CAFE KULTUR BERLIN

Cafe Dritter Raum, Neukoelln

2012-01-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

So I have been meaning to review this place for a while after having a great breakfast here. Well what can I say about Cafe Dritter Raum...I think the picture says a lot about the style of cafe it is, the decor is a complete mix of brilliantly put together retro style and you feel so at home here, that and the very friendly staff where a nice warm welcome can make all the difference. You can also enjoy an old school video game ... remember these things? The food in the cafe is completely organic and the prices are great considering this too, all the food is homemade and scrumptious. They do regular breakfasts during the week and a brunch buffet at the weekend, not to be missed. There is great care taken in the food preparation and you can see the owner really cares about the product they offer here and the fact that they only use organic produce says a lot about their ethics too.

Cafe Dritter Raum is a really home away from home and with wlan here also, you can bring your laptop and just take it easy and unwind in one of Berlin's great urban cafes, they have got the concept just right, great food, great cafe, great decor and friendly to boot! Check out the Swap Night 'Tauschring' on Wednesday where people swap services, check their website for more details.

Hertbergstr. 14 U-bahn: Karl-Marxstrasse or S-bahn: Sonnenallee

www. cafe-dritter-raum.de

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 10/10

Suesskramdealer, Friedenau

2011-06-13T01:36:00.000-07:00

The setting of this wonderful chocolate haven is in an old tabacco shop which was originally opened over 100 years ago in 1906. The decor remains the same, its a wonderful feeling of olden times with a new twist. When you walk into Suesskramdealer your eyes dart all over the place at all the wonderful sweet treats, an amazing selection from all over the world. You can order a coffee and either pick a treat of your choice or choose one of their scrumptious cakes which are baked daily. The cakes are exquisite and really feel a bit upmarket in that their quality is superb and the prices are still really decent. You can either sit inside in the side room, or in the shop at the window or like most people sit out the front in the middle of this nice Friedenau kiez. The shop/cafe also sells a nice variety of gifts and everything is colourful and a treat for the eyes. The coffee is pretty decent, ok not the best in Berlin but it is made up for by the best cake around and also because of the nature of the cafe, its almost like walking into the sweet shop in Willy Wonka... no sign of any Oompa Loompa's but that aside you feel as full as an Oompa Loompa when you leave. People in Fridenau have really won their Golden Ticket!!! A really great cafe.

Varzinerstr 4, Friedenau S & U Bahn: Bundesplatz

www.suesskramdealer.de

Coffee: 7/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe am Treptower Park, Treptow

2011-05-01T04:11:00.000-07:00

Pasta Kultur Bar been their tagline, this is a beautiful cafe just one hundred metres from S Bahn Treptower Park and with the advantage of Treptower Park there, it makes a great excuse for a really nice day out if you don't live in the Treptow area. The cafe is very ambient and cosy and the decor is warm and stylish with a great sofa corner and a stunning centre piece chandalier. The cakes made fresh daily are very tasty and they also offer a great menu specialising in delicious pasta, panini's and other tempting treats, prices are excellent too and the staff are very pleasant which is always good too. At the weekend from 10am they have a great weekend breakfast, their food is an Austrian/Italian mix and again the price is really good for the quantity and quality of the food. Check out their listings for some great film and music evenings and they also have regular jazz breakfasts. This is a wonderful stylish cafe and well worth the trek over to Treptow to visit especially at the weekend for their exquisite brunches.

Am Treptower Park 21 S-bahn: Treptower Park

www.cafeamtreptowerpark.com

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 10/10

Horenstein, Wilmersdorf

2010-11-28T04:22:00.000-08:00

So this cafe/record shop is not one I would especially go for the coffee but its definitely the kind of place you wander into and are totally surprised by. It is a quirky cafe come record shop specialising in classical and some jazz records and I must state, only records, this is a vinyl lovers places and they have a brilliant John Peel quotation on the wall about the love of vinyl. The ambiance is great as you sit there, listen and have a nice cuppa. The host is incredibly friendly and welcoming and we had a really good time here. The decor is a mix match of 50's and 60's retro furniture, old radios, great film and music posters and every corner of the place draws your eye. If you like classical music, this could be the cafe of your dreams and if you don't, don't let that put you off. The music is not invasive but just sets the tone for a relaxing and chilled experience and another unique find in Berlin. The people who come here are seem really friendly and know the owner very well. The only food on offer here is cakes but they do a couple of nice ones particularly the cheesecake. They also have some really great music evening with various Berlin players and ensembles, check their website for listings. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Fechnerstr 3, Wilmersdorf U-bahn: Blisserstrasse

www.horenstein.de

Coffee: 7/10 Cake: 9/10

GODSHOT, Prenzlauer Berg

2010-08-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

GODSHOT, The Future Urban Coffee Club been the full name of the great cafe in Prenzlauer Berg. This area of Berlin is completely spoit for fantastic coffee but Godshot are in a different league to most, quality quality quality, every time. Some of the best tasting and most loved coffee in the neighbourhood, they know their beans! The coffee is made with great care and you can taste the subtle flavours of their eloquent brews. The atmosphere in Godshot is very relaxed, there is a laid back design of nice retro furniture and nice lighting. There is a great range of tasty snacks and treats as well as a fine selection of non coffee beverages. They also play some nice music. They open every day and close at 6pm. If you fancy yourself as a Baristra, they also run some great Barista Evenings and Milk Art Tuition, Coffee Seminars and Coffee Roast Off's to find the best coffee. Check their website for future events. These guys really love their coffee and treat it not just as a beverage but an art form.. ..when you taste the coffee, you will understand. Your coffee always comes served with an imaginative piece of milk art, always puts a smile on your face. Godshot is one of the best cafes in Berlin and must admit I love their cool logo too. Check it out!

Immanuelkirchstrasse 32 U-bahn: Senefelderstrass or Tram M2

www.godshot.de

Coffee: 10/10

Bonanza Coffee Heroes, Prenzlauer Berg

2010-04-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Brilliant name, brilliant concept and most importantly brilliant coffee. The cafe is small and can get busy very easily but like Double Eye in Schoeneberg, this place is all about the quality of its coffee and it is the reason for its popularity. These guys are serious coffee baristas and part of the third wave of coffee culture, the only ones in Berlin, they are experts at getting the mix absolutely spot on every time. They make a perfect blend between their coffee and milk, they seem to be able to get their milk like no other cafe around, perfectly creamy, almost sweet and creatively with some amazing coffee artwork, I once seen Obama on a coffee here, amazing! The cafe is situated on the wonderful Oderbergerstr, at the edge of Mauer Park and it is the perfect place to sit outside when the weather is good as they have a large outdoor sitting area. Also highly recommended going there on Sunday when Mauer Park Market is on; what a great way to start your rummaging through the market or to take a break. They also serve a small range of snacks but as I said this place is all about one thing COFFEE and it must be one of the best in Berlin. I think if I lived in Prenzlauer Berg, I would go there every day for my coffee fix, its delicious but it doesn't stop people from travelling from afar. I also like the fact that it gets a nice international crowd.

Address: Oderbergerstr. 35 U-bahn: Eberswalderstr.

Coffee: 10/10

Milkabilly, Friedrichshain

2010-02-18T06:11:00.000-08:00

Now for something colmpletely different. Berlin has its very own Milk Bar 'Milkabilly' a brilliant retro cafe in the heart of Friedrichshain. The owners have got this bang on, this is the real deal from the authentic diner furniture to the sweet and friendly waitresses dressed in their 50's style uniforms. This place is especially for those with a sweet tooth and is not to be missed for ice cream lovers, all year round. They have over 365 types of ice cream flavours and they do the most amazing shakes, waffles, sodas and of course coffee! Milkabilly has a huge following of Berlin's rockabilly and vinatage enthusiasts scene and you see the most amazing people here all day long and whenever they decide to close, a great array of Berlin's rockabilly fans and regulars. The music played here is very cool indeed playing classic rock 'n' roll, doo wop, rockabilly and classic tunes from bygone days, retro coolness in all its wonderful glory. They have lots of events happening, cocktail nights, tiki brunch, tatoo, hot rod, illustration and art events, aloha and great bands and Djs playing the greatest music. You will leave here with a grin on your face! Has to be seen, drop on by!

Mainzerstr. 5 U-bahn: Samariterstr.

www.myspace.com/themilkabilly

Coffee: 8/10 Milkshakes: 10/10 Ice/Treats: 10/10

Wohnzimmer, Prenzlauer Berg

2010-02-18T05:35:00.000-08:00

Like the name suggests 'Wohnzimmer' meaning 'Living Room', this cafe has all the warmness and good feeling of sitting in a very comfortable old apartment and their mix of old sofas and chairs from all eras, you will find it hard to leave. The staff here are very friendly and chilled and you are made feel at home and won't feel at all rushed. They do a wonderful breakfast and they are rather large and a big breakfast will be perfect for two people. It is especially nice too when the weather is good and you can sit outside on their benches and take in the nice surroundings of Helmholtzplatz. They offer all manner of food treats, fantastic cheap breakfast aswell as scrumptious organic cake. Having a nice piece of cake and coffee, is yours for about 5 euro, very cheap for this excellent quality. Wohnzimmer also offers a backroom for smokers and non smokers, the front room, so its great for both parties. Bear in mind the cafe is a self service too. One of the great things about this cafe is that it is also a great nightime bar and it pulls in a great cool crowd from the local area. They also have a nice Bionade Schwipp which is extra special for brekkie, made with sekt, strawberries and mint and is an excellent unique treat. Enjoy your time 'staying in' at Wohnzimmer.... staying in is the new going out!

Letteststr. 6, Helmholtzplatz U-bahn: Eberswalderstr.

www.wohnzimmer-bar.de

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 9/10

St. Gaudy Cafe, Prenzlauer Berg

2010-02-15T01:19:00.000-08:00

On the corner of Schoenhauser allee is the wonderful St. Gaudy Cafe, run by an Irish/Australian couple and it is a great location for any english speakers to frequent what with the great inexpensive food and coffees but they also run some great events here too. Monday is Tango Night, Tuesday is Movie Club night where they show some great classic movies such as 'Clockwork Orange', Wednesday is Langauge Exchange, Thursday is Arts'n'Lit night, Sunday is Live Music Night, they even do Yoga Classes.... phew! The back room here is excellent and is available on Friday/Saturday for parties or whatever event you may want to put on. There is a warm inviting atmosphere at the St. Gaudy and the decor is very bright and cheerful and it is such a nice place to work during the day on your computer as they also have w-lan. The customers are made up of local Berliners and english speakers from all over the world. They have local artwork on the wall and they play really good music while you sit and enjoy your time there. The food on offer is a mix of great breakfasts, quiches, salads and all manner of snacks, aswell as some excellent coffee which they take great care to perfect, they take the art of barista seriously, my coffee was delicious. So drop along to to Gaudy and you won't regret it and prepare for a nice welcome from two of Berlin's nicest hosts!

1 Gaudy Str/Corner Schoenhauser Allee U-bahn: Schoenhauser Allee

www.gaudycafe.com (Website is on the way soon with events info etc) Stay Tuned!

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Sloerm, Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg

2009-11-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

So I happened upon Sloerm accidently and I was delighted to find such a super cool cafe on Danzigerstr. The cafe is very unique in that its decorated with lots of old sofas, cinema seating, painted crates for tables, lots of miscellaneous found objects, even an old stove but it is definitely a damn cool place with a really nice local crowd. The full menu is displayed on a giant blackboard over the self service counter and there is a huge range of coffee/teas and food wise, you can choose from their long list of sandwiches, breakfasts and great cakes and snacks. They also take the work of the barista seriously and even have a sticker branding 'Support your local barista' with a funky chracter, they lived up to the sticker too, the coffee was excellent, very smooth. There is a very laid back vibe in the cafe and the staff were very friendly and warm. Also had a laugh at the cheeky sign on the door of a pram with a line going through it and thats the nice thing about the cafe, there is a lot of objects and things to look at, all details thought through. The music they played when I was here was ok, I would have to determine how good it is overall on the next visit but I will definitely be back, I felt totally at home in this cafe and you can tell that the people in there were regulars. Must find out with Sloerm means??? Any takers?

Danzigerstr. 53 U-bahn: Eberswalderstr.

www.sloerm.net

Coffee: 9/10

No Fire, No Glory, Friedrichshain

2009-10-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

No Fire, No Glory with its unusual but brilliant name is a cafe that takes coffee making and latte art seriously. The quality of their coffee is excellent and they take time to perfect it, these guys are great baristas. They also have coffee tasting days which are very popular and they come up with the best coffee to serve in the cafe. The coffee is always served artistically with barista art. The food of choice is their own speciality which is meat pies and they are gorgeous and of course the ever changing pastry designs are quirky and amusing, mine was a skull and crossbones, keep up to date on their blog with their latest creations. There is also a nice selection of cakes on offer which are freshly made. The overall feeling you get with 'No Fire, No Glory' is that they owners have opened a cafe that they want their customers to come in and have fun in and to put a smile on their faces. They have achieved this for sure every time they serve you a pie with a funny image or a delicious coffee with a beautiful latte art, its well thought through. The decor is unique with its mixes of woods, metals and cool logo design has been well though through, very cool!

http://gloryberlin.blogspot.com/

Address: Jessnerstr. 35 U-bahn: Frankurter Allee

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 8/10

The T Room, Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg

2009-10-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Tea glorious tea, the drink of kings and queens (and everybody else). The T Room & Gallery is one of those unique cafes you only find in Berlin, quirky, well designed and with a total relaxed feel. The T Room's ethos is 'take your time' and all food served here is home cooked and their is a fine selection of cakes, scones and sweet treats as well as a fine choice of tea and of course coffee, if tea isn't your thing. One thing that stands out above other cafes is the genuinely friendly atmosphere and the owners are very easy to get along with and have a chat with. The T Room is the type of cafe where you would spend hours hanging around. The music played in the cafe is excellent and they also have a Vinyl Station with a fine choice of records that customers can play, now I have never seen this before in a cafe, brilliant! The selection of english reading material is also worth mentioning, there are also future plans to introduce an english book shop in the cafe and english film and tv screenings. The T Room also offer High Tea in the afternoon where for a fixed price you can eat as much scones, cakes, sandwiches and drink as much tea as your heart desires. Another nice touch is that you can come in and order a picnic and take away a nice mix of their sandwiches, treats and tasty crisps. I must also mention that they also have a great gallery space downstairs and put on a wide variety of art shows giving young and upcoming artists a platform for their work. As their website states "Pop by for a cuppa and a friendly chat", I'm glad we did!

www.the-t-room.de

Address: Christinenstr. 27 U-bahn: Senefelder Platz

Tea: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Schwarze Pumpe, Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg

2009-10-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tucked between Mitte and Prenlauer Berg is the brilliant cafe, Schwarze Pumpe. As well as been a cafe/bar it also has a nice studio apartment that they rent out and very nice it is too and affordable especially for this area. The food on offer is a fine selection of German treats and they also offer a fabulous Sunday brunch at the very affordable 4.50 euro, a great selection indeed and also very inexpensive. It is also a great night time hang out place and it is never too packed and the crowd are a cool mix of locals, cool but not pretentious. They play a good selection of music and also have some occasional live events. The café's name is an allusion to surface mining in Eastern Germany which was stopped in the years after the reunification. The futuristic barstools made of steel tubes and gauges and the enamel signs with instructions to the workers on the brown walls recall the industrial past. The old floorboards and the even older tables create a very dense and nostalgic atmosphere. This is definitely a cafe with its soul still partly in the old DDR but this is done with great care and you will enjoy the time you spend here.

Address: Chorinerstr 76/Fehrbellinerstr 16 U-bahn: Senefelder Platz

www.schwarzepumpe-berlin.de

Coffee: 8/10

Hilde, Prenzlauer Berg

2009-09-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

So what makes a great Berlin cafe? Well for me its a combination of a few things, great coffee, great food, friendly staff and then the actual design of the cafe and the feel good factor. Sometimes in Berlin it is very difficult to find a cafe that has all of them but thats before I discovered Hilde... this cafe is perfect. They serve generous sized breakfasts, particularly 'The Hilde Breakfast" which looks and tastes wonderful. Hilde also has a fabulous Irish Breakfast and it is the real deal, all the products are imported from Ireland. They serve this at the weekend and is not to be missed especially for those missing this great weekend brekkie. Also on the menu is a range of tasty treats, freshly baked quiches, salads, 2 daily soups and some mouth watering cakes. I must also add that the coffee is 'more than fair trade' and it is from a local Prenlauer Berg coffee company, the prices are very good too. The decor is vintage style furniture and of an excellent quality and not shabby like some other cafes but I guess they were all chosen with great care for comfort and design. The window seats in particular seem very popular choice of seating, maybe next time I manage to get one as they were all taken when I was there. There is also a Vintage Jewellery cabinet by Glitz Museum which is a nice extra feature to Hilde. I must also add that the music selection while I was here was well chosen and very enjoyable. I just have to say that I was very impressed by everything and as I said its rare to find such a cafe and all served with a friendly smile. I've also been in here at nightime and it is a very cool bar too, good tunes and a cool crowd. All I have to add is, who is Hilde?

Address: Metzerstr. 22 Tram: M2 or U-bahn: Senefelderstr

www.hilde-berlin.com

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Edelweiss in Goerlitzer Park, Kreuzberg

2009-09-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Edelweiss is a brilliant cafe/bar in Goerlitzer Park and one of the best places to hang out on a sunny day as the outdoor seating here is brilliant and varied, sun loungers, decking, old 60's style furniture and benches. While the outdoor seating is a massive draw, the indoor is very warm and inviting and it is a great place to chill out on a weekday or weekend night with parties running til very late. There is a full menu here and the breakfasts in particular are very tasty as too are some of the main courses like Schnitzel, damn good. They also have great snacks, sandwiches and some very nice vergetarian options. The drinks menu is also extensive. The crowd here is made up mostly of cool locals and Edelweiss is a well known Kreuzberg happening places especially on the weekends where the crowds can be massive and in the summer that bit busier. Also in the summer can be massive outdoor parties in Goerlitzer Park which also draws a huge crowd here. The only downer when its busy, it can take awhile to get served outside but if you are sitting in the sun and taking everything in, it is forgiveable. Party on Berlin!

Address: 1-3 Goerlitzerstr. U-bahn: Goerlitzer Bahnhof

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 9/10

Goldberg, Neukoelln

2009-09-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

Cafe Goldberg is a really chilled cafe on Reuterstr. 40 in Neukoelln, on the border of Kreuzberg. They have wifi, great food and they provide some nice outdoor seating that looks really cool especially when you are inside looking out on this quiet steet. The food is a mix of daily specials, some salads and tasty selections of cakes, all at great prices. The decor is very comfortable, made up of 60's style furniture, soft chairs and very cool tables. Its a great place to lounge around and read a newspaper. At night Cafe Goldberg turns into a great local haunt, made up of cool local arty types and creatives and you can party into the night. The atmosphere is wonderful in here once it gets dark as the interior and the soft light add to the overall feel. Neukoelln has some great cafes and bars opening up and Goldberg is up there with the best of them.

Address: Reuterstr. 40 U-bahn: Hermannplatz

Cafe: 9/10 Cake: 8/10

Johann Rose, Kreuzberg

2009-08-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

First thing you notice when you walk into Johann Rose in the heart of Kreuzberg is the beautiful and warm atmospehere. It is very comfortable and and it has very inviting furniture, you just want to stay here all day and night. That along with the friendy staff make this a great cafe to visit. The other great thing about this place is that it is a cafe by day and really cool bar/lounge at night. The clientele are a mix of cool locals and people in the know. The cafe serves a nice mix of food including sandwiches and pasta as well as a great Sunday Brunch (with a vegetarian/vegan option), cheap at 5.50 euro and they advertise 'the greatest cake in the world' (it was actually great). Can't really say much more about this cafe other than this is the type of cafe when I am sitting in, that makes me realise what I love about Berlin and why I am here.

Address: Forsterstr. 57 U-bahn: Goerlitzer Bahnhof

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Matilda, Kreuzberg

2009-07-26T05:07:00.000-07:00

Right in the heart of the Graefe kiez area is the wonderful and inviting Matilda Cafe. The atmosphere here is very friendly as too are the staff, who are very relaxed and provide excellent service. They also play a nice selection of vinyl records, mostly of a funk, soul variety. There is nothing better than sitting outside with a group of friends enjoying their company and having a damn good Sunday breakfast. The selection of food is excellent and it is very fresh and tasty. Inside the decor is a mish mash of 60's style furniture made up of old chairs, tables and lamps but it works really well and there is a great comfy room down the back. This is one of those great Berlin cafes, not over designed but just right. Its a great place to spend an evening especially when its chilly outside but in the Summer the place to be is outside where you can take in everything around you.

Address: Graefestr. 12 U-bahn: Schoenleinstr or Sudstern.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 9/10

Cafe Cuccuma, Kreuzberg

2009-06-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Cuccuma is a great neighbourhood cafe which attracts a lot of cool locals as its perched in the middle of Zossenerstr. where there are lots of good record shops and its right beside Bergmannstr. The staff are extremely friendly and they make excellent coffee with lots of attention to details including some neat coffee artwork on your freshly made beverage, they seem to be very knowledgeable about coffee and use the best ingredients. Upstairs their is a cosy quiet area where you can relax or work on your computer as it has free wi fi and also some nice seating to do the same by the window. When the weather is nice there are lots of people sitting outside on their scattered seating which is always in demand. I must add the food selection is mostly sandwiches and pastries and freshly baked cakes and boy were these cakes good, mouth watering in fact. They also have a nice feature of books scattered on the staircase for customers to read. A must for people who not only care about how cool the cafe is but how good the coffee is, and this is both!

Zossenerstr 34 U-bahn: Gneisenaustr.

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Kino Intimes, Friedrichshain

2009-06-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite cafes in Friedrichshain and its also a cool alternative cinema showing some great indpendent releases. From the outside it looks very grungey but thats Friedrichshain and the graffiti on the wall of Intimes is very interesting and ever changing by the local graffiti artists, afterall anywhere graffitied by Banksy in England is uber cool now so why not here. There is an excellent menu and the food is very tasty and great size portions. It is particularly nice to sit outside when the sun is shining and even though its a busy road, it is still a great place to people watch and if you want to sit indide it has a very relaxing and charming interior. Sunday is brunch day and the choice and quality here is excellent too and reasonable. If its very busy in the summer the staff can take their time getting the orders but its never too bad and best to just sit back and enjoy yourself. Its also the perfect place to meet before you go into the cinema or after you have seen a film.

Address: Bohagenerstr. 107 U-bahn: Frankfurter Tor

Coffee: 9/10

Kauf Dich Glucklich, Prenzlauer Berg

2009-06-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

Translated as 'Buy yourself happy', you can't help but smile at this cafe before you even enter it, from outside they have already set the tone for a good Berlin coffee and ice cream experience. But this is not just a cafe, it also a cool shop selling vintage jewellery, toys, sunglasses and other cool things from the 50's to the 80's. But what more would you expect when the owners are made up of product designers and self confessed flea market junkies, the owners have great taste. The decor is a sort of thrift store come cafe with a mish mash of comfy chairs, odd tables and lamps. The cafe serves great waffles with ice cream, great breakfasts and it is a truly charming place to unwind on one of the coolest streets in Berlin, Oderbergerstr. Also when the market is on at Mauer Park on Sunday (50 metres away), its the perfect place to go before you start your rummaging or a perfect place to go after to relax. The outside area is fantastic in the summer and there is always a queue for ice cream which proves just how popular this place is.

Address: Oderbergerstr. 44 U-bahn: Eberswalderstr.

(2nd location Kastanienalle 54)

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Nola am Weinberg, Prenzlauer Berg

2009-05-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

So Cafe Nola is one of those places you would never find or walk past unless somebody tells you about it and its is this exact way that I found it. It is one of those great cafes particularly in the good weather. The views from their outside seating are great, it is perched in the middle of Weinberg park and you can't see it from the road. You can choose to sit on proper seating or recline on beach loungers. While it is a bit pricier for their food, it is well worth it. The cafe is a swiss style cafe and the food is a mixture of swiss and german food. The Sunday Brunch is 11.50 and you can pay an extra 2.50 and drink as many coffees or teas that you want. So it may be a couple of euro more than other cafes for brunch but when you get here you will understand why it is worth paying the extra, you are not only paying for great quality food but also for the surroundings and the great vibe. On the other hand if you want to just have a drink or a coffee, they are the same price as anywhere else and the atmosphere is very chilled out. You can also just go up to a drinks counter and get your drink yourself and choose to have it there or take it away. A great way to spend a Sunday morning with some friends.

Address: Veteranenstr. 9 U-bahn: Rosenthalerstr.

Coffee: 9/10

Fleischmoebel, Prenzlauer Berg

2009-05-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

Moebel cafe nestled on the corner of Oderbergstr., between the very cool Kastanienalle and Schoenhauser Alle is a very beautiful and very DDR Berlinerish cafe offering a very relaxing place to take a break whether you are inside or sitting outside. Moebel meaning Furniture (it was once an old DDR furniture store as you can see from the old signage); inside is a mish mash of 60's style furniture, its very chilled out and the music been played is very cool and suits the decor. Outside on Oderbergstr. is a great place to people watch and on a hot sunny day its perfect with the large trees providing a little shelter from the sun... its a perfect place to meet some friends. The service is self service meaning you order and pay for your coffee inside, sit down and they bring it out to you. The food on offer is a mix of snacks, cakes and pastries. The cafe really owes it style to East German cool, what cafes must have been like before the wall came down, very bohemian, cool but non pretentious.

Address: Oderbergstr. U-bahn: Eberswalderstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 8/10

CUPCAKE, Friedrichshain

2009-04-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

The original Cupcake in Berlin offers the most delicious cupcakes you will find, priced reasonably at 2.00 euro and with a vegan option too, you can't go wrong here. The cafe is different to the other cafes around, its a warm inviting place and you can't help but be cheerful by the array of colourful delights and the very friendly staff. Its wonderfully kitsch and you can tell the owners love doing what they do and it shows in the interior of the cafe and in the quality of their product. These cakes are perfection and those of you who are after the perfect American cupcake - well this is the place. They also bake other delights like the gorgeous New York Cheescake and other sugary mouth watering treats. So if you are looking for something to brighthen your day and put a smile on your face, head over to CUPCAKE.

Address: Krossener Str. 12 U-bahn: Warschauerstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cupcakes: 10/10

Barcomi's, Kreuzberg

2009-02-18T03:43:00.000-08:00

Okay so I had always maintained that I wouldn't review chain cafes but there are only two Barcomi's and I really like the one on Bergmannstr. since the quality of coffee and treats are so good, the one in Mitte is a total touristy cafe and I would avoid and stick with the one in Kreuzberg as it feels more real. The owner of Barcomi's is American and she has injected some of that American style into her cafe and the choice of cakes is excellent, particularly the American cheesecake.. yummy! The choice of different coffees here is superb and it is also a Roastery so you can buy a large selection of coffee's to take away and enjoy at home. I just hope it stays this way since the owner has expanded into opening her other cafe and producing cook books. But don't let that put you off, this Barcomi's is a nice place to hang out and is a little bit of a different feel to other Berlin cafe's.

Address: Bergmannstr. 21 U-Bahn: Gneisenaustr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 10/10

Zimt und Mehl, Neukoelln

2009-02-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

At first glance this looks like an ordinary bakery with a few tables, but once you go inside the atmosphere is very warm and inviting with good relaxing music. It is actually a bakery shop and a self service cafe at the same time. Staff are extremely friendly and the menu has a wonderful selection of tasty breakfasts and snacks from savoury oriental or mediteranian platters to sweet pastry type snacks. The best thing is that all food orders include coffee or tea, which makes this place fantastic value for great quality (e.g. most breakfast are around 4-5 Euro). All bread rolls and cakes are baked freshly in store all day so there is always an alluring bakery smell around.

Address: Wildenbruchstr. 76 U-Bahn: Rathaus Neukoelln

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Ringo, Neukoelnn

2009-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ringo Cafe/Bar is a really cool place to go in the Neukoelnn area, its policy is simple, great food, great music and friendly service. The soundtrack here is always well thought out and its an important factor that keeps you here. The decor is made up of retro 50's and 60's style fittings and you get the feeling of sitting in a nice cosy living room. The cakes in particular on offer are great. The minus factor if you don't smoke is that they allow smoking after 8pm and for such a small cafe can be very smoky indeed., but this seems to be a big problem in Berlin now for non smokers, great if you smoke though. However in the summer as they have some nice outdoor seating, its a great place to hang out and the crowd are very friendly and theres a good mix of locals and auslanders who live in Berlin. They also have some nice movie evenings here too.

Address: Sanderstr. 2 U-bahn: Schoenlienstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 10/10

Schwarzes Cafe, Ku'Damm

2009-02-06T01:51:00.000-08:00

So I can't believe I have only discovered Schwarzes Cafe after so long. It is a landmark cafe in western Berlin and has been frequented by the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop etc in the past. When you walk through the door its seems a normal small cafe til you walk upstairs and it is much bigger than you think. It is open 24 hours a day and is famous in that you can order breakfast 24 hours a day too. They have a great food and drink menu, you may pay 50 cent more for the odd dish but well worth it for the great atmosphere here. Check out their cool bathrooms too. You definitely get the feeling you are spending time somewhere special when you spend some time here.

Address: Kantstr. 148 U-bahn: Uhlandstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 9/10

2009-01-31T12:26:00.001-08:00

Tiki Heart Cafe, Kreuzberg

2009-01-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

In the middle of Wienerstr. is the brilliantly unusual (and I mean unusual) Tiki Heart Cafe and not to mention shop. As the name might suggest, the cafe and shop on the lower level are all things Tiki. The decor is a wild mix of colours, bamboo, Elvis, surfboards, pineapples, hawai and all things tacky cool. The music style is rockabilly and psychobilly and the crowd here are mostly local and the odd band that might be playing next door in 'Wild at Heart'. They have a killer veggie burger and some nice nibbles. As well as making hot drinks, they also make tasty and strong cocktails. It's one of the strangest but worth visiting cafes in Berlin. Keep it kitschy!

Address: Wiesnerstr. 20 U-bahn: Goerlitzer Bahnhof

Coffee: 8/10

Luzia, Kreuzberg

2009-01-03T08:49:00.001-08:00

Luzia Cafe is a cool cafe with a very cool local crowd. It is quite a large cafe and the interior is a mish mash of 50's, 60's furniture, old wallpapers, exposed brickwork and brilliant wall murals that really stand out, a unique feature for sure, ala Banksy style. There is also a great elevated window seat for all you exhibitionists that want to be on show. The staff are friendly and quick at serving and the menu choice is very good, its a mix of snacks and soups... the soup was excellent. It has a full bar menu and it is also a great place to spend an evening. The music soundtrack is also well thought through and they play a good mix of soul, alternative and just plain good sounds. The feel of the place overall is really nice. Going by the choice of magazines here, lots of design and music ones, it is a cafe for people into whats in right now. Also every Saturday they have a Dj playing, music style is normally minimal techno.

Address: Oranientstr. 34 U-bahn: Kottbusserstr.

Coffee: 8/10

Hackbarth Cafe, Mitte

2008-12-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

Away from the touristy Hackescher Market area is the unassuming Hackbarth Cafe, nestled on the gallery filled Auguststr. The cafe is a more similar to a Parisian cafe than a Berlin cafe by its decor inside, very typical indeed of the bohemian cafes you would see there. The service was very friendly and it was a relaxing place to hang out... the alternative music been played was also a big plus. The food on offer is a mixture of sandwiches, pastries and the best cakes in mitte, freshly baked daily. They also do a great breakfast, although a little more expensive than elsewhere but their coffee and cake are as cheap as anywhere else. They also offer soja milk in all their coffees.

Address: Auguststr. 10 U-bahn: Hackescher / Rosenthalerstr.

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Sankt Oberholz, Mitte

2008-12-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to mac heaven, and I don't mean the food variety. This is the cafe to come to if you want to work on your laptop, free WiFi and a great place to get some work done, or pretend to do some. However its always quite busy and hard to find somewhere to plug your computer in. Its a self service cafe but the variety of sandwiches and pastries is very good and inexpensive, unfortunately the coffee is just ok, it could be a lot stronger. However maybe they do that so you will have more than one. Downstairs is a bit cool and not the area where you would hang out all day, but upstairs is much more relaxing and there is a great view of the surrounding area of Torstr. and beyond. Nice place to work but probably not a great place to meet new people as it seems most people have their heads facing computer screens.

Address: Rosenthalerstr. 72a U-bahn: Rosenthalerstr.

Coffee: 7/10 Cake: 9/10

Dachkammer, Friedrichshain

2008-12-19T04:14:00.000-08:00

In the middle of Simon-Dach Str is the brilliant cafe, Dachkammer. It opens all day and in the evening it turns into a great cafe/bar. It looks like a normal cafe downstairs but upstairs is completely different, its like stepping into the 40's and sitting in your grannies living room. Its very comfy and its full of vintage furniture and weird bits and pieces in lots of little rooms. At present it seems to be non smoking. Staff aren't exactly the friendliest, at times they can be up too cool for this world. But you are coming here for the great ambiance and cool surroundings and the clientele seem very friendly. They also serve great breakfasts and in the summer sitting outside is a must, in the middle of one of the coolest streets in Friedrichshain.

Address: Simon-Dachs Str. 39 U-bahn: Frankfurter Tor

Coffee: 8/10

Lass uns freunde bleiben, Prenzlauer Berg

2008-12-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

As the name of the cafe describes 'let us stay friends'... the name pretty much sums up the feel of this cafe, its very laid back and if you want a place to go where you can totally unwind, relax with some friends and get away from the hustle and bustle, this is the place to be. The decor is a cool shabby mix of old furniture and steel and glass with big windows. Its hard to see from the outside the name, its printed small on the glass door (maybe they are trying to keep this a secret and who could blame them). There is also a separate smoking room, so this cafe has thought of everything to suit everyone. Service is very friendly, albeit a bit slow at times, but thats Berlin at times. There is also a good mix of reading material and they also offer Soya milk for your coffee if preferred. So 'Lass uns freunde bleiben'. Very cool. They don't seem to have a huge range of food or snacks but its still a very cool cafe to hang out in and they play dead good music and not minimal house for a change but real songs.

Address: Chorinerstr. 12 U-bahn: Senefelderplatz

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 9/10

Impala Cafe, Schoeneberg

2008-12-17T04:51:00.000-08:00

Impala Cafe/Roastery is a fantastic cafe if you want a huge range of coffees. Its not a big cafe but in the summer the vibe here is excellent and with such a huge range of coffees, (I think they have about 20 varieties and they are all Fair Trade) you will always have a different one to choose from. Food is more pastries, muffins and brownies but they do the most amazing brownie. Impala Cafe is positioned in the busy area of Nollendorf and its a great place to sit at any time of day and people watch, especially if you can grab that sought after window seat. While its not a cafe you would sit in all day its definitely one you would come to if you are a good coffee lover.

Address: Maassenstr. 5 U-bahn: Nollendorfplatz

(There is also a second branch in Pappelalle 1)

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 8/10

Anita Wronski, Prenzlauer Berg

2008-12-03T03:45:00.000-08:00

Right opposite Wasserturm is the well positioned Anita Wronski cafe. You have to sit outside in the sun to really appreciate their great position on a very busy corner on Knaackstr. With all of the other cafes on their doorstep it is a kind of cafe institution in the area. Their generous breakfasts are very tasty and this is a great place to people watch. There is always a lot of activity in the vicinity with a food market on the weekends. Get there early if the sun is shining as seats are hard to come by and once sitting its hard to budge. They also have menus in English. NIce smiling waiters too.

Address: Knaackstr. 26 U-bahn: Senefelder Platz or Eberswalderstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 8/10

Zur Rose Cafe, Mitte

2008-11-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

On the side street of Weinbergsweg leading up towards Prenzlauer Berg is the charming and delightful cafe, Zur Rose. Becoming one of my favourite Berlin cafes, it typlifies what Berlin cafe life is all about. Its very relaxing, the staff are very friendly and they have some really nice food to eat, particularly the breakfasts. The decor is a mix of old rustic furniture and mixed with old DDR bits and pieces, check out the cool wallpaper. It is a really nice cafe to chill out in and it opens til 1am and has a nice crowd here in the evenings. Its a must visit but part of me wants to tell nobody about it and keep it secret for me and my friends.

Addess: Weinbergsweg 26 U-bahn: Rosenthalerstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 9/10

Baltas Cafe, Schoeneberg

2008-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Baltas Cafe is a different sort of cafe in the Schoeneberg area in that its more stylish than the others and probably suffers at times from been uber trendy. But saying that I am adding it because Baltas is one of the best places to work with a laptop or just sit back and watch people walk by. It is also self service, you order your coffee and pay and they bring it down to you. Service is always very friendly. Food here is mostly sandwiches and pastries but all very tasty and filling. You can also buy yesterdays food at a 50% discount. But watch out for the odd idiot, entertaining to watch though.

Address: Goltzstr. 17 U-Bahn: Eisenacherstr.

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 8/10

Cafe Chagall, Prenzlauer Berg

2008-11-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

Bohemian Berlin is still alive. Cafe Chagall right at the U-bahn stop Senefelder platz is a cafe with a long history in this area. With its Russian roots, it has a wonderful menu full of Russian gastro treats and all at very cheap prices, but fantastic quality. You are made feel so welcome here and the clientele are a nice mix of locals and multi cultural. The staff here make you feel at home and are incredibly friendly and warm and the main kellner is very entertaining. The cafe remains busy into the night and they candle light the whole place which it makes it very hard to leave. They also have a room for smokers and room for non smokers. A must visit!

Address: Kollwitzstr. 2 U-bahn: Senefelderstr.

Coffee: 9/10

Double Eye, Schoeneberg

2008-11-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Double Eye are World Champion Baristas and they have the award to prove it, they also have been German Champions, European Champions for coffee making and for Latte art, amazing achievements indeed. The first thing you notice at Double Eye is the amount of people outside on the street and inside the small steh cafe (stand cafe), no matter the weather and particularly when the weather is good as they have funky outdoor seating and people will stand on the street with their beverage. Their coffee selection is great and they ask you a lot of questions about your coffee... how strong, with or without milk, etc. They serve the best coffee at the best prices and they always serve them with a smile. Actually the prices here are some of the cheapest I have seen in Berlin and for such top quality, its the reason why its full every day. Maybe ts not a cafe you would spend a lot of time at due to the fact that there are no seats inside but everybody sits outside or stand and this cafe is a real local institution. You come here for one thing and thats COFFEE, a huge variety including the Double Eye Special and Super Special. They close in the evening.

Address: Akazienstr. 22 U-bahn: Kleist Park or Eisenacherstr.

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Cinema, Mitte

2008-11-12T04:51:00.000-08:00

Previously Cafe Kino, I actually preferred this name, it is apparently the first bar to open up in the Hackescher area after the wall came down and inside it looks like it could have been here a much longer time before. It is a really inviting and warm cafe and the surroundings are very interesting with a great mix of b&w photos adorning the walls and some really comfy furniture. It sets the tone for a great atmosphere. There is a good mix of locals and tourists. The only downside if you don't smoke is they allow smoking. However the other great thing about Cafe Kino (i'm sticking with this name) is that it stays busy into the evening as a cool bar. Staff are also friendly.

Photo: Erik Richmond (aka Genial23 on Flickr)

Address: Rosenthalerstr. 39 U-Bahn: Hackescher Markt

Coffee: 8/10

Gottlob, Schoeneberg

2008-11-10T06:35:00.001-08:00

Situated on the lively Akazienstrasse, Gottlob is probably the most popular cafe in Schoeneberg. Right opposite a beautiful church, it has a brilliant outdoor seating area providing the best of views. Due to its great location it is a popular spot for people watching and always attracts a very mixed crowd of young and old. They offer a lovely but inexpensive breakfast, good and interesting food menu and a weekly changing special of one vegetarian and one meat or fish dish. The staff are sometimes a bit slow and friendliness can vary but they seem to care about good background music for a chilled out atmosphere. I guess it is still one of the best places to sit and have a nice time, since their positioning is perfect.

Address: Akazienstrasse 17 U-Bahn: Eisenacherstrasse

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 7/10

Golzo Cafe, Schoeneberg

2008-11-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

How lucky are people in Schoeneberg that they have two cafes like Savo and Golzo on the same street serving the best coffee this side of Berlin. Golzo really specialises in very good coffee, very good pastries and a small food menu that mostly comprises of soups and sandwiches. When you order coffee, they offer you a choice... strong or mild. Both are so smooth and always served with a smile. They also have Wifi here and a bookshelf with great art books to peruse while you sip their fine beverages. The deco here is quite modern but very comfortable. It only opens here til 6pm but definitely worth the trip. A nice local coffee shop.

Address: Golzstr. U-bahn: Eisenacherstr. or Nollendorf

Coffee: 8/10 Pastries: 8/10

Bateau Ivre, Kreuzberg

2008-11-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

If I had to pick the perfect cafe to meet a group of friends on a Sunday morning and spend hours together having Sunday brunch and coffees, well this would be the place. Bateau Ivre right in the middle of the happening Kreuzberg street, Oranienstr. is a cool cafe but in the best sense of the word cool, not pretentious. The staff are very friendly and chilled out as is the clientele that frequent here. Their breakfasts in particular are delicious, generous and pretty cheap at that. The vibe here is well thought through and even the background music is well chosen to set the mood. Overall I would say this is one of the nicest cafes in Berlin... it is real Berlin. Viva le Bateau.

Address: Oranienstr. 18 U-bahn: Goerlitzer Bahnhof

Coffee: 9/10

Anna Blume, Prenzlauer Berg

2008-11-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

This has got to be the cafe with the biggest selection of gorgeous cakes in Berlin. As you enter you cannot help but gaze with amazement into the large glass vitrine and you will find it difficult to make a choice. They also make cakes on demand and deliver them and the little florist next door is also part of their business, that's so Berlin! The inside is cosy and sensual and they have a large menu with good breakfast and other tasty treats. The outdoor seating area is sheltered by lots of plants and big sun-umbrellas in the summer, perfect for people watching. Anna Blume is a beautiful oasis in the buzzing Kollwitz Area in Prenzlauer Berg.

Address: Kollwitzstr. 83 U-Bahn: Senefelder Platz

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Avril, Kreuzberg

2008-11-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

Cafe Avril located in the middle of Graefestrasse in Kreuzberg is a beautiful cafe that specialises in tasty vergatarian food. It is also a great place for people to go who have kids as there is a special kids room down the back, but for people who don't have kids don't let this put you off, the cafe is very tranquil and there are nice window seats to watch the world go by. Its is frequented mostly by locals and it has a nice gentle atmosphere. In summer they have great seating outside and its so nice to sit here in the sun. The Graefe area is so nice to hang around and this cafe is always a good place to stop for a break. Also they have WiFi here so its also a good place to get some work done on your computer.

Address: Graefestr. 83 Ubahn: Schoenleinstr.

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 7/10

Cafe Savo, Schoeneberg

2008-11-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Okays so Cafe Savo is not the cosiest cafe in Berlin but nontheless it is still a nice place to spend some time and they always have great reading material. They don't have a huge food menu but they do make the most amazing cakes every day, only three varieties but they are home made and absolutely delicious.. as too are the brownies, the best around Schoeneberg. One of the things you also notice about Cafe Savo when you go a few times is that a lot of local people go here every single day... which means only one thing, quality. The coffee here never fails to hit the spot, always excellent.

AddressL Golzstr.3 Ubahn: Eisenacherstr

Coffee: 10/10 Cake: 10/10

Literaturhaus Cafe, Charlottenburg

2008-10-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is by far the best cafe in the Ku'damm region. If you happen to be on a shopping spree around there and want to get a break away from all the hussle and bustle and if you are not into all the chains around there try this place. They have a beautiful garden, very peaceful and tranquil and though it may seem like a posh place you can certainly afford a nice "Schuemli" Cafe and a gorgeous slice of one of their big selection of cakes. The inside is very stylish but also warm and cosy and staff are friendly. We once had cake and champagne there for a special occasion and it didn't cost the world.

Address: Fasanenstr. 23

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 10/10

Cafe Wendel, Kreuzberg

2008-10-31T12:07:00.000-07:00

Wendel Cafe in Kreuzberg is an amazingly different cafe in that its decor looks like something you would see in an aircraft hanger. The whole space has been lent to local graffiti artists who fashioned the space with their unique artwork. The staff here are so friendly and they even allowed us to bring in our own food to eat. They mostly sell organic food and beer but at normal cafe prices. Wendel also turns into a very cool bar at nightime and it has a great mix of music styles with resident djs changing every night. This is one of the most original cafes in Berlin and its situated in Schlesisches area, a great area to spend a night out. The crowd is a nice mix of locals and some well in tune new Berliners.

Address: Schlesischestr.42 Ubahn: Schlesisches Tor

Coffee: 9/10

An Einem Sontag im August, Prenzlauer Berg

2008-10-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

The unusually titled cafe in the Prenzlauer Berg area 'An Einem Sontag im August' (translated as One Sunday in August) is an institution in the Kastanienalle region. Situated at the very beginning of Kastanienalle and right beside Eberswalderstr U bahn, this is one of those great cafes that you will go to time and time again. Its on a very fashionable and trendy street and the people who pass through here are a mix of trend setters mixed in with whoever else is in the area. One of the highlights of the cafe is their incredibly cheap buffet breakast which is served here every day for the astonishing price of 2.95. The cakes are always fresh and change daily. Another nice feature is the ever changing artworks that adorn their walls, all for sale at reasonable prices by local Berlin artists. The decor is a typical Berlin mix of old furniture, old lights and atmospherically dark. In the summer there are also great seating outside to people watch.

Address: Kastanienalle Ubahn: Eberswalderstrasse

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 9/10

Strandbad Cafe, Mitte

2008-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful cafe in the mitte region, just off the fashionable area of Auguststasse (a great street for small galleries and cool boutique shops). This laid back cafe is mostly visited by locals as its off the tourist zone and it has a really chilled out vibe. Food and coffee here is excellent and the staff are very friendly. There is always lots of great magazines to read too which is a bonus and a good looking clientele. It is famous for the locals for their great breakfasts.

Address: Kleine Hamburgerstr. 16 Ubahn: Weinmeister

Coffee: 9/10 Cake: 8/10

Bilderbuch Cafe, Schoeneberg.

2008-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Its probably the coziest of all the cafes that I go to in Schoneberg and it is best experienced by going to the cozy backroom, which is a hidden secret in this area. The deco is beautiful and it is decorated something between your grandmothers house and an old college library... a real gem of a place. The food is excellent especially the breakfasts and it is very chilled out. You can hang out here for hours and you are never bothered. They also have WiFi so you can bring your computer and work all day too. Also a good hint here with regards to coffee is order the Cafe Creme instead of the normal coffee.

Address: Akazienstr. (Ubahn: Eisenacherstr.)

Coffee: 8/10 Cake: 5/10