Best Restaurants in Berlin: Tried and Tested

If you want to sample traditional German cuisine, the Mitte district is a solid starting point. A visit to Zur letzten Instanz on Waisenstraße 14–16 has a glimpse into Berlin’s culinary past. Established in 1621, it is the city’s oldest restaurant, where wooden beams creak and the scent of roasted pork knuckles fills the air. Portions are generous and hearty, with dishes like Eisbein (pork knuckle with peas and potatoes) costing around €18–€22.

Another well-regarded spot is Max und Moritz on Oranienstraße 162 in Kreuzberg. This tavern has an old-school Berlin vibe, complete with dark wood interiors and traditional beer steins. Their Königsberger Klopse (meatballs in a creamy caper sauce) come highly recommended. Both restaurants typically open from 12:00 to 23:00, but it’s wise to reserve ahead, especially on weekends.

Berlin’s Italian dining scene is surprisingly robust, with several restaurants adding local ingredients to classic recipes. For example, Ristorante A Mano on Bergmannstraße 89 in Kreuzberg serves fresh handmade pastas alongside an extensive wine list featuring Italian and German wines. The tagliatelle al ragù is a standout, priced at about €14, and the cozy interior, lit by soft pendant lights, makes it popular for relaxed dinners.

Meanwhile, Trattoria Portofino at Kantstraße 106 in Charlottenburg brings a slice of Italy closer to the Berlin Zoo area. Their wood-fired pizzas feature a thin, crispy crust, and the smell of baking dough mingles with fresh basil and garlic. Expect to pay around €10–€15 for specialty pizzas. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 to 23:00, making it convenient for both lunch and dinner.

Eating well in Berlin doesn’t have to strain your wallet. Many neighborhood eateries offer filling meals for under €10. Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap in Mehringdamm is famous for its vegetable-loaded Turkish-style kebabs, served fresh from a small street stall. Lines can be long, especially between noon and 3 pm, but the combination of grilled chicken, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon is worth the wait.

For something different, Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg hosts street food vendors inside a historic market hall. Open from Thursday to Sunday, visitors can sample everything from German sausages to vegan falafel wraps, with most items priced between €5 and €12. The buzzing atmosphere, complete with communal tables and occasional live music, creates a lively dining environment without a hefty price tag.

Berlin might be inland, but the city’s seafood restaurants are surprisingly good, sourcing fresh fish daily. Fischers Fritz, located in the Regent Berlin hotel on Charlottenstraße 49, serves refined dishes such as Baltic herring tartare and North Sea cod. The elegant setting pairs well with their carefully curated wine list, with main courses typically ranging from €25 to €40.

For a more casual option, the Fischmarkt Berlin on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 13 opens on Sundays and has a variety of smoked fish, oysters, and shrimp sandwiches. The market buzzes with locals and visitors alike, and vendors are happy to share tasting samples. Expect to pay around €8 to €15 for sandwiches and small plates.

Berlin has become a hotspot for plant-based dining, with numerous restaurants catering to vegans and vegetarians. Kopps, on Linienstraße 94 in Mitte, is a fine-dining vegan restaurant that crafts dishes such as smoked seitan with black garlic and seasonal vegetables. The minimalist interior enhances the focus on taste and texture, and a three-course dinner menu costs around €45.

For more casual fare, try the café and deli at Daluma on Alte Schönhauser Straße 4. They serve fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls, and plant-based salads, great for a light lunch or snack. Prices range from €6 for juices to €12 for larger bowls. Daluma is open daily from 8:00 to 19:00, making it easy to fit in a healthy meal during your day.

Several restaurants in Berlin allow diners to enjoy their meals alongside impressive cityscapes or riverside panoramas. Klunkerkranich, atop a parking garage at Karl-Marx-Straße 66 in Neukölln, combines urban gardening with casual dining. The atmosphere is relaxed, with wooden tables overlooking the city’s rooftops. Food trucks and stalls offer seasonal dishes, and drinks range from €4 to €8. It’s especially popular at sunset and on weekends.

Another option is the restaurant at Strandbad Müggelsee, located at Müggelseedamm 157 in Köpenick. This lakeside spot serves fresh fish and salads, with outdoor seating that lets you soak in the water’s edge. Open mostly from April to October, it’s a pleasant escape from the city center, reachable by tram and bus within about 45 minutes.

Berlin’s nightlife spills into its late-night food offerings, with many places staying open until the early hours. Curry 36 on Mehringdamm 36 is a famous street food stand serving currywurst, a sliced pork sausage with a curry ketchup sauce and fries, for about €3.50. The smell of spices and fried potatoes drifts through the night air, attracting hungry crowds after concerts or clubbing.

For variety, Konnopke’s Imbiss under the Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn station has been serving bratwurst since 1930. Their traditional sausages with mustard and freshly baked rolls cost around €2.50, making it an affordable and authentic choice. Both stands usually operate until midnight or later on weekends.

While some places in Berlin accept walk-ins, others, especially popular or upscale restaurants, require reservations. It’s best to book at least a day in advance if you want a table at well-known spots like Max und Moritz or Kopps. Many restaurants accept reservations online via their websites or through platforms like OpenTable.

Budget-wise, expect to pay around €10–€15 for a main course at casual eateries, while mid-range restaurants charge between €20 and €35. Drinks, especially wine and cocktails, can add substantially to the bill, with a glass of wine typically costing €4–€7. If you want to save, consider lunchtime menus that often feature smaller portions at reduced prices. It’s also useful to carry some cash, as smaller stands and markets occasionally do not accept cards.

Berlin’s efficient public transit system makes reaching top dining spots straightforward. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines connect main neighborhoods with frequent service. For example, to visit Zur letzten Instanz in Mitte, take the U2 line to Märkisches Museum station, just a five-minute walk away.

Kreuzberg’s Markthalle Neun and Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap are both near the U1/U3 station Görlitzer Bahnhof. Charlottenburg’s Trattoria Portofino is accessible via the U2 to Deutsche Oper station. It’s advisable to check the BVG app or website for real-time schedules and route planning.