Despite its formidable art and music scenes, the German capital has never really been seen as a serious food city. It isn’t loaded with glamorous destination restaurants with international name recognition, especially compared to other, flashier European cities — but that comparison is exactly the problem. Berlin isn’t trying to be Paris or Barcelona.
Berlin’s best spots tend to be low-key neighborhood haunts and candlelit bars that feel like living rooms. You can dine well at the fine-yet-fun Otto on a meal prepared by Berlin native and Noma alum Vadim Otto Ursus, and follow it up with an equally compelling meal at lovingly graffitied kebab shop Rüyam. Meanwhile, Berlin’s location at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe has made it a hub for transplants, who serve khachapuri, curry, empanadas, Japanese pasta, and everything in between. And while the city doesn’t have as many specialty dishes to its name as some other capitals, it leans into prized signatures like currywurst (fried sausage doused with curry-powder ketchup and served with fries) and döner kebab (by way of Turkey).
Note: Some Berlin restaurants only accept cash, and service at many places can be almost aggressively inattentive, even in some higher-end spots. Chasing down servers to take your order or pay is a regular part of dining out in Berlin — embrace it.
Tim Forster is a freelance writer and editor based in Berlin, covering food, culture, and technology. He is the food editor at the Berliner and former editor of Eater Montreal.
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