photo: Liz Ketcham.
I think for the longest time of my adult life I assumed I would not have a thing for plants because I had a hard time keeping them alive. It wasn’t until I started living with my former flatmate Sandra who brought a whole bunch of plants into our house that I started to take an interest. And this is really what made the difference: Once I took an actual interest in them, the plants started to thrive. A plant dad was born!
By now I’ve developed a bit into a plant nerd, even started my own plant-themed Instagram account @frankyfolia to indulge in my green obsession. The plant community online is pretty big already and the enthusiasm for plants is quite infectious. Be warned 😉
I thought it was about time to bring my new passion here to iHeartBerlin in the form of a new guide showing you the best places for plant enthusiasts. If you’re not into plants yet, you might just be after reading this…
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by Frank | Aug 14, 2019 | Kreuzberg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Shops
Due to its slightly hidden location in a backyard of a quite touristy area of Mitte, it took me quite a long time to discover The Night Kitchen. But the restaurant concept from Isreal is quite the gem in such a unique space that it is absolutely worth checking out.
Combing the buzzing atmosphere of bars with a dining experience seems to be quite a thing in Tel Aviv. Isreali places like Yafo and Benedict already turned the German idea of restaurants totally upside down, and The Night Kitchen is continuing this concept. Their place really feels like a cool bar and even most of their tables have counter height. The idea to eat in a buzzing place like that adds a lot of excitement to the dining experience. Not matter if you sit outside in the garden, or inside in the cozy bar, it never gets boring. The service also has the same warm and friendly vibe (with a dash of Isreali sass) you might remember from your last trip to Tel Aviv, it’s much less formal and stiff than most regular places. It’s certainly a breath of fresh air.
If you expect only hummus and eggplant on the menu you really have to think again. It’s full of great seafood including prawns, octopus, and seabass – to name just a few. But also on the meat side, The Night Kitchen has a lot to offer. The short ribs are excellent, but the real surprise was the Balkan Chicken with sweet potatoes which were our favorite of the night on our first visit. It’s really rare I will say this about a chicken dish.
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by Frank | Aug 9, 2019 | Mitte, Restaurants
Amongst a great number of fancy cafés and restaurants in Berlin Mitte, AVOCAI will remind you of exotic places like Bali. An inspiring place where you can take time off from everyday’s stress and meet like-minded people while enjoying healthy and tasteful food.
With its unique recipes (paleo style), the first look at the menu makes you want to order it all. Inspired by Russian and Asian cuisine, all dishes are gluten-, meat-, sugar-free, and mostly vegan. From avocado toasts to rainbow bowls (and not to be missed: sweet potato pancakes!) it’s filled with colorful and diverse ingredients that will make your palate go on a tasteful journey. You’ll find a well-balanced selection of savory and sweet dishes and a weekly changing business lunch.
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by Guest Author | Jul 19, 2019 | Cafés, Mitte, Wellness
One of the many facets of Berlin that people really love and cherish is the rough, urban and industrial style of the city. It’s something that Berlin has in common with places like Brooklyn or South East London. But combined with Berlin’s history, the division, the Soviet influence of the East, it developed a quite particular style that sets it apart from the other cities. Raw brick walls and concrete, factory lamps and Edison light bulbs, this is pretty much an aesthetic you will see all over the world. But Berlin adds old GDR relics, remains of the Soviet military, and remnants of old industries that were specific to Germany. The outcome is a unique mix of history, design, and patina that feels specific to Berlin.
In our newest guide, we want to introduce you to 3 shops that have specialized in industrial vintage design, all of which combine common aesthetics with more particular ones. We love all three of these shops as they capture so much an essential part of the style of Berlin. Enjoy!
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by Frank | Jun 21, 2019 | Design, Mitte, Schöneberg, Shops
With its mysterious name, the Berghain-esque “no” at the door, and the fully curtain-covered windows the new fine dining restaurant “The Noname” in Mitte certainly sets out to provoke some curiosity. When entering through its ceiling-high white curtains it feels a lot like unveiling a well-kept secret – one that is sitting right in front of your eyes on the busy Oranienburger Straße at the front of the Heckmannhöfe.
The plissee-covered walls, luxurious crown molding, antique bar, and chandeliers set the stage for a highlight that juxtaposes the aforementioned interior: A mural of a woman tied up in bondage ropes that extend into the room in an installation of actual ropes. It’s a daring image for a fine dining restaurant with an expected upscale audience – but one that is quite fitting both for the neighborhood and Berlin’s general tendency for kinkiness.
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by Frank | Jun 12, 2019 | Mitte, Restaurants
Berlin offers a plethora of wonderful places with amazing coffee, breakfast and brunch options. But especially now in the sunny months of the year what we are really craving for is enjoy all of this outside in the sun. And here it becomes tricky because not every cafe has a great outdoor area. Sometimes they are a little too cramped at the side of the sidewalk, totally in the shade or not very big. We’ve gone around to some of our favorite places to test their outdoor areas for optimal sunshine and present you here our pickings in our new sunny breakfast guide. Enjoy!
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by Frank | Jun 3, 2019 | Cafés, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Prenzlauer Berg, Wedding
Whether as nourishment for your nerves, a mood-lifter or a loving gift – chocolate is a special indulgence for every occasion. Us Germans truly love chocolate among all the other sweets the most. Per person, we eat about 9 kilos of chocolate each year – preferably full milk! For the sweet-toothed among our readers, we put together a great selection of the best chocolate makers and shops located in Berlin. I hope you have a piece of chocolate near you because, after this, you might be tempted to go out and get your sweet on!
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by Franziska | Apr 16, 2019 | Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Shops
photo: Layla.
Not even a year has passed since our last new Berlin restaurants round-up of 2018. But my list of interesting new openings has already surpassed 10 so it’s about time for another one for 2019!
The last couple of months have brought us quite an interesting wave of new gastronomic projects. Some hail from already established entrepreneurs while others are complete newbies in the food scene of the city. While recent years showed a slight tendency towards more exquisite places I feel this year it’s quite balanced including something for everyone.
In our selection, you’ll find some creative fine dining, Asian delights from China, Korea, and Japan, a new Syrian place, of course, another cool new pizza joint, and also some hearty down-to-earth kitchen.
EDIT Dec 2021: We deleted some restaurants from the listicle that have already closed down since the writing of this guide.
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by Frank | Feb 28, 2019 | Charlottenburg, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Restaurants, Schöneberg, Wedding
25hours, photo: Stephan Lemke
Over the years, we have given you plenty of tips on how to do Berlin on a budget – we’ve even provided you with this handy guide to our city’s most awesome hostels. But Berlin has more to offer than that – and we’ve got you covered when you feel like splashing some cash on your accommodation. Whether it’s your NYC friend asking you for advice on some fancy lodgings, or you’re searching for an apartment that’d be an escape from the city’s hustle and bustle without the need of hopping on a plane, check out this guide for Berlin’s coolest design and boutique hotels and holiday homes!
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by Michalina | Oct 25, 2018 | Accommodation, Charlottenburg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Tiergarten
photo: Deutsches Weininstitut – Sponsored
Berlin has the fantastic reputation of a multicultural melting pot that is brimming with plentiful international influences in every area of life, from arts and culture to food and drinks. And while we remain grateful to live in a place where authentic alcoholic beverages from all corners of the world are readily available, we’re excited for the “Day of the Open Wine” – a unique occasion to dig into – or maybe rather drain up – a topic that we all might have previously slightly neglected, namely: German wines!
The “Day of the Open Wine” (Tag des offenen Weins) is part of the nationwide event “WeinEntdecker-Wochen” and is coming to Berlin for the very first time on the 22nd of September from 14:00 to 18:00. It’s a real treat for all the wine lovers out there – just for 5 EUR, you’ll be able to discover three different German wines. Over 30 wine shops all over town are participating – and below, you’ll find our curated guide to 6 of them. Call up your buddies and take a relaxing afternoon stroll through Berlin – with such delightful stops along the way, who knows where you might end up?
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by Michalina | Sep 19, 2018 | Bars, Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Schöneberg
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