The gastronomic scene in Berlin has changed a lot in recent years. There are now more and more top restaurants with special offers. In addition to the excellent Michelin starred restaurants, you will also find more fine dining restaurants where creative chefs serve you delicious dishes of the highest quality. Here's a choice of these restaurants - still - without a star but with great cuisine.
Before reading, a warning to all foodies: Our restaurant tips will definitely whet your appetite.
Tip 1: Finest Thai with wine pairing: Kin Dee
It may be on a relatively nondescript street in a less lively part of Schöneberg, but there’s nothing mundane about the beautiful dishes that Kin Dee creates. The ingredients are mostly seasonal, local and ethically sourced, but the flavours are Thai through and through. Kin Dee means “eat well” in Thai. Add the excellent wine pairing to your meal and make it a night to remember.
Where: Lützowstraße 81, Tiergarten
When: Tuesday - Saturday from 6p.m.
Tip 2: Charming chaos: Berta
Berta is a vibrant hive of activity – crowds chatting, plates crashing, a bustling kitchen that you can witness firsthand from a seat at the bar. Their food is similarly raucous, with big, bold flavours mixing German and Israeli influences to create something quite unique. Fine dining can easily be stuffy and self-indulgent, but Berta – named for the chef’s grandmother, who grew up in Berlin – does something really special. It makes fine dining fun.
Where: Stresemannstraße 99, Kreuzberg
When: Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Monday through Sunday 6 p.m.-11 p.m.; cocktail bar Wednesday through Saturday 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Tip 3: The finest fish in town: Brasserie November
For years, getting good fish in Berlin was a fool’s errand. That’s all changed now, thanks in no small part to Brasserie November. This Japanese eatery oozes elegance, from its Bauhaus furniture to its expertly crafted dishes ranging from raw fish nigiri specials to mains of baked turbot and fried octopus. Sit at the bar if you want to see just how much care and precision goes into each dish – and make sure to check out the outstanding cocktails, too.
Where: Husemannstraße 15, Prenzlauer Berg
When: Tuesday to Sunday 6 pm - midnight
Tip 4: German with an exotic twist: Oh, Panama
This German restaurant is named for a German children’s story and, after opening in 2016, quickly became synonymous with modern, inventive dishes in an elegant setting, as well as excellent, unfussy service. The Chef’s Choice menu can be either three or four courses (and can also come with wine or beer pairing) and unlike many fine dining experiences, you won’t be leaving Oh, Panama feeling anything other than completely full and satisfied. As an added bonus, the chefs care so much about sustainability that they primarily use sustainable ingredients and even process whole animals themselves to cut down on waste.
Where: Potsdamer Str. 91, Schöneberg
When: Tuesday to Saturday 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Tip 5: Experimental and creative: Kink
At Kink, you’ll eat things that you’d never even think of in a million years. This place is a hive of pure culinary creativity and playfulness, leading to creations like asparagus sorbet and fried chips made from octopus entrails (better than it sounds, we promise!). Kink also has an outstanding bar with similarly unusual cocktail creations – many of which come with low or no alcohol, allowing you to pair your dishes with interesting drinks without clouding your senses. The large venue also hosts live music – another unusual and welcome addition to the fine dining experience.
Where: Schönhauser Allee 176, Prenzlauer Berg
When: Daily from 6 p.m.
Tip 6: Learn from the best: Buchholz Gutshof Britz
Enjoy your meal in the open air in the large outdoor area here in Britz at the southern end of Neukölln. This menu features more traditional German dishes, presented elegantly but with a down-to-earth sensibility to let the local and seasonal ingredients sing. Perhaps most excitingly of all, the restaurant also offers cooking courses with head chef Matthias Buchholz, which includes a four-course meal in the evening after you’ve spent the afternoon learning the tricks of the trade from the master.
Where: Alt-Britz 81, Britz
When: Thursday to Monday Noon - 9p.m.
Tip 7: Sumptuous in Steglitz: Jungbluth
Here’s a little treasure tucked away in the quiet suburban streets of Steglitz. The intimate indoor area of Jungbluth is complemented by an outdoor terrace on a quiet street. It’s all very unfussy – just like the attentive but never overbearing staff. They’ll be bringing you modern German cuisine with ingredients from Berlin and Brandenburg, and while most dishes come with meat or fish, the vegetables are generally the stars of the show. There’s also a small private room available for events for up to 12 people.
Where: Lepsiusstraße 63, Steglitz
When: Tuesday to Friday 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturday + Sunday 12 p.m.-midnight
Tip 8: Fusion cuisine and fantastic cocktails: 893 Ryotei
Don’t turn around, you’re in the right place! Yes, that graffiti-covered and rather decrepit-looking building is the incredibly trendy and (rightly) lauded Japanese restaurant that you’re looking for. Your best bet here is to order as many of the small sharing plates as you can, and just sample and taste as many of the amazing and varied flavours as possible. You’ll find most of the items you’d expect from a Japanese menu, as well as some Peruvian influences, such as ceviche and tostadas. The drinks menu here is huge and features just as much quality and creativity as the food menu.
Where: Kantstraße 135/136, 10625 Charlottenburg
When: Tuesday to Saturday 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tip 9: Chocolate heaven: Pars
Pars is known primarily for its pralines and artisanal chocolates, and while it’s worth a visit for those alone, the rest of the menu is also a seriously irresistible attraction. The dishes are intensely ingredient-focused – often featuring three or fewer ingredients, which are of course locally sourced and seasonal – and the staff are happy to adapt to vegetarian or pescatarian preferences. And the best news of all? There’s an online shop for those life-changing pralines.
Where: Grolmanstraße 53, Charlottenburg
When: Wednesday and Saturday Noon - 4p.m. - 6.30 - 11p.m
Tip 10: Fabulous French wine and food: Irma la Douce
The brains behind Irma la Douce say that it’s French-inspired cuisine rather than French cuisine. This is because they like to put their own spin on things, mixing tradition with innovation, and in particular making dishes a little lighter than their French equivalents without losing out on any flavour. Their very extensive wine list predominantly features carefully selected French wines that pair superbly with their seasonal dishes– and it goes without saying that the staff are all experts if you need any help choosing your tipple.
Where: Potsdamer Str. 102, Schöneberg
When: Tuesday - Saturday 6p.m. - 11p.m.
Tip 11: Both fine and down to earth: Restaurant Mastan
The menu at Mastan, which changes every three weeks, is clean and simple: usually around three starters, four mains and a couple of desserts, with vegetarian options, too. The interiors could also never be accused of trying too hard. It’s clear that this restaurant is all about enjoying great food in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere, and the prices are also a touch lower than you’d expect for food of this quality. It’s located in a down-to-earth part of Kreuzberg, and by all accounts it fits right in.
Where: Gneisenaustraße 67, Kreuzberg
When: Tuesday to Thursday 6 - 10 p.m.; Friday + Saturday 6 - 11 p.m.
