In a city with such an amazing international community, the Berlin restaurant scene has so much to offer!!
Everything here is my own opinion and I received no compensation for this post. It also contains affiliate links. If you have any questions about this, just click here! All content copyright Where’s Emma Now 2012-2024.
Berlin is such a great city for food. There’s so much of an international presence in the city that you can find incredible authentic food from all corners of the globe. Today, I’m highlighting a few of my favorite Berlin restaurants so far!
Berlin Restaurants
Brauhaus Mitte
Can you go to Germany without eating at a brewery or bierhall?
Since we’d spent so much time in recent months in Munich and Salzburg, we opted for a more modern take on a brewery this time. On a Saturday night, Brauhaus is packed and we only got in by promising to eat before the reservation kicked in in 90 minutes.
The food was great! I had sauerbraten, something my mom used to make for special occasions, and it was both delicious and nostalgia-inducing. We also tried a flight of their beers (less common in classic bierhalls) and loved trying so many variations! My favorite beer was the Weizen.
I will say this, though: locals probably wouldn’t include this spot on their list. It’s delicious, but definitely targeting tourists. But it has the advantage of serving traditional dishes and beer in a great location for tourist traffic. You can certainly find more authentic spots further out, but if you need food close by, this is a solid choice.
Maison Dang
In a city full of great international food, there is a ton of Vietnamese options available. Maison Dang serves Vietnamese with a modern twist. I had a fantastic pho and Ho Cau Tom, steamed shrimp dumplings. Logan had a duck dish off the specials menu, and we were hard-pressed to pick which we liked better!
We actually went to multiple restaurants within the “Dang” family – we stopped in for a drink at Fam Dang one night after dinner, and everyone’s food smelled so good that we headed to Maison Dang for lunch the next day! Each location has a slightly different menu and different feel, but they’re spread out in the city enough that we chose each time based on what was nearest.
Sadhu 2
We wanted to get as much international food as possible, so we headed out to Sadhu 2 for Indian food! This is the great part about Berlin’s public transport – we were able to venture much further for great food!
Naturally, we ordered way too much and loved every bite. Sadhu 2 was delicious and perfect for getting a whole table full of food! Don’t miss the briyani, it surprised me by being my favorite of the night!
Cafe Rundum
Cafe Rundum is a cute coffeehouse and breakfast place frequented by locals. I loved eating at a place so… normal? If that makes sense. You can tell it’s the type of spot that couples get Saturday morning breakfast at every weekend, or that someone who works remotely heads to a few times a week to get a change of scenery with their laptop.
The coffee is good and the food is better. I went simple with a veggie omelet, and it was massive! I’d be a regular here if I lived here.
Eat kebabs… somewhere
I don’t give a specific recommendation for kebabs because 1- they are available everywhere and 2- the best ones are hole-in-the-wall spots anyway. Do yourself a favor and get one while you’re exploring the city. The significantly cheaper price point than a typical sit-down meal doesn’t hurt either.
Bars
Berlin has a speakeasy culture, but with the reputation of being a bit selective in who they let in. If you don’t speak German, it’s almost impossible to get into many. So instead of sharing these, I’ve got two spots that have a bit of the speakeasy vibe without being secret.
Bar Marques
Bar Marques is a normal restaurant upstairs. From what I’ve read, it’s nice food though a bit overpriced. But if you head down the stairs immediately to the left of the front door, you’ll find yourself in an elegant bar that feels a lot like a Victorian study. Elaborately carved chairs cushioned with velvet dot the room, with most of the light coming from candles. If you can, snag the table next to the fireplace.
Bar Marques doesn’t have a menu. You tell the bartender what you like and he’ll suggest a drink, describing the ingredients as he goes. We went with his suggestion, and of course, they were delicious!
Stagger Lee
Less than 10 minutes’ walk from Bar Marques you’ll find Stagger Lee, a cozy bar that serves fancy and slightly offbeat cocktails. The menu is hilarious with witty one-line descriptors, so take your time deciding!
I went with the True Grit – a gin drink with basil, cucumber, and apple juice, among other flavors. Descriptor: she looked sweet, acted sour, and was bitter to her enemies. Enigmatic, no? It was really good – a bit herbal, and sweet but not too sweet.
The Berlin restaurant scene has wayyyy more incredible options, but these are a few of my favorites so far!
Want more travel guides? I share exclusive tips with my email list!
I’m all about the beer tasting and cocktails 🙂 looks so good! And thanks for sharing 🙂
xoxo Annaleid
http://www.actuallyanna.com
Exactly!!! Me too girl, me too!