I was lucky enough to explore the city a couple of times with a Berliner and got a chance to sit down for a meal or two in some very interesting restaurants. And thanks to my Berliner guide, I got a peek at the places frequented by the German capital’s residents.
There are plenty of places with great-tasting food, making the city really lucky in this regard. Berlin might be a big city, but it’s eminently walkable and bikeable – something to keep in mind when you need to burn off some calories after eating just a bit too much. Below is a list of some of my favorite restaurants in the city, organized, as always, in alphabetical order.
ADNAN
Managed by a Berlin-based Turk, Adnan is one of the best restaurants in the city. Although the restaurant is not in a good location, you’ll be glad you went because Adnan’s Italian fare is delectable. The place serves almost all the Italian specialties, including pizza, macaroni, salad, meat, and fish. Adnan is full at lunch, and the bar is even crowded at dinner. There’s a bonus as well: You can find both white and black truffles when they’re in season.
BORCHARDT
Borchardt is a restaurant that mostly specializes in fish but also serves meat. A favorite of Berlin’s high society, Borchardt is a place in which tables are at a premium. As a solution, they hit upon the rule of requiring all diners to leave within two hours of arrival. Borchardt does not take great consideration of its décor – it looks like the walls have not been painted for years, and it seems like the furnishings haven’t been renovated Metin Ar 38 in a coon’s age – but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for them. On the contrary, Berliners consider this a specialty: You can run a restaurant for 20 or 30 years without doing any renovations – they just reckon that a place’s value increases as it gets older.
FISCHERS FRITZ
A fish restaurant with two Michelin stars located inside the Regent Hotel, Fischers Fritz serves dinner (fish and vegetables only) in a comfortable and high-ceilinged space in the company of nice piano music. All the serving staff, as well as the piano player, are women – something that makes for a better serving, in my opinion. You needn’t worry about finding a place for either lunch or dinner, however, because the restaurant is fairly expensive, in contrast to most eateries in Berlin. Fischers Fritz will especially lighten your wallet, but “quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”
THE GRAND
I have been to Berlin many times before, but I only discovered the Grand, thanks to my Berliner guide. The Grand is a meat-heavy restaurant, but it also serves fish and salads. The restaurant serves Japanese Kobe steak, as well as other carnivores’ favorites from around the world. A favorite stomping ground of high society, the Grand is another restaurant with its own rules. The Grand is largely off the tourist trail, but that doesn’t mean it’s not packed with Berliners – all of which means it’s a good idea to make reservations ahead of time.
KaDeWe
Kaufaus des Westens, better known as KaDeWe, is a famous department store in Berlin and a wonderful place to have a quick and delectable meal. The upper floors of this multistoried mall are reserved for shopping and food, where you can dine at small restaurants with almost any kind of food from anywhere in the world. The very top floor, meanwhile, is home to a big restaurant with an open buffet and mesmerizing views of the city. It’s probably my second favorite place in all of Berlin. I generally opt for oysters, prawns, caviar, and lobster – all prepared right in front of you – with the company of a glass of Dom Perignon or two. After all of that, you’ll probably need a good walk to lose those calories.