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Still Delicious: Lunch at Hallesches Haus
You probably know Hallesches Haus as one of the most instagram-ready places in Berlin, with a light filled café space adorned with loads of hanging plants and raw wood and black steel furniture. It makes a perfect background for your next hundreds of sosh-meeds likes. However, it's not only about aesthetics at the Haus, but about serving scrumptious and contemporary breakfast, brunch and lunch fare. I went back to check their new menu und let me tell you, they're currently making my favourite green salad in Berlin.
Brunch in Kreuzberg: Bunsmobile
Two years ago, I had a french toast in Berlin that was so delicious, to this day, I revel in the memory of its perfection. Soft and eggy, and at the same time crispy and charred, and just mega great. But it was only served for a couple of weekends in the fall of 2015, plus a one-day come-back at Stil in Berlin's birthday breakfast market last year. It's probably the hardest-to-find french toast in this city. So stop what you're doing right now and listen: it's BACK! Just for another two weekends, so better be quick and go book your table at Bunsmobile's brunch take-over in Kreuzberg's Nudo.
Goulash in Kreuzberg: G wie Goulasch
It's August, the weather finally resembles something like summer, and the city is slowly falling asleep. We might not have the real Italian or French vacances-shut-down, but it's certainly a downtime, with shops and restaurants going on holiday. And locals leaving the city, while loads of tourists flock to the major sight seeing spots – so most Kiezes do feel quite sleepy. And while I'm not going to be totally absent, I too will take August to slow it down, recharge batteries, and explore the city from another perspective (outside of its borders). So here's a recommendation I wanted to give you all along: a very pleasant restaurant on the quiet Chamissoplatz square in Kreuzberg called G wie Goulasch, made for summer night dinners.
Turkish in Kreuzberg: Fes Turkish BBQ
Sponsored by Yeni RakıFes is serving a cuisine that is usually most celebrated and known for its fast food options. Here, Turkish food is going way beyond Döner, and into the realm of grilled meats, served with buttery rice, crispy flat bread, and a stunning assortment of mezze. This menu is combined with an of-the-moment aesthetic: bare brick walls, gorgeous embroidered pillows, furniture made from used wood, pleasant music, and friendly staff with full beards and skinny jeans. People flock to Fes to enjoy a long feast with friends and family, to slow down, relax, share stories, memories, and food. And this concept goes extremely well with a couple of glasses of Yeni Rakı, which is why the world´s number 1 aniseed brand is celebrating a whole festival in the joyful spirit of Istanbul.
Turkish in Kreuzberg: Doyum Restaurant
Kottbusser Tor is a gritty place, especially in January, when ice cold winds and low grey skies make it look even uglier than usual. However, in between sketchy corners and broken windows lie some extraordinary delicious and friendly places like Doyum, an Anatolian restaurant with an open charcoal grill, and an especially delicious version of a classic Turkish dessert: Künefe.
Brunch in Berlin: Little Joy
When it comes to Little Joy, I might be biased, because they once gave me one of their amazing peanut butter and chocolate bars and I've been in love with everything they ever did since then. But literally everybody I introduce to the food of this collective is now equally smitten, so I'm inclined to state this as a fact: Little Joy is serving the best brunch food right now. And here's their new winter menu!
Cake in Berlin: Aunt Benny
Kreuzberg has a new cake mecca! Just recently, Friedrichshain's café Aunt Benny, took over a fixed stand just next to Big Stuff Smoked BBQ, Rosa Canina ice cream and Kumpel & Keule butchers to present their heavenly cakes like little pieces of art in a glass vitrine. And you can eat them, too!
Italian in Berlin: Karloff
Karloff is a tiny space, 14 seats inside only, fitted into a neat square space, that not only holds the tables and chairs, but the wine shelfs and even the kitchen. A perfect use of space with a cosy yet stylish atmosphere, all done by the owner itself, Achille Farese. Don Farese, as the guy who looks through the small window facing Reichenberger Straße, calls him late at night, when we're munching our second dessert. And a good name it is, because he's a master host, making sure all guests leave with happy bellies and, or stay for another drink long after the last course was served. And about that food! The tastiest ingredients come together for a simple Italian meal boosting with flavor. For a mere 19,- for four courses!
Dining in Berlin: Lode & Stijn
I finally went to Lode & Stijn, halleluja! I was so excited to go all the time and still it took me too many weeks, and I don't even have a reason for that. And then I wanted to write about it instantly but went to Japan for two weeks and now I'm back and looking at the pictures and wanna go again right now. So without further explanations, let's get to the food…
Coffee in Kreuzberg: Bonanza Coffee
You know the tiny coffee shop at Oderberger Straße, that was one of the shops starting third-wave-coffee in Berlin, right? Even if you don't, you probably know the name Bonanza Coffee, because it stands for finest roasts that are used world-wide and in many cafés and restaurants throughout the city, like Borchardt and Cecconi? And maybe you've ordered some yourself through their online shop? Because sometimes, that little shop is just a bit too crammed. And also quite far off, if you don't live in the northern districts. Here's a solution: their gorgeous new café in a backyard off Adalbertstraße in Kreuzberg.
Middle Eastern in Kreuzberg: Kanaan Express
Be honest, how many of you have read this recommendation of Kanaan in Prenzlauer Berg and really wanted to go but it's just too far north? Don't cry, my fellow South-Berliners, you can now eat the glorious chickpea-dishes of this most amazing Israeli-Palastine joint venture in Kreuzberg!
Deli in Kreuzberg: Candy on Bone
There's a new store on the banks of Kreuzberg's Landwehrkanal: Candy on Bone (a name dreamed up by owner Ludwig Cramer-Klett of Katz Orange and Contemporary Food Lab fame). It's a true deli, offering sandwiches, coffee, cake and, what I think is most interesting: a very well sorted Lebensmittel store.
Manti in Berlin: Gözleme Restaurant
If you're asking: what even are Manti? You'll be proving my point that Turkish food is still not appreciated widely enough in Berlin. We (must) have a plethora of places serving the most delicious stuff, yet, I don't find them celebrated enough (except that mishmash of a sandwich called Döner). Here to convince you are Manti, a turkish Ravioli or dumpling. Eat them at this Anatolian place in Neukölln, filled with meat or potato, served with yoghurt sauce and a paprika butter, and you will understand.
Fine Dining in Kreuzberg: Nobelhart & Schmutzig
By now, it's been four weeks since I finally accepted Billy Wagner's invitation in what certainly is Berlin's most regarded new opening of 2015: Nobelhart & Schmutzig. And I am still indulging in memories. Opened in February, the fine dining place on the Southern end of Friedrichstraße made it into the news with its radical concept of local cooking – they don't even use pepper! But this is certainly not their most impressing feature.
Lunch in Kreuzberg: ORA
Good news! Everyone's favorite place to spend all day, ORA, just renovated their kitchen to serve even better, even bigger plates filled with delicious regional and seasonal dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Just thought you needed to know.
Lunch in Kreuzberg: Pacifico
Sometimes, lunch on an office day can be tough – the routine kicks in and we find ourselves at the same spot, day in, day out. The area around Moritzplatz and Oranienstraße is certainly not short in opportunities. However, a little novelty goes a long way and every opening is greeted with excitement. This new kid on the block is taking everything everyone always liked for lunch, puts it in a bowl and serves it with kimchi fries: welcome Pacifico.
Korean in Berlin: Madang
This recommendation comes with a bit of a catch, because this is not a place you can just go and order anything. Some items on the menu are delicious, some are surprisingly bland. And while I am usually the first to rule a place out because of inconsistency, the dishes that are made well, are so good, you won't find them anywhere else in Berlin… Like the Doengjang Jigae, a stew made of Korean fermented soy-bean paste.
Lunch in Kreuzberg: Hallesches Haus
Hallesches Haus, that gem in the wastelands around Hallesches Tor, just opened their shiny and bright new restaurant area. Twice the size of their shop and beautifully lit by a skylight, it's obviously as beautifully decorated as the rest of the shop: Prouvé lamps hanging over giant Nuts & Woods oak-steel tables, many thriving succulents on used wooden sideboards, tiled floors and speckled enamel lights. With the new space comes a full, open kitchen, where they are preparing simple yet delicious lunch bites, sandwiches, cakes and cookies.
Farmers' Market in Berlin: Südstern
This is a market I wanted to visit for ages, but most of my Saturday mornings' aren't for making plans or fulfilling duties and thus it has taken me a while to cycle down to this small but beautiful farmers' market in the heart of Kreuzberg. And what a gem it is, despite it featuring only about 20 or so stalls, the selection is well made, making it possible to do all your grocery shopping here, including a lunch and very fine coffee. But read on:
Café in Berlin: ORA
Something new to discover! The area around Oranienplatz just got a beautiful new café: ORA. Located inside an old pharmacy, with most of the original furnishing still there, it's a beautiful place to have your first meal of the day, spend a lazy afternoon or get the first or last drink of the night.It's only been open for a week, but is already a highlight in the area.