Five of the best cafes in Berlin
When you think of Berlin, and Germany in general, the first eau-de-vie that comes to mind is probably not coffee. Famed for its beer halls, Berlin’s cafe culture is highly underrated. Kaffee und Küchen (“coffee and cake”) is a favourite national pastime, and stepping into one of the cafes in Berlin is entering a heady, fragrantly scented tradition of meeting friends and putting the world to rights over a brew. Here, we look at five of the best cafes in Berlin.
Cafes in Mitte
CAFE EINSTEIN (Kurfürstenstraße 58) – For a truly traditional coffee experience, Cafe Einstein in Berlin is a smart version of what the typical old-world Viennese cafe experience might be like. An attractive space for some of Berlin’s coolest customers, it also operates as a restaurant, and the typical pastries served to accompany your coffee are particularly good – our favourite is the apple strudel!
MEIN HAUS AM SEE (Brunnenstraße 197-198) – Is it a cafe, is it a bar, is it a club or is it “something sexier in between”, as it describes itself on the cafe’s website? The flea market furniture and art-ridden walls make Mein Haus am See the perfect destination for Berlin’s hippest hipsters, who can get a coffee here to fight their raging hangovers at almost any time of day or night.
Cafes in Wilmersdorf
HORENSTEIN (Fechnerstraße 3) – Aiming to recreate a café/record shop atmosphere from the 50s/60s, Horenstein sells second-hand furniture and records as well as coffee. In fact, it’s more for the atmosphere than the vital nectar that you’ll come here. Genuinely unique and with a cult following, Horenstein also runs various music evenings – keep up-to-date on their website.
Cafes in Prenzlauer Berg
BONANZA (Oderberger Straße 35) – Bonanza is serious about coffee, and roasts, grinds and brews all its own offerings. The minimalist design of the cafe is a clear message: it’s all about the bean juice. Despite being a touch more expensive than the standard latte in other cafes in Berlin, for serious coffee lovers the price will be well worth it. Bonanza is one of Berlin’s top cafes, meaning it’s constantly buzzing with activity.
SLÖRM (Danziger Straße 53) – Slörm is your next home-away-from-home. Despite the vast quantities of espresso passing hands in this comforting establishment, an atmosphere of persistent friendly calm reigns, broken only by the occasional ringtones and wolf-whistles emitting from the cafe’s pet parrots at the back.
Take them away or drink them in: five different cafes in Berlin for five completely different experiences, united by a love of good coffee, good cake and good company. If you really fancy pushing the boat out, however, you might also like to visit some of Berlin’s more specialist cafes, such as cafe/sweet shop Suesskramdealer or coffee-shop-in-a-bookshop Wintergarten in Literaturhaus. Or why not get your coffee to take away and enjoy it in one Berlin’s parks?
Penelope – Marketing Team
