Berlin: My seven favourite foodie stops

Check out my insider tips for Berlin… bring an appetite!

 

Best brunch: Chipps

 

Rated number one on Lovin’ Berlin (lovinberlin.com) for brunch, fate beckoned when I realised CHIPPS was right next door to my hotel. This has a fresh and modern interior, contrasting with a lot of other hipster Berlin eateries, and the menu is also part of its appeal with clever names for each brunch option. The portion sizes were generous, the staff friendly, and the location near Museum Island makes it the perfect stop for tourists. Plus, you can watch the food being made. There’s always something comforting and reassuring about that!

 

Price: €7-9 for a main course; €3.5 per side (approx)

Roz’s recommendation: If you like your avocados, go for the green horn, with a side of scrambled eggs (possibly the best I’ve ever had).

Details: Jägerstraße 35; chipps.eu

 

 

Best cheap n’ cheerful lunch: Rissani

 

If you like your Middle Eastern food, and especially falafels, this is the place. The old saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ applies… I had grim expectations when I arrived outside, despite the countless recommendations by locals, but I have never been so surprised by a place! Don’t be fooled by the exterior or extremely low prices (the most expensive thing on the menu was €8, and that was a sharing plate for two), this place has substance and authenticity. I’m a huge fan of Lebanese and consider myself very hard to please, but Rissani hit the spot.

 

Price: Shawarmas from €2.50; main courses from €4.

Roz’s recommendation: The falafel and hummus plate.

Details: Spreewaldplatz 4

 

Best for coffee: Cafe Silo

 

I probably don’t drink enough coffee to be an expert, but I’d like to think I know a good coffee when I taste it. And that’s exactly what happened in Cafe Silo. Set in Friedrichshain, the minimalist interior, bare brick walls and wooden furniture all say hipster, but this is also a cosy spot in which to switch off. It may even rival Dublin’s 3fe (3fe.com). It also serves some great food – favouring quality over quantity – including a mix of baked eggs and vegan options. Oh, and don’t forget the cupping sessions!

 

Price: Coffee from €2.40, mains €8 and sides from €2.50.

Roz’s recommendation: Bircher muesli and an Americano!

Details: Gabriel-Max-Straße 4; silo-coffee.com

 

Best for Vegans: Ohlala

 

Walking in and seeing the array of desserts displayed at this Friedrichshain patisserie, I had to double check that they were indeed all vegan and gluten free. And they were. Renowned for their crepes and homemade Nutella, Ohlala offers some of the most skillful baking I’ve ever scoffed… they do huge range of savoury options, too – including a huge, vegan ham and cheese crepe. The staff, an extremely happy bunch of people who were eager to chat, only added to the experience. Note that you may need to pre-book.

 

Price: From €4.50 for a crepe

Roz’s Recommendation: Tresor top marks!

Details: Mainzer Str. 18; my-ohlala.com

 

Best for cake: Rootz

 

I came across this place by accident and it produced the best vegan cake I’ve ever had. They also have a great selection of teas. Set in one of the nicer spots of Kruezberg, you can get lost in time people-watching here, and everything on the menu is homemade with some serious stars including the peanut butter frosted devil’s food cake, and a maple frosted pecan and sweet potato pie. I love it for a cold beer or juice outside in the sunshine.

 

Price: €2.80 per slice of cake, €4.90 for a main, €3.50 for a side.

Roz’s Recommendation: Devil’s food cake.

Details: Skalitzer Straße 75; rootz-berlin.de

 

Best hotel food: Michelberger

 

This casual dining spot is a great place to eat before hitting up the local bar scene. The restaurant is set in a hotel with an atmospheric lobby that has a thumping energy – Michelberger is one of the coolest places to stay in Berlin. There’s a huge emphasis on organic, and locally-sourced food (an ethos attributed to their Irish chef, Alan). The food is fresh and modern with plenty of variety and vegan/vegetarian options.

 

Price: Starters from €12; mains from €20.

Roz’s Recommendation: Smoked mashed potatoes

Details: Warschauer Str. 39/40; michelberger.com

 

Best pop-up: Bite club

 

Running from 4pm to midnight every other Friday in Kreuzberg, this gourmet food event is hosted right on the river with some serious skyline views setting the scene for the weekend. Bite Club mixes some of the best food Berlin has to offer with funky concept pop-ups and local craft beers. The atmosphere is set off by disco DJs and a mix of all ages with a common interest in food.

 

Price: The event is free

Roz’s Recommendation: Not for the faint hearted, but try the Oyster mushroom burrito at the future breakfast stall!

Details: biteclub.de

 

 

Best random find: Fast Rabbit

 

If you’re planning on visiting Berlin’s most prestigious Sunday market, you have to try this place out! Situated right across from Mauerpark, Fast Rabbit is a local favourite serving up a signature dish known as “dirty rolls” – vegan wraps! They also collaborate with the smoothie and juice bar next door, and offer an array of raw sugar free desserts… if you hadn’t had enough already!

 

Price: Vegan wraps from €4.50

Roz’s Recommendation: Grilled veg, red lentils, lettuce, lemon hummus – ‘The Oriental dirty roll’.

Details: Eberswalder Strasse; facebook.com/fastrabbitfood