16 of the best Berlin Restaurants
There's a regenerative quality from many Berlin restaurants which attracts people from around the world – the city is becoming known for its fusion of cultures and original take on traditional cuisines. Visit in spring or summer and you’ll experience a cafe culture much like Europe’s warmer cities, with tables lining the leafy cobbled streets. In winter things get cosy – crowds pack into restaurants and bars with Berlin’s signature unplastered walls and low lighting.
In a city where the rhythm is defined by shifts in the weather, it’s no surprise that seasonality is a guiding force in kitchens. The passion for local ingredients and produce is universal regardless of chefs' nationalities. This is enhanced by a clear abundance of German suppliers who are innovating within their field. Thoughtfulness and care infuse even the fastest-working kitchens.
Passing through broad streets, canal sides and industrial architecture, we got to know the city through its food. These are Berlin’s best restaurants.
1. Osmans Töchter
Germany’s large Turkish community is out in force in Berlin, with Turkish food on every street. Most of these establishments offer fast food in its most practical form; tasty, yes, but somewhat lacking in charm. This is where Osmans Töchter steps in. Translated as "Osman’s Daughters", the name is a nod to the feminine warmth owners Lale Yanik and Arzu Bulut have brought to their two restaurants. We visited the outpost in Prenzlauer Berg, where the vibe is relaxed, with shabby-chic interiors and homely wooden furniture.
Hot and cold plates are designed for sharing; think well-known dishes such as vine leaves, kofte and kebab. But even the more traditional dishes have a contemporary spin – hummus flecked with mushrooms and truffle oil and a delicious dash of cinnamon in the octopus stew. The goat’s cheese filled with caramelised onion was sweet and tangy, and the fresh taste of ceviche contained a pronounced zing of mustard. Influences from Israel, Germany and further afield are all present, but what grounds the food here is the maternal approach to Turkish cooking. This is more than just a concept – the owners explain that the food is prepared by women from around the world, bringing even the most well-travelled recipes back to their roots.
Address: Osmans Töchter, Pappelallee 15, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Website: osmanstoechter.de
Robert Riegerjpg2. Kin Dee
Dalad Kambhu found her vocation through cooking with her aunt – an unconventional route into the culinary world that has no doubt influenced her approach as head chef at Kin Dee. The restaurant is simple, dressed in neutral tones, but Berlin’s punk roots are not forgotten, with a red neon sign and roughly painted poetry on the mirror. The atmosphere is relaxed but lively, and staff set you at ease immediately.
We were here for a set menu of delicious Thai sharing plates, referencing recipes passed down through generations. A passion for local ingredients, sourced sustainably from the local area, offers some modern updates on these ancient dishes. It is this bringing together of old and new, innovating within the deep-rooted tradition, that is perhaps the reason Kambhu is one of the few female chefs in Berlin to be awarded a Michelin star. The food is not fussy, retaining that home-cooked feel which allows for comfort to precede artfulness. Thai green curry is familiar yet infinitely refined; a plate of sweet peppers, barely dressed, sings with natural flavour. The starter – a fruit salad – brings together a spicy savoury dressing with the sweetness of seasonal fruits. Washed down with a citrusy, dry cocktail or a glass of natural wine, we left feeling light and nourished.
Address: Kin Dee, Lützowstraße 81, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Website: kindeeberlin.com/en
DANIEL GEBHART DE KOEKKOEK3. Bar Normal
As many of the best things in life tend to be, Bar Normal is a misnomer for quite a special place. The locale has all the recognisable qualities of a wine bar – dim lighting, wooden tables and chairs, stripped-back interiors, and buzzy and busy with people. The owner, Van Ahn Lee, changed the venue from a Vietnamese restaurant when she began to feel uninspired in the kitchen. Bar Normal was her solution to a lost passion, and it's clear she found it again. The result is a playful and experimental attitude to food and drink that works with nature's best assets.
A wide range of small plates is offered, with shifting recipes reflecting the seasonal produce. Crispy kale was the favourite at the time of our visit – we heard that mushrooms will be next to make a debut. Charred and bitter flavours are not shied away from. So if this is not for you, ask the waiter to guide your selection. Popular favourites include the mussels cooked in beer beurre blanc, rich and creamy, while the tortilla melts in your mouth, fresh peppers leaking out their juices. And let’s not forget the wines; natural and unusual, they are an adventure in themselves.
Address: Bar Normal, Oderberger Str. 7, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Website: ganz-normal.eu
John Bauer4. 893 Ryōtei Japanese Restaurant
Walking past, it would be easy to mistake 893 Ryōtei for an abandoned shop. The large mirrored window is entirely scrawled with graffiti, a small neon above the door reads the door number ‘893’. Walking inside, you are enveloped in darkness. The main source of light in the restaurant comes from the busy open kitchen in its centre, encircled by small tables with low pendant lights. The result is an underground glamour which reminds us of late nights at a Japanese izakaya.
The menu covers all the traditional dishes you might expect, such as delicious sashimi, sushi and miso soup. But head chef Duc Ngu is full of surprises. The spaghetti royale is served with caviar, reminiscent of an Italian carbonara, and a fresh spinach salad comes dressed with miso and truffle shavings. The drinks are also inventive. The popcorn-infused Margarita was a unique flavour we had never tasted before. To finish, try a cocktail made with dry hazelnut Piedmont Eau de Vie; a favourite ingredient at 893. Pair with the chocolate soufflé with sesame ice cream and plums for the perfect end to this culinary love affair.
Address: 893 Ryōtei Japanese Restaurant, Kantstraße 135/136, 10625 Berlin, Germany
Website: 893ryotei.de
5. Mrs Robinson’s
On arrival, warm and welcoming knowledgeable staff bring what looks like a still-life arrangement to our table. Pulling up a chair in a familiar manner, they talk us through what is to come. A range of meat, seafood and seasonal fruit and veg are the backbone of their set menu of small plates. So passionate are the owners about their food’s lifecycle that each item is given a story and traced back to its source. This is more than just ideology; the footer of their menu even reads in shouty capitals, “F**K INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE; FARM REGENERATIVELY OR DIE”.
The approach to cooking is understated, and Asian-inspired recipes let the ingredients speak for themselves. But Mrs Robinson’s is not without a sense of performance. The beautiful wooden tables include a pull-out drawer of cutlery so you can pick your fighter for each dish. One course arrives as a bowl of chilli oil with crispy pieces. As we look on, unsure of how to tackle it, a curated selection of seafood arrives. A few courses later, we are asked to make a selection from six different figs, the chosen one winding up deliciously prepared in our dessert. In this way, the produce runs through the menu as a narrative; fresh, light flavours and artful combinations tell a story from beginning to end.
Address: Mrs Robinson’s, Pappelallee 29, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Website: mrsrobinsons.de
6. Sorrel
Sorrel is a light, bright, minimally designed spot in Neukolln, principally focused on lunch and brunch, but open late two days a week. Arriving on one of the last warm days of the year, we sat outside on the heavy benches, lapping up some sun and a fresh glass of homemade lemonade. With their humble prices and quality coffee, you could mistake this for a stylish café. But the restaurant menu is anything but basic.
The first plate to arrive was smoked trout with fresh peas and chawanmushi. On further investigation, this is essentially an omelette prepared with pea puree to give it a green appearance and silky texture. Soft and sweet, savoury and citrusy, it’s a perfect dish. We also couldn’t get enough of the cauliflower with crunchy onions and mustard seeds, tahini and parsley oil. Throughout the menu, texture was king, with crunch and softness bringing together flavours in multi-sensory play. The restaurant prides itself on presenting unusual ingredients in tasty and accessible ways so that flavours feel familiar even as you wonder what it is you are eating. Finish your lunch with a plate of French toast, crisped to perfection and cloud-like inside, served with fig compote and ricotta. Knocked back with a glass of natural wine or a freshly ground coffee, the meal couldn’t be more complete.
Address: Sorrel, Pannierstraße 40, 12047 Berlin, Germany
Website: sorrel.berlin
Studio GLAS/Lara Ohl7. La Côte
La Côte’s bright red neon loudly interrupts the greyness of a late September day. Inside, the space is chic and intimate. We are enveloped in neighbours' chatter as we shimmy between small terrazzo tables and avoid knocking our heads on the low-hanging lights. At first glance, the name La Côte suggests French cuisine, but we are told the head chef is Israeli. Like much of the cuisine in Berlin, they feel no need to pick a side – flavours from around the world find their way perfectly in harmony onto the menu.
A taste of the inventive cocktails is a must – dry and tart with pickled watermelon, vodka and green tea, or sweet and hot pink, modelled off a twister ice lolly, with gin, strawberry, lime and black pepper. Sourdough (baked in-house, of course) arrives with something similar to chimichurri butter. This was so addictive we had to be careful not to eat it all before the first course, (you’ll want some left to soak up the juices.) We switch to natural wines as the food arrives, trying out some delicious skin contact varieties. The food is creative, but still accessible with some classic dishes such as oysters and burrata. Seabass tartare appears topped with bright green tobiko (flying fish roe), glowing in the lamplight. Each mouthful started with a subtle flavour that quickly expanded. Wasabi, apple, pickled cucumber and chive exploded on our taste buds. We’ve never tasted anything like it. As a main, we cooed over tender slices of steak with mustard, dill and liver pate. The inventiveness of the menu was a beautiful union of ingredients and influences that left us sure we would return for more.
Address: La Côte, Kienitzer Str. 95, 12049 Berlin, Germany
Website: lacoteberlin.com
8. Wen Cheng
A simple restaurant with utilitarian interiors in blocks of red, black, white and blue, Wen Cheng is focused on doing one thing and doing it very well – noodles. On the menu, you will find little else. Their speciality is wide, flat, hand-pulled noodles, done the wen cheng or biang biang way. The names refer to the soupiness – wen cheng is the version with more broth. The delicious handmade noodles soak up the flavour, while the four options of beef, aubergine or lamb or tofu and shitake come thickly cut and submerged with sauce. Everything, from the noodles to the other dishes of smashed cucumber salad and Sichuan fried chicken, is dripping in chilli oil. You can request the spice levels from spicy to Asian spicy or beyond. (Really if you don’t like chilli, this place might not be for you.) This is comfort food at its best: hot, filling and packed with flavour. The story behind the two restaurants is rooted in family. The owners refer to the complex and enduring process of pulling noodles as a metaphor for their family history, of prevailing over struggle and hardship. And theirs is a story of success; a restaurant with a big heart and even bigger flavours.
Address: Wen Cheng Handgezogene Nudeln, Schönhauser Allee 65, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Website: wenchengnoodles.de
Joann Pai9. Coccodrillo
Coccodrillo is Big Mamma group’s Berlin branch and no less spectacular than its London associates; Gloria, Ave Mario and Circolo Popolare. Placed in the centre of Weinbergspark, the restaurant stands out like a fun fair amidst the grass and greenery. A battalion of tomato red sun shades mark out its large outdoor seating area, and a neon sign above the door invites us in. The interiors are just as arresting. This is maximal design at its best; delivered by Big Mamma’s in-house design agency Studio Kiki. Red lacquer gleams from floor to ceiling, while neons, mirrors and sculptural lights set the place shimmering. The playful approach verges on naughty – the toilet doors are one-way mirrors so that you can see the rest of the bathroom from inside the cubicle. But interiors like these would mean nothing without a great atmosphere. The music is great and all the staff are Italian, so it’s guaranteed to feel like a party. The menu is designed around popular Italian dishes, with one or two surprises, and a fun selection of wine, beer and cocktails. But it has to be said, the food is inconsistent. Some dishes were totally delicious and others underwhelming. We adored the starters; charcuterie and signature giant burrata, served with delicious fresh tomato sauce to mop up with bread served hot from the kitchen. The pasta course was significantly less inspiring. But pudding – a fruit salad of strawberries, tomatoes, basil and crunchy fried coconut on a bed of vegan whipped cream – was stunning. What we can be sure of, though, is that Coccodrillo is an experience worth having.
Address: Coccodrillo, Veteranenstraße 9, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Website: bigsquadra.com
10. Kink
Walking into a beautiful old red brick courtyard, Kink makes a statement even before you reach the restaurant. Two-storey tall trees create dappled shade in the day and serve as the dramatic backdrop for coloured lights at night. The former brewery is beautifully converted, both rough and ready, with a restaurant area that spills out into the terrace. The bar has a more industrial feel to it – think exposed concrete walls and a beautiful red neon sculpture which fills the cavernous space. Soft seating invites you to make yourself at home, for this is a restaurant you could spend a good few hours in, moving from one area to another as you transition from morning to evening; from coffee to supper to drinks. Food arrives on beautifully presented small plates. But it’s the drinks that are the main event here. Delicious wines and cocktails are offered in both long and short options depending on your preferred alcohol intake, and non-drinkers are also catered for. Kink even has its own lab for developing an experimental range of delicious fermented, distilled, cooked and infused products. The result is a mastery of alchemy which is truly unique.
Address: Kink Bar & Restaurant, Schönhauser Allee 176, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Website: kink-berlin.de
SAM A HARRIS11. Remi
Encased in polished concrete floors and wrap-around glass windows, Remi’s interiors are as slick and beautiful as the food. Treading the line between comfortable and cool, the minimal design is softened by Nordic wooden furniture. Metres of white neon run through the space, wrapping around the red metal open kitchen, whose lively movement gives the restaurant its heartbeat. The dishes take a similar approach, toeing the line between fine dining and accessible cuisine. Steak tartare arrives on a fluffy brioche toast with lettuce and sabayon, punching with a peppery flavour and moist meat; refined but also relatable. We were told the influences from world cuisine, from Argentinian, and Dutch to Mediterranean, is inspired by the many nationalities of Remi’s team. This is also reflected in the fabulous wine selection from around the world. Yet Remi is firmly rooted in local and seasonal produce, nature’s natural rhythm guiding their shifting offering. The white tuna ceviche was zingy and fresh with lime and tomatoes. But it’s the unexpected inclusion of bronze fennel, in season and locally sourced, that gives it its unique taste.
Address: Remi, Torstraße 48, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Website: remi-berlin.de
Zoe Spawton12. Ora
During the day the sign on the front of the building reads Oranien Apotheke, the name of an old pharmacy. Come night, the neon is half extinguished. Only the first three letters remain illuminated – ‘O-R-A’; a wine bar and restaurant. Inside, the space is a beautiful harmony between the past and present. Due to the historical nature of the building the interiors are protected. So furniture sits alongside 19th-century medicine cabinets and the bar sits behind the original sales counter. The space has all the best qualities of a wine bar, busy, bustling and open late with a delicious range of natural wines, cocktails and Champagne. But it’s not all about drinking here. Ora offers a satisfying range of dishes too; from oysters and burrata to fish and game, plus some delicious vegetarian options. The angle is European, with a focus on small farms, foragers and local hunters to keep the produce at its best. We tried tender wild deer, served with crunchy corn, elderberry, bolete (mushrooms) and kale and topped with crispy smoky garlic. The Monkfish polpette in langoustine bisque with chilli and cucumber is a fresh taste of the sea. Finish with almond frangipane and verbena custard, sharpened up by foraged blackberries. ‘Ora’ also means ‘now’ in Italian. These are dishes which conjure up nostalgia but remain firmly rooted in the present.
Address: ORA Restaurant & Wine Bar, Oranienpl. 14, 10999 Berlin, Germany
Website: ora.berlin
13. Buya Ramen Factory
A bowl complete with everything you need to replenish yourself, ramen is the ultimate comfort food. But in any given city, finding the best ramen is an overwhelming game. Our tip is Buya Ramen. Long tables and benches fill the leafy courtyard outside, whilst a cosy, plant-filled canteen-style room is found indoors. Buya Ramen is welcoming and not without a sense of style. The nutty Tantamen and spicy turmeric recipes warm you from the inside. Try the speciality with crispy duck – it’s an unusual offering we’d never tried before, with the duck remaining satisfyingly crunchy even after complete submersion in the hot meaty broth. No corners are cut here, either, with noodles freshly made in-house each day. The menu includes a small selection of izakaya-style sharing plates, delicately put together but punching with flavour. Gyoza with crispy onions and garlic and sautéed aubergine with mounds of fresh ginger softened with sweet soy, had us considering seconds. We also loved the offerings of orange wine, kombucha and the freshest Moroccan mint tea.
Address: Buya Ramen Factory, Reichenberger Str. 36 Backyard, 10999 Berlin, Germany
Website: buyarestaurants.com
14. Julius
Labelled the little sibling of fine-dining legend Ernst, Julius was opened to offer a more relaxed and flexible alternative to this elusive restaurant. Julius is set in an old clothing store, all white, roughly prepared walls, concrete floor and wrap-around windows. With hip-hop playing softly in the background, it’s not worlds away from an edgy pop-up. In the daytime, the approach is informal, and coffee and baked goods are available. The supper menu is a poetry book of bite-size haiku, and each plate offers a few ingredients of the highest quality. These are simply prepared with a lightness of touch which can’t help but reference the homeland cuisine of Japanese chef Shunsuke Naogoka. Ingredients such as sashimi, dashi, shiso, shoyu and yuzu appear in more than one assembly, yet it is seasonal produce from across Germany and local ingredients which forms its core. Vegetables and meat from independent producers underscore delicious dishes such as veal with peppers and smoky kale, or crunchy caramelised apple brûlée paired with a deliciously tart sour cherry beer by 3 Fonteinen. Whilst the plates pride themselves in letting the ingredients speak for themselves, there is originality and inventiveness to the production, which gives it an intriguing narrative.
Address: Julius, Gerichtstraße 31, 13347 Berlin, Germany
Website: exploretock.com
The Dude for Food15. Estelle Dining
While we were recommended quite a few well-known and very good Berlin pizzerias, you can find these in any Berlin restaurant guide. Instead, we were intrigued by the somewhat offbeat menu at Estelle. With a beautiful interior designed by Lien Tran, the restaurant is all glass and wood set against light coral walls and terrazzo tables. Complete with a biodynamic wine list and delicious seasonal small plates, it didn’t disappoint. The focus is on European cuisine, but we were pleasantly surprised by Chef Jared Bassoff's insertion of Asian ingredients such as soy, pickled onion and ginger. We couldn’t get enough of the salty, meaty and succulent mushroom dish with salty miso and umami egg. The radicchio salad comes served with labneh, beetroot and hot poached pear, bringing a soft sweetness to the crunchy bitter leaves. And pizza, yes, but not how you’ve ever had them. Forget your traditional margarita or pepperoni. The closest was the spicy salami and chilli oil, reimagined with cauliflower and reduced honey glaze. We also tried charred broccoli with buffalo mozzarella, zinging with tangy pickled onion. In a city where arguably there might be too much pizza (if such a thing exists), Estelle cuts through the noise.
Address: Estelle Dining, Kopenhagener Str. 12A, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Website: estelle-dining.com
Moritz Schmid16. Eins44
Based in an old distillery in Neukolln, the building of Eins44 transports your mind back to a bustling workplace in the 1900s. Large metal ceiling lamps and tables set into cast iron frames, communicate heavy utility, whilst the floor-to-ceiling windows and off-white ceramic tiles, lift the space into brightness. This push and pull between pragmatism and refinement is perhaps a nice metaphor for the food, which prides itself on being contemporary and uncomplicated, delivered with expert curation. The menu’s description of roast chicken and cauliflower is certainly deceptively simple. But with specks of black poppy seed and smooth sweet pure, it’s an artist’s take on the hearty family dinner. Vegan Thai curry, again a classic staple, is given a gentle rework; pops of pineapple bring out the other, more subtle flavours. The closing note is a sharp, crisp pear tarte tatin with vanilla salted caramel ice cream. The mood at Eins44 is softly lit and softly spoken, the perfect spot for a leisurely tet-a-tet. While away the hours with four or five courses and do not miss out on the exquisite wine pairing.
Address: Eins44, Elbestraße 28/29, 12045 Berlin, Germany
Website: eins44.com