BEST PLACES TO EAT
1. Restaurant Tim Raue
With a well-lit interior and casual vibe, this upscale dining room (see Restaurant Tim Raue) is located on the ground floor of a five-storey historical building around the corner of Checkpoint Charlie. Its high ceilings and modern artwork are reminiscent of the art gallery that this restaurant replaced. The cuisine can be best described as Asian fusion food, created by blending Japanese, Thai and Chinese culinary methods. All dairy products used here are lactose-free. The dishes are artfully prepared by German chef Tim Raue.
The stylish Restaurant Tim Raue
2. Vox
The exquisite food in this elegant restaurant (see Vox) at the Grand Hyatt is a sleek and modern fusion of Asian and international dishes, with an emphasis on Japanese (sushi) dishes and French-Italian fare. In summer, reserve one of the tables on the terrace outside. It is open for breakfast, too.
3. Hugos
The Michelin-starred Hugos at Hotel Intercontinental Berlin is the city’s most affable gourmet restaurant, with impeccable service and stunning views. Wood panelling and plush leather set the tone, while the international cuisine reveals the light touch of German chef Thomas Kammeier. The wine list is extensive, and private dining rooms are also available.
4. Bocca di Bacco
Berlin’s hippest Italian restaurant (see Bocca di Bacco) offers fresh fish and exceptional meat creations such as bresaola di cavallo (cured horse meat served with salad and nuts). The seasonal menu is assessed and revised daily. This is also an excellent enoteca with a good wine list.
5. Borchardt
Everyone of importance, including German chancellors, dines at Borchardt. The historic room is furnished in Wilhelminian style (featuring tall columns, wall mosaics and tile flooring) – a stunning setting for the modern French cooking and schnitzel served here. Without a reservation, however, even celebrities can’t get a table.
The simple interiors of Borchardt
6. Rutz
This rising star (see Rutz) in Berlin’s gourmet scene has slowly worked towards its second, well-deserved Michelin star by offering consistently high-quality fish and hearty meat dishes based on local recipes, but served with a creative twist. Rutz is cosy and informal, with a prodigious wine list of over 1,000 wines.
7. Cookies Cream
Located between Komische Oper and the Westin Grand Hotel, this trendy Michelin-starred restaurant (see Cookies Cream) is hidden behind a service alley. The excellent dishes at this vegetarian fine-dining restaurant are presented in such an interesting manner that this restaurant comes highly recommended for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Cocktails are available at the bar near the entrance.
8. Facil
Set in a green oasis in the courtyard of the Mandala Hotel, this Michelin-starred restaurant (see Facil) is a study in understated elegance. During the summer months, patrons can dine alfresco or amidst the bamboo gardens. Chef Michael Kempf creates stylish Mediterranean dishes with a French accent.
Courtyard dining at Facil
9. Bandol sur Mer
Offering modern French cuisine, this Michelin-starred restaurant (see Bandol sur Mer) seats 20 people in a relaxed, intimate setting. Diners can watch as chefs prepare and plate their meals in the bistro-style open kitchen. The ambitious menu changes with the seasons, and comprises creatively plated meat and fish dishes and clever wine pairings.
10. Horváth
The culinary inventiveness of chef Sebastian Frank helped earn this restaurant (see Horváth) its second Michelin star in 2015. On offer here are dishes that creatively play on traditional Austrian cuisine. Diners should allow themselves at least three hours to enjoy the seven-course menu and the accompanying wine. The candlelit interior, complete with wood furnishings, has a warm feel to it.
