The 15 best restaurants in Berlin

Berlin has legendary street food. This is the city of 1,000 snacks, where doner kebab and currywurst are elevated to a gourmet art form.

But that is not all that Berlin has. The city’s international flavor stands out in its cuisine, and it has Michelin-starred restaurants to match its fast food empires. This is a city where it is a joy to eat what your belly (or your wallet) wants.

Some things to keep in mind when eating in Germany: Many places, even some fancy ones, are cash only. In addition, the invoice must be requested and the payment and tip are paid directly to your server.

With these nuts and bolts out of the way, let’s feast your taste buds to the 15 best restaurants in Berlin.

Best Old School Berlin: Wilhelm Hoeck 1892

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+49 30 34509848

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Opened in 1892 (hence the name) in sophisticated Charlottenburg, this is Berlin’s oldest traditional restaurant with the attached restaurant featuring classic details like the original wood paneling. Not much has changed since it opened, which is a good thing.

Unpretentious but elegant, authentic Berlin cuisine, from blutwurst (blood sausage) to eisbein (boiled pork knuckle) is served in full portions or in small plates to share like German tapas. The clientele includes people who know good food, such as the late Anthony Bourdain, who highlighted the restaurant in his Berlin episode “No Reservations.”

Also explore the Bourdain-approved delikatessen next door, Rogacki, which offers the best of everything from cheese to seafood, with a great stand-up lunch counter.

Best Doner Kabob: Imren Grill

It is impossible to talk about food in Berlin without talking about doner kebab . This quintessential street food is a Turkish-German creation that can be found everywhere in Europe right now. Often consumed as a guilty (or drunken) nocturnal pleasure, a good doner is much more than that.

Döner satisfaction is often tied to how quickly you can get it, but there is a Berlin-based chain of döner that are worth traveling through. Imren Grill has been around for over 20 years and now has 6 locations throughout the city, which means you don’t have to travel far.

What sets this kebab apart from the thousands of others in the city is the quality of the meat. Unlike most impressive slow-turning chunks of meat in the window, Imren lovingly places her meat by hand, making sure each piece is of high quality and individually marinated. When ordering, a generous section is cut with a knife, tossed onto the frieze with fresh greens and herbs, then topped with your choice of homemade knoblauch (garlic), kräuter (herbs), and / or scharf sauce (spicy) . This is a hearty meal that costs less than 4 euros, something of cheap beauty.

Best Hotel Restaurant: Michelberger

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+49 30 29778590

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The trendy and trendy Michelberger Hotel in Friedrichshain is just a few steps from the iconic Oberbaumbrucke and East Side Gallery, opposite the busy Warschauer U-Bahn station. Basically, it is in the center of everything.

The hotel restaurant offers a constantly rotating menu of organic, regional and seasonal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The modern space is usually packed with its fantastic lunchtime offerings on elevated German fare every day, or more creative international fare.

Best selection in one place: KaDeWe

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+49 30 21210

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The legendary Kaufhaus des Westens or » KaDeWe» is the legendary shopping center of Berlin. Founded in 1907, it is a symbol of luxurious West Berlin. This gleaming temple of purchasing power is filled with floors of fragrance, fashion, and food.

If you’re here to eat, head upstairs right away. The top floor has a pay-per-item buffet with a stunning view, but just before the buffet is the fanciest of the food courts. The best restaurants in the entire city have opened a counter here and visitors can choose from 30 different food bars offering everything from German classics to raw oysters, paired wonderfully with sekt and ending with fine French pastries. Browse around to satisfy all your desires.

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Best Thai: Khwan

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+49 1525 9021331

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Berlin has many Asian restaurants, but few are impressive. It is unclear if it is because of Germans ‘disinterest in something approaching spicy or because of restaurants’ attempt to offer everything from pho to sushi in a shop, but this is changing.

The city is increasingly multikulti (multicultural) citizenship claims and authenticity. This is suggested by popular weekly food markets like Thai Park, as well as new featured Asian restaurants that open regularly.

Khwan is a great example of this trend. Started out as a pop-up at Markthalle IX, this Thai barbecue spot has found a home in eclectic RAW-Gelände. When you walk in, you will pass the wood burning grill where everything you eat is touched by smoke. The small plate can offer its tempting menu items, or you can indulge yourself with a 2- or 4-person feast that has a bit of everything from mackerel to sweet Thai sticky rice, pork belly, and apple curry.

Best fine dining restaurant: Tim Raue restaurant

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+49 30 25937930

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Tim Raue is the king of fine dining in Berlin. Featured in the recent Netflix series “Chef’s Table,” this Kreuzberg native and his 2-Michelin-star restaurant serve up extraordinary Asian-inspired cuisine.

The scene at Tim Raue is deceptively casual, but the refined plates reveal the care that goes into every bite. Meals usually start with small plates, but you must choose the exclusive 6-course menu.

If you want an equally impressive venue, newcomer Nobelhart & Schmutzig lives up to the hype.

Best vegetarian: cookie cream

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+49 30 680730448

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Cookies Cream is the coolest vegetarian restaurant in Berlin, tucked away near Potsdamer Platz. With an almost club-like atmosphere, this Michelin-starred restaurant attracts international guests like George Clooney, and the dishes are just as elegant.

Ingredients come from nearby Brandenburg and the ever-changing menu focuses on serving these products at their best. You can order à la carte, or the menu is structured into three- or four-course prix fixe options that are often paired with natural wines.

Best Ramen: Cocolo Ramen

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As in many cities, ramen has grown in popularity in Berlin in recent years. Suddenly there were ramen places everywhere

But one of the originals is still the best. Cocolo Ramen has only 5 ramens and a few entrees on their menu, trusting their perfection. There is the original location in Mitte, as well as a newer store in Kreuzberg. The original venue is small, unapologetic, with seating in most of the bars that overlooks the open kitchen. There are no reservations, so it is a first-come, first-served egalitarian system.

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Best place to eat meat: Kumpel and Keule

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Germany’s many metzgerei (butcher shops) are some of the best places to have a delicious meaty lunch.

Kumpel & Keule is the great example of this humble tradition. Filled with high-quality ingredients prepared with fresh, on-site herbs and spices, it is located in the popular Markthalle IX food hall. If you think that all Wurst (sausage) is the same, and Kumpel Keule will prove to be wrong. Order a freshly grilled hot dog, hamburger, or steak, then fill your shopping basket to enjoy more at home later.

Best Mexican Food: La Lucha

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+49 30 55200914

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Mexican food has gotten a bad rap in Germany, for good reason. For years, Mexican restaurants in Berlin were a poor imitation of the flavors you know and love.

That has changed with pioneers like Santa Maria in Prenzlauer Berg and new restaurants that improve the game. La Lucha is inspired by traditional regional cuisine, but takes a completely modern approach.

There are burritos with unusual fillings like bone marrow; Battered chrysanthemum flowers and hearts of palm complete its many vegetarian options. And of course, there are jars of margaritas and mezcal flights plus friendly, knowledgeable staff in a fun-filled, colorful interior. It is a guaranteed good time where each visit can turn into a party.

The best seafood: Der Fischladen

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+49 30 40005612

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Thousands of miles from the coast, Berlin can be a poor place to find fresh fish. Fortunately, Der Fischladen solves that problem.

This side of the operation has a small shop with attractive seafood options. But there is no reason to return home to satisfy your taste for the sea. The best fish and chips in town are served here, along with other tasty combinations like fried scallops, salmon pasta, and tuna burgers. There are only a few casually rustic seats inside, or you can visit next door for more hip dining.

Best fried chicken: Laughter chicken

Once only a single location, demand for Risa has led to more opening throughout the city. Risas have a clean, fast-food vibe with bright interiors and inexpensive meal deals. Chicken sandwiches, fries, and salads are sold, but you should really go for the fried chicken. Everything is prepared halal and comes out fast and tasty.

If you’re still hungering for chicken, enjoy a traditional roast chicken from Hühnerhaus 36 in Kreuzberg. There is the original stand on the corner of Görlitzer Park, or go to the sit-down restaurant across the street.

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Best Place to Grab a Slice: Salami Social Club

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+49 30 54823781

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Pizza places abound in Berlin but cardboard crusts and lackluster toppings can leave you disappointed. This is definitely not the case at Salami Social Club.

The dough is treated with garlic butter and pesto, then topped with a range of delectable fresh ingredients. One slice is a quarter of a pizza!

If there is a wait at Salami Social Club or they’ve sold out, look for the XXL chain located nearby. With windows that sell directly to the street there is rarely a wait. Remember to ask for fresh Parmesan, rucola (arugula), or spicy red pepper oil.

Most Instgrammable: House of Small Wonder

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+49 30 27582877

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Berlin is full of instagrammable moments and finding where to eat can depend as much on how the restaurant looks as what the food tastes like. House of Small Wonders satisfies on both fronts.

Its first location opened an ocean away in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A few years later, the owners thought Berlin had a similar vibe and opened this location, first with breakfast and lunch and now providing dinner and cocktails since February 2019. The staircase by the entrance has been in the background of many an Instagram photo, as has the warm Japanese-influenced wooden interior and delicate, little plates.

Best Place for Dessert: CODA

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+49 30 91496396

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Calling itself a “gastronomic journey,” CODA once again says what dessert is. Located in Neukölln, its modern cuisine is based on imaginative pastry techniques with no added sugar.

While this is a dessert restaurant, you can make this your main dinner spot with your seven-course menu. Don’t miss out on inventive drink pairings or Chef René’s signature dessert, a chocolate mousse with pickled plum ice cream and even charcoal powder.

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