Stefanie Bäslack: Gastronomic Expert

“Berlin’s diverse population lends itself to a global food scene – from world-famous food markets, to local delis, and secret restaurants,  there’s something for everyone.”

Unusual Eateries:

I love to go to Rogacki, an iconic delicatessen in Berlin West, it’s like stepping back in time. They are famous for local delicacies like smoked fish, potato salad and flavourful sausages. It’s been open for almost 100 years so it’s got a very authentic vibe. I like to pull up a chair - if I can get one because it’s very popular - and people watch while eating. 

I would also go to one of the three oldest food market halls in Berlin – the Arminius Markthalle, Marheineke Markthalle and Markthalle Neun – here, look out for the brilliant burgers at Kumpel & Keule.

Every week, Markthalle Neun holds the popular Street Food Thursday where the market is open late into the evening, attracting foodies from all over. If you like beer, try Heidenpeters, a permanent stall in the market where the owner brews 500 litres of beer each day on-site. It’s some of the best craft beer in the city. 

Sweet treats:

I love chocolate so of course, some of my favourite places are the amazing chocolate shops in Berlin. The Winterfeldt Schokoladen is an atmospheric apothecary with chocolates of all shapes and sizes from all over the world. Another local institution is the Sawade praline and truffle shop, founded in 1880 it was once the supplier of chocolates to the court of Prince George of Prussia and continues to sell amazing sweet treats to this day. They only use natural ingredients sourced from the best places so you can almost feel not guilty about eating all the chocolate! 

Another popular place is the Rausch ‘Chocolate House’, the largest chocolate shop in the world – the pralines are amazing. They make amazing hot chocolate - perfect for keeping warm while exploring in the colder winter months. 

Local tipple: the "Air of Berlin"

A favourite drink of Berliners is “Berliner Luft” or “Air of Berlin” - it’s a kind of peppermint schnapps, so it’s not for everyone but it’s very symbolic for the city.  Every summer, the Berlin Philharmonic closes out the season at the Waldbühne, an amazing stage set out in the forest that has hosted famous acts like The Rolling Stones and Bob Marley, and they always finish with the piece Das ist die Berliner Luft and everyone sings along - it’s great. So it’s one of the things we like to do sometimes; welcome people to Berlin with a shot of “Berliner Luft”, to really introduce them to the culture quickly. 

Favourite restaurants:

There are so many amazing restaurants in Berlin it’s difficult to choose favourites, one that I like is Katz Orange in Mitte. It’s popular with the city’s creative crowd, tucked away so it’s a bit of a local secret but they do amazing cocktails and the must-try dish is the ‘Candy on Bone’. 

If you don’t eat meat, then Oukan, also in Mitte, is the place - it’s all plant-based, inspired by the centuries-old Shōjin Ryōri tradition (Japanese Buddhist temple food). It's a very ‘zen’ space to dine. 

A great place to go with friends or your partner is Kitchen Library, it’s casual fine dining and the whole place is decorated with hundreds of cookbooks - it’s really charming. 

Somewhere for a special occasion is Brikz, a modern gourmet restaurant in Charlottenburg in a former jazz café, so it’s got a great vibe. The menu changes regularly but it’s always a 5 or 7-course tasting menu, each dish more imaginative than the last.