traditional Augustinian "keg stroke".
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There are several Loretta beer gardens in Berlin, we visited the one at lake Wannsee. The beautiful, large beer garden under shady trees has a perfect location, right at the boat dock at Wannsee. Ideal if you want relax, hungry and thirsty after a hike or a bike ride around the lake. In addition to the beer benches and tables, there is also a corner where you can loll and sunbathe in a deck chair. In addition to chicken, meatloaf and Currywurst, you will find on the menu also varied dishes such as couscous salad, Matjesfilet and a wide selection of cakes, ice cream and very delicious waffles with cherries.
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If you are looking for a good place to have breakfast or brunch in Berlin, I recommend "Die Stulle" (Berlin slang for sandwich) in Charlottenburg. We enjoyed a long and delicious breakfast here on a Saturday. In good weather you can sit at the tables on the sidewalk, otherwise the inside is also quite comfortable. Everything that comes on the table here is fresh, from regional cultivation and selected according to biological and ecological aspects. And all dishes are kind of artistic creations. Your omelet will be lovingly piled up, garnished with cress, rocket, apricot cream and pine nuts served. Enjoy your food.
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For me, the summer cafe was a real insider tip. It is located in the beautiful garden "Landhausgarten" on the Havel river, which is worth a visit even without the cafe. We visited the cafe as part of a trip to Wannsee. The ferry takes you across the lake to the pier in the district of Alt-Kladow (the ferry is part of the public Transport system, which means you can use it at no extra cost, when you hold e.g. a weekly ticket). From the ferry dock, it's about 30 minutes along the Havel river and past the old Art Nouveau villas to Landhausgarten. At the summer café you can then reward yourself with a piece of freshly baked cheesecake and iced coffee after the hike. Berlin travel guide:
If the weather is not great (but not only then), the Arminius Market Hall is a good culinary alternative. The historic market hall from 1891 in a nostalgic red brick building has been filled with new life since 2010. It has since become one of the city's most beautiful market halls and a culinary and cultural center in the district of Moabit. There are traditional market stalls with local and regional food, where the Berliners organize their daily shopping - here you get everything from fruits and vegetables, over meat and fish to delicatessen and wine. But beyond that, a creative and young restaurant scene has developed in the Arminius market hall. Whether you want to dine authentic Vietnamese, Peruvian or Canadian, or just look for a quick currywurst or pea soup - you'll surely find what you're looking for here. Berlin travel guide:
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In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the City, the "Capital Beach" exudes a little bit of holiday feeling. The beach bar is located directly across from the main station on the other side of the Spree river. Convenient, if you wait for the train and need to kill time for an hour or so. Actually, not a typical beach bar, because instead of sand there is only grass. Nevertheless, you can make yourself comfortable in the deck chairs and beach chairs that are set up along the Spree shore. While sipping a cocktail from the well-stocked drinks menu, the barges and excursion boats pass by on the Spree. For the physical well-being is also taken care of, on the menu are for example Tacos and Tarte Flammkuchen. If you do not want to eat in a deckchair, there are plenty of tables in the shade of the umbrellas at the top of the bar. Berlin travel guide:
The Hildegard Bar is very close to Ku'damm and the famous KaDeWe store. The perfect place for night owls who want to drink a cocktail late at night. The old-fashioned jukebox, the bottle-topped shelf behind the bar, and the staff in white shirts and black ties convey a touch of Manhattan in Good-Old-Berlin. On the cocktail menu you will find (almost) every cocktail, and if not, they improvise. Incidentally, the name of the bar reminds of two famous Hildegards: firstly to the Berlin veteran singer and performer Hildegard Knef and second to Hildegard von Bingen, a medieval nun, who - according to the owner of the bar - was the first cocktail mixer in history with herbal remedies mixed by her ... you should know that the Hildegard Bar is a smokers bar - good for smokers, bad for nonsmokers. Access therefore only from 18 years. Berlin travel guide:
The Monkey Bar is located on the 10th floor of the 25h Hotel Bikini Berlin. Up here you have a great view over Berlin. The comfortable seating is grouped around the rustic counter in the middle of the bar. Through the large panoramic windows, you can look down on the zoological garden and watch the monkeys in the enclosure while playing. Which already explains the name of the bar. On the small roof terrace, you can drink cocktails in good weather while enjoying the sun. We went to the Monkey Bar for sundowners in the late afternoon and it was already quite crowded. So you either have to be lucky or have patience to get a good seat, as reservations are not possible. Berlin travel guide:
"Amidst Mitte" at the James Simon Park and under the historic city railway arches is the Ampelmann - restaurant and bar with beach and holiday atmosphere. In the restaurant you can brunch from 10am to 2pm, but we were only here for drinks in the afternoon. On the deckchair lawn that extends into the park, you can relax and watch the hustle and bustle of the city around you. The decoration of the place is all about the (East German) "traffic light man" (meaning Ampelmann in German), which is not only, as often claimed, the world's cutest of its kind with its small belly, the bulbous nose and the perky hat, but also an "east-algic" symbol of the times before reunification. Berlin travel guide:
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Have you been to Berlin before? What are your experiences and recommendations? I am pleased about your additions but also about questions and other comments.
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