Where to eat in Berlin
Berlin eats everything: currywurst from a stand, doner kebab at midnight, Vietnamese in Lichtenberg, and modern German in Mitte. It is a casual city. Eat on the street, shop at the markets, and book only for the few places that matter.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- Kreuzberg for doner and Turkish food, Prenzlauer Berg for brunch, and Mitte for restaurants.
- Order this
- Currywurst, doner kebab, and a Berliner Weisse in summer.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12, dinner from 7. Brunch runs until mid-afternoon on weekends.
- Book or walk in
- Book Friday and Saturday dinner. Street food needs nothing.
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or tip about 5 to 10 per cent in cash.
What to eat in Berlin
- CurrywurstA sausage in curry-spiced ketchup, sold at stands across the city.
- Doner kebabBerlin's adopted street food, from a spit with salad and sauce in bread.
- EisbeinBoiled pork knuckle with sauerkraut, a traditional pub dish.
- BulettenPan-fried meatballs, served with mustard in beer halls.
- Berliner PfannkuchenA jam-filled doughnut, called a Berliner elsewhere in Germany.
- Vietnamese foodA staple of the east, with big pho and bun places in Lichtenberg and Mitte.
Where to eat in Berlin, by neighborhood
Kreuzberg
Turkish food, doner and street food on Oranienstrasse and around Markthalle Neun.
Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg
Restaurants, cafes and brunch. More choice and more tourists.
Charlottenburg
Old West Berlin, with German restaurants and wine bars.
Neukölln
A varied district with Arab, Turkish and new bars. Cheap and lively.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap
€Kebab stand · Kreuzberg
OrderGemüse kebap
A famous kebab stand at Mehringdamm 33, known for its vegetable doner and long queue.
- Book
- Walk in, expect a queue
Confirmed open: mustafas.de
-
Curry 36
€Sausage stand · Kreuzberg
OrderCurrywurst with fries
A currywurst stand on Mehringdamm, open since 1980 and open late.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: visitberlin.de
-
Markthalle Neun
€€Market hall · Kreuzberg
OrderStreet Food Thursday
A 19th-century market hall with a Thursday evening street food night from 5pm.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: berlin.de
-
Zur letzten Instanz
€€German tavern · Mitte
OrderEisbein or meatballs
A traditional tavern near Alexanderplatz with a history back to 1621.
- Book
- Book for dinner
Confirmed open: berlinfoodstories.com
Food markets in Berlin
- Markthalle NeunA restored market hall with Street Food Thursday, rotating stalls from around the world.Street Food Thursday, 5pm to 10pm; check the hall's site for other daysSource: berlin.de
- Turkish Market on MaybachuferA canal-side market with about 180 traders: produce, cheese and Turkish bread.Tuesday and Friday, 11am to 6.30pmSource: tuerkenmarkt.de
How Berlin eats
- Meal timesLunch from 12 and dinner from 7. Many cafes serve brunch until 3pm.
- TippingRound up or add 5 to 10 per cent, in cash at the table. Say the total when you pay.
- CashSome places still take only cash. Carry some euros.
- SundaysMost shops are shut on Sunday. Restaurants and markets stay open.
Signs of a place to walk past
A menu in six languages with photographs.
Tables on Unter den Linden with prices for the view.
A doner stand with no turnover and no queue.
Eating in Berlin: questions people ask
What food is Berlin known for?
Currywurst, doner kebab, Eisbein and Buletten. It is also strong on Turkish and Vietnamese food.
Where should I eat in Berlin?
Kreuzberg for street food and Turkish, Mitte for restaurants and Prenzlauer Berg for brunch.
Is Berlin cheap to eat in?
Street food is cheap. Restaurants have risen in price, though they are still lower than many European capitals.
Do I need to book a table in Berlin?
On Friday and Saturday evenings, yes. At other times walk in.