Discovery tour through the vibrant city of Berlin #places

6 min read

It is rich in contrast, lively, steeped in history and rich in culture - our capital Berlin knows how to convince with many positive qualities and is therefore also one of the most popular student cities in Germany. Especially in the multi-culti district Kreuzberg or in the trendy Friedrichshain, many tourists, students and night owls cavort, because here countless bars, restaurants and cafes are waiting to be discovered. And Berlin is also a frontrunner when it comes to culture and architecture. Did you know that the German capital has more bridges than Venice? 916 are said to be there. That would be more than twice as many. The Spree also flows through the metropolis like a lifeline.

#places 2.0: Berlin


Country: Germany
Inhabitants: approx. 3.7 million
Area: 891,7 km2
Famous landmark: TV tower

Hidden place:

Do you know the Müggelsea? It is the largest lake in Berlin and invites especially in the summer months to relax in the green. With its four and a half kilometers in length, it offers enough space for a wide variety of water sports. Whether canoe, or motorboat - at the numerous boat rental stations you can rent watercraft and explore the surroundings from the lake. For the jump into the cold water, the Müggelsee also offers three official bathing spots. And the museum in the waterworks on the northern shore of the lake is also an exciting destination. Perfect for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.  


Address Strandbad Müggelsea: Fürstenwalder Damm 838, 12589 Berlin

Every Saturday, the weekly market takes place on Kollwitzplatz - a meeting place for residents and tourists. Here you can find everything your heart desires - whether fruit, vegetables, sausage or bakery products. The vendors come mainly from Berlin and Brandenburg. If you feel like it, you can also try some of the delicacies on site, as numerous snack stands offer both hearty and sweet treats for direct consumption. Currywurst, falafel, fish rolls or waffles - the choice is yours! Oysters with champagne are also part of the wide range of offerings. And if you are then still looking for a souvenir, just drop by one of the many handicraft booths offering fashionable accessories as well as handmade jewelry. 

Address: Kollwitzstraße 59, 10405 Berlin

 

People have been dancing and partying at Clärchens for over 100 years, as it is one of the last remaining ballrooms from the 20th century. It was opened as early as 1913 by Clara Bühler and her husband Friz, at that time still under the name "Bühlers Tanzhaus". However, the name "Clärchens" quickly became established. Particularly worth seeing is the Hall of Mirrors, which has been preserved in its original state to this day and serves as a location for a wide variety of events - from corporate events to Christmas parties to large weddings. Nowadays, guided tours, dance classes, concerts and movie nights also take place in Clärchen's Ballhaus - and of course in a romantic, historic ambience. Moreover, those who are hungry from dancing can recharge their batteries in the in-house restaurant, which includes a beer garden.  

Address: Auguststraße 24/25, 10117 Berlin

 

Customers sit on cushions at flat tables between hand-carved sandalwood columns. The faithful interior of the Tajik tearoom was exhibited in 1974 at the Leipzig Trade Fair in the Soviet Pavilion. Subsequently the ensemble was donated to the Society for German-Soviet Friendship and installed in the Palais am Festungsgraben from 1979-1999. Due to renovations within the palace, it was closed in April 2012. In November 2012, it reopened in the KunstHof. Here you can chat in a cozy ambience over a tea far from the hustle of the city. On Mondays oriental fairytale nights are organized in the tearoom.

Address: Tadshikische Teestube at KunstHof, Oranienburger Str. 27, 10117 Berlin – Mitte

Café:

In the courtyard of KW Institute of Contemporary Art in Berlin-Mitte a café, bar and event location was added to the existing building by architects Nalbach and Nalbach from Berlin together with artist Dan Graham. The concept artist made the first sketch for Café Bravo with two twisted cubes and Johanne Nalbach finalized the project. Entering the courtyard the visitor will meet reflecting glass panels perfectly fitted in a shiny polished steel construction. The steel cage was completely prefabricated and hoisted by crane over the narrow roofs of Berlin’s old town, embedded as an architectural precision work. The café serves everything from breakfast to snacks, coffee and cake, is specially worth a visit when it dark outside, because of the changing reflections.

Address: Café Bravo, Auguststraße 69, 10117 Berlin – Mitte

The café serves a wide variety of delicacies, from breakfast and snacks to coffee and cake. Small tip: When visiting in the dark, the changing reflections come into their own particularly well.

Address: Café Bravo, Auguststraße 69, 10117 Berlin - Mitte

Restaurants: 

The graffiti-covered facade of 893 Ryotei doesn't remotely suggest that a first-class Japanese restaurant is behind it. Its interior is dark with velvet and marble elements. The heart of 893 Ryotei, however, is the open kitchen, where grilled octopus, black cod, sesame ice cream and much more are prepared with great dedication. The menu is long and doesn't make it easy to decide. But one can be sure: There is something for every taste here. If you can't make up your mind with the large selection, you simply have to come back. 

Address: Kantstraße 135, 10625 Berlin
 

 

If you love seafood and oysters, you should definitely pay a visit to the Volk mini-restaurant in Berlin Mitte. Thanks to the charming French flair, with beer benches and white fabric tablecloths, you feel a bit like you're in Paris here and get to enjoy versatile seafood specialties - prepared authentically French, of course. The exclusive seafood platters are particularly popular. Incidentally, chef Margaux Arabian is the daughter of two-time Michelin-starred chef Ghislaine Arabian.

Address: Brunnenstrasse 182, 10119 Berlin

Book Shop:

Right under the railway tracks, in the arches underneath,  lovers of architecture, art, design, photography and film books will find all that their hearts desire at the book shop Bücherbogen. This specialized bookstore was established in 1980 in the arches of a previous car workshop and a flower shop. A selection of the stock can also be viewed and ordered online.

Address: Bücherbogen, Stadtbahnbogen 593, 10623 Berlin – Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 

(c) Martin Nicholas Kunz

Recipe:

Currywurst (curry sausage) from/in Berlin is legendary. You can not miss the vendors selling it as streetfood all over town. Apparently the dish was invented just after World War II. Nowadays it is even on the menu of some fancy restaurants.

Ingredients:

  • steamed, then fried pork sausage
  • 8 red peppers
  • 2 onions
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½  tomato puree
  • 1 liter of stock
  • 1 chili pepper
  • 200 grams sugar
  • 6 teaspoons of mild paprika powder
  • 4 teaspoons of spicy curry powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  •  pepper
  • 5 tablespoons of oil
  • white wine

 

Preparation:

Peel the onions and garlic and cut into fine cubes. Then wash the peppers, corer them and then dice them roughly. Heat oil in a saucepan, sauté the onions and garlic and add the diced peppers. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Put the tomato puree and the finely chopped chili pepper in the saucepan and stir well.Before the ingredients burn, deglaze with white wine and season with curry. Now add the stock and cook everything. Remove the pot from the heat and mix with a blender to a smooth sauce. Currywurst is serve sliced with spiced and curry flavoured tomato sauce and a side of chips.

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