The Best Restaurants in Berlin

Local with avant-garde flairNobelhart is a love letter to the past, present and future of Berlin. It is a cultural institution of fine dining and as well artistic expression. There is never a dull moment with the Owner, Billy Wagner. He is the ultimate host. The MC you wish you had at all acclaimed restaurants and when you pair that energy with the elegantly presented plates from Head Chef, Micha Schäfer you have a killer combo that deserves all the accolades this new institution receives.

Simplicity executed flawlesslyJulius in Berlin-Wedding is perhaps most well known for being the off-shoot, more casual and accessible eatery of Berlin’s trailblazing minimilist fine dining restaurant Ernst. Julius offers both a dinner service and a very casual “cafe style” breakfast and lunch service. My recommendation focuses on the breakfast and lunch service which is refreshingly casual, yet the food is nothing less than flawless.The menu is short, with a focus on simple well executed dishes as well as some small plates of cheeses and meats and other produce from the Ernst larder.Highlights from menu are the perfectly fluffy & gooey omelette with cheese or the caramelised French toast with seasonal compote which is a symphony of flavour and texture. The coffee is hand roasted and brewed which makes for a rather unique but perhaps not world class filter coffee - but we’re here for the food so that’s ok.If you’re looking for a simple, yet flawless brunch Julius is your spot.

Progressive German cooking by chef Marco Müller, with local ingredients and finesse.The highest rated restaurant in town with progressive German cooking by chef Marco Müller, based on local ingredients and prepared and presented with finesse.

We're looking forward to coming back again and again and again!Thanks to Billy Wagner's recommendation on this app, we discovered this place. We had one of the best croissants for breakfast ever (with burrata and cherry-coffee syrup) the music was well-selected and the atmosphere was cosy.

Authentic Chinese dining experience in Berlin: UUU - Chinese Dining impresses with exquisite dishes.UUU - Chinese Dining, a hidden gem in Berlin's Wedding district, offers a truly authentic Chinese dining experience. With a modest exterior, the dining room reveals an intimate setting with a circular table that seats around 10 guests. Yuhang Wu and Jonas Borchers, the hosts and chefs, take diners on a cultural and culinary adventure through China.The menu consists of eight carefully crafted courses, showcasing dishes from different regions of China. Each course is presented with elegance, served in beautiful porcelain dishes. The flavors are balanced, and the portions are well-proportioned. Standout dishes include the delicate seared scallop with bergamot and Imperial caviar, the crispy Shipin-Tofu with Sichuan pepper and mushrooms, and the flavorful Guobaorou, featuring sweet and sour Marans chicken breast wrapped in puffed buckwheat.The dining experience at UUU is enhanced by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the hosts. Jonas prepares a variety of teas and homemade kombucha, explaining their significance with each course. Yuhang's expertise shines through in the desserts, such as the Thai basil ice cream with coconut foam and soy meringue, and the soft mochi filled with milk tea cream and caramelized pecans.Beyond the culinary delights, UUU - Chinese Dining offers an opportunity for guests to connect with like-minded individuals. The intimate setting encourages conversations and creates a unique and engaging atmosphere.For those seeking an authentic Chinese dining experience in Berlin, UUU - Chinese Dining is a must-visit. Prepare to be captivated by the flavors, traditions, and cultural insights that Yuhang and Jonas lovingly present in each dish.

Dessert for dinner? Yes, but not how you expectedCoda is labeled on Google Maps as a “dessert dining” place. But don't expect here a “dessert” bar or tasting that you might have experienced in some Asia countries, where a series of desserts is served to the guest. At Coda (awarded with 2 stars by Michelin) borders between what is a sweet and savory blur. Ingredients or techniques that we usually associate with desserts go to compositions that would rather be described as appetizers or main courses, not as desserts. Donut with gouda and fermented turnip topping, parsley root with pistachio, apples with sour cream and shiitake, waffles with kimchi powder - all supported by great technical skills. Wine pairing is mostly rieslings and sakes, but you can always stick with a bottle of your favorite champagne or non alc of choice. Everything in a Japanese-ascetic, intimate interior of a small room in Berlin's Neukölln district. Coda’s chef Rene Frank received the title of the world's best patisserie in 2022 - and for his imagination and for giving the word dessert a new meaning, he definitely deserved it.

Berlin breakfast favourite.This cozy breakfast place with a sunny terrace and fireplace inside (when cold) is a must in Berlin. We usually come for the smoked grated egg yolk and scramble toasts with kimchi and the buttermilk pancakes but the breakfast sandwich is also not to be missed. Enough to fill you up until dinner.

Small plates with a big heartBarra is my neighbourhood in Berlin and I am very thankful for this. It’s a gem of restaurant that changes their menu based on season. The experience is always consistent, delicious and fun for two or a small group. The wine menu is also well curated to round out your meal.

One of the top places in Berlin. It has an incredible kitchen with strong Asian flavors.Tim Raue and his unique kitchen is one of the top places in Berlin. It has an incredible kitchen with strong Asian flavors, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and a great wine list.

Contemporary northeastern German casual dining in Berlin. Berlin is a very international city, so you will find all kinds of delicious food from around the world but in this German restaurant, you get the flavors and dishes of the region, with a contemporary touch. Loved the schnitzel, the pickles, bread butter and charcuterie for breakfast and the bratwurst.

Proper German cookingMissing some proper German cooking in Berlin? In the middle of some of the best shopping streets is Lebensmittel in Mitte. An old grocery store with worn wooden tables and benches, there is proper, trend-free Southern German food with beer, schnapps and wine. Lunch is great, with specials on the black board. Go for a puffy crusted Wienerschnitzel with mustardy potato salad, browned Spätzle-pasta with plenty of cheese and a meaty Schweinebraten with Knödel, sauerkraut and gravy. Order big mugs of beer, a few shots and have a chat with the slightly grumpy staff. G’suffa!

Otto was one of my favourite dinners this year. Highly recommend it to everyone. Each dish was well thought out and executed. Service was friendly. Wine list was great. Music was appropriate and at a good volume. Lighting was appealing. The whole package 5/5! Note: if you don't like tight spaces or sitting close to the neighbouring table, I suggest coming with a bigger crowd. 2 top tables are seated with about 15cm space to the next table. Highlights included the grilled fish main with a delicious house made fish sauce, stock that was served with sturgeon and pickles served with bread. A bottle of Brand Bros wine is always a winner as well.

Finding restaurants that have their own story to tell with enough history to base it on and actively use it in the creation of the menu is hard to find. Horvath is one of those. You can feel the history of the place, from the friendly and smiling restaurant owner Jeannine, the old school and cosy decoration to the vegetable driven menu where a lot of dishes are based on head chefs Sebastian's own childhood is something else. The food is end to end delicious and is executed with a focus on the products as well as the history rather than technical elaborations. Presented simplistic on the plate they are a joy to eat and well worth their 2 Michelin Stars.

Fine japanese vegan cooking that is as equally pleasing to the mouth, eyes and soul. Highly recommended.Restaurateur Huy Thong’s busy vegan fast-food eatery Ryong on Torstraße couldn’t be further away from this latest endeavour of his: Based on zen buddhist shōjin ryōri cooking philosophy, chef Martin Müller and his crew craft beautiful and tasty vegan plates from mainly local and seasonal ingredients. The sophisticated and astoundingly beautiful dining room (in a former ballroom, tucked away in the back of a quiet hinterhof) acts as a serene backdrop to the dishes. It’s hard to imagine you are a minute away from the busy Invalidenstraße. The service is low-key, classy and unfussy. The wine list is centered around quality Rieslings from the Pfalz - and sake. Oukan Dining’s ”tea sommelier” has also created an interesting tea-pairing option for those who wish to have an alcohol-free experience. The restaurant serves a 7-course and a 3-course pice fixe -menus, which can be supplemented with restaurant’s staples, such as potato millefeuille with truffle (not very japanese, I guess, but a great umami-boost to the gently spiced dinner) and lightly smoked, deep fried mushrooms with cauliflower. Oukan Dining is a welcome addition to the narrow high end of vegan/vegetarian dining in Berlin, populated previously by Cookies Cream, Kopps and - possibly - Frea.

A must visit natural wine bar."The" natural wine bar in Berlin. They have an amazing selection. The collection varies from easy to drink to rare to find bottles. It's a must visit.First picture credit: Adam Kimby

Dear God, please take me back!Berlin is a city of contrasts and this is also evident in the culinary scene. One evening before my visit to Tulus Lotrek, I was at ernst. Both evenings were great in their own way, but the difference between the two fine-dining concepts probably couldn't be greater.While ernst is thought-provoking and avant-garde, Tulus Lotrek is a place of unfettered indulgence. It embraces you and whispers in your ear: you are okay!So unbutton your trousers and get in on the fun. I had:- Crudité - oyster gillardeau no. 2"en tranches" & chutoro- Norway lobster & imperial caviar with seaweed butter sauce "beurre bordier".- Scallop with carrot sea urchin puree, yuzu and marigold- Grilled chicken with rum raisin sauce and sauerkraut velouté- Crispy roasted sweetbreads with morels and calf's head- Oxtail consommé with puff pastry bonnet- Grapefruit sabayon and N25 caviar- Pavlova with raspberry and lime, sheep's milk and tarragonIt's difficult to say which courses were the most special because everything was of an extremely high standard. I think for me it was the scallop and the oxtail consommé.The scallop was extremely seared and served with a carrot puree with sea urchin. The sweetness of the carrot, the nuttiness of the scallop and the spiciness were just wonderful. Perfect signature dish.The oxtail consommé was a tribute to Paul Bocuse. The consommé itself was full of umami and stuck to the lips. The puff pastry topping was wonderfully crisp and buttery. And above all, the dish had an important ingredient that is sadly rarely found in fine dining restaurants these days: Heat! What a great feel-good dish!At the end, we had the kebab from the vegetarian menu on the house! Thank you for such generosity. The service team deserves all the praise in the world anyway.

Interesting flavors & high quality cocktails in NeuköllnI love the style of mixing at WOB. Premixed, a new style of low alcohol drinks, highballs and beers, with experimental work on drinks.

The one and only döner kebap place for me.There is a huge Turkish community in Berlin, especially in the Kreuzberg area, where I grew up. This döner kebap place is the one for me! Sorry, but will need excessive queueing.Photo credit: @with_vans

The Craft Beer Bar in Berlin!The folks who run this place genuinely love beer and it shows in every possible way the place is run. From the carefully curated tap and bottle list to the high standards of keeping the tap lines clean and always flowing fresh beer the way it's meant to! This is where the true nerds hang out :)

A new gem in West Berlin.The newly opened restaurant of pâtissière and sculptor Kristiane Kegelmann is a gem in deepest West Berlin where locals like it traditional and hipsters are still kind of an unknown species.Kristiane, who’s been shaking up the old-fashioned German chocolate scene with her out-of-this-world pralinés pars Pralinen, took the leap and ventured into gastronomy. Her very own definition of gastronomy, that is: pars Restaurant is about the outstanding quality of seasonal ingredients, coming from small, artisanal local or regional producers and suppliers who are disrupting the German food industry with their work. It’s about a feeling for the beauty of natural ingredients and their taste – and about taking care of people and a team where every member is equally important.Needless to say that the design and the atmosphere of the restaurant are an integral part of this philosophy. Simplicity, sensitivity, the sound of music.There’s ravioli stuffed with roasted shallots in a king oyster mushroom broth & some fennel seed oil, trout with a beurre blanc, black radish, mustard seeds & mustard seed oil, a super crispy croquette with braised pork shoulder, grilled chicory & plum. And, of course, seasonal pralinés with spruce and rose hip.Great selection of natural wines, great playlist!

There are several good pizza places in Berlin, but nothing beats Standard for "pizza napoletana". Quality ingredients sourced directly from Campania, excellent dough and a 500°C gas-fired oven is all that I need.

Vegetarian Michelin starred restaurant1* MichelinThe Gold Standard in vegetarian dining in Europe. Cool, minimalist dining room. Chef Stefan Hentschel and restaurateur Heinz "Cookie" Gindullis have created a haven for friends of finer vegetarian dining, without it being too stuffy.

KEBAP GOALS at Kwa Kebap with Attitude. ”And then the rotating skewers of agony were blinded by the light from Gipsstraße”. Based on my lunch last week, I’d say Kwa Kebap with Attitude is at 75%, looking forward to them reaching 100% true Turkish meat bliss in the next years.

Comfort grub to share among lunch buddies.FROM MICHELBERGER WITH LOVE. Berlin’s best indie hotel restaurant has a new lunch menu. No more trays. Comfort grub to share among lunch buddies. Putting all other lunches in Friedrichshain in their spot.

Best kebab in Berlin? Best kebab in Berlin? Imren might well be fit for the title at the location in Kreuzberg at Boppstrasse 10, with a busy dining room and a few benches outside. Go for the Döner mit brot with all the sauces, thinly shaved, greasy kebab meat served in a crispy house baked bread with fresh salad. Add a pizza-like lahmacun to share, a bowl of hot lentil soup and a glass of ayran – that salty yoghurt beverage, and some black tea. The other kebab option is the dürüm flat bread roll, which makes a slightly meatier and juicier kebab, minus the crispy bread. There’s plenty of other options, like the adana kebab with grilled skewered minced meat and some sweet Turkish cakes.

Among all the falafel and hummus shops in Berlin, Kanaan might have the biggest following. On a residential street in Prenzlauer Berg, this slightly shabby restaurant serves an Israeli-Palestinian menu. Hummus is the thing here, so for an easy pick skip the falafel and start with the mixed starter plate with filled vine leaves, beet root salad and baba samir. Add Israeli hummus with chopped egg, potato, egg plant, mango sauce and pickles, grab a pita bread and go!

Silo Coffee in Friedrichshain is a safe breakfast bet in Berlin. Maybe not the most cutting edge, but serving delicious Aussie style savory and sweet dishes and great coffee in a cozy location with nice staff. “The Silo” - bacon and eggs with toppings or the avocado toast are good picks, and the toasted sourdough with poached eggs topped with puttanesca sauce and parmesan is even better. Finish with some fresh brews from local Fjord Coffee and an oven baked pancake with berries, mascarpone and maple syrup. And don’t miss the fresh baked Anzac oat cookies by the counter.