Berlin for Foodies Local Guide + the Best Berlin Food Tours

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With over 8,000 restaurants and cuisines from 75 countries, Berlin is a foodie heaven. As the German capital is a huge city, it can be a bit overwhelming for first-time gourmand visitors.

As locals, we had a lot of time to explore the Berlin food scene to share our highlights and hidden gems.

If you’re like us and you like to food travel, this blogpost will give you a quick overview over:

• Traditional Berlin food.
• The best foodie neighbourhoods in Berlin.
• Berlin food tours that focus on different areas.

• Food to Try in Berlin
  • Traditional Berlin Food
  • Traditional Berlin Food vs Traditional German Food
  • International Berlin Food
• Best Berlin Foodie Neighbourhoods
  • Berlin Mitte
  • Berlin Friedrichshain
  • Berlin Kreuzberg and Neukölln
  • Berlin Prenzlauer Berg
  • Berlin Charlottenburg
• Berlin Beer
  • Berlin Beer Tours

Food to Try in Berlin

Traditional Berlin Food

While you can find a mixture of typical German and international food in Berlin, there is some uniquely traditional Berlin food you must try:

Traditional Berlin Food with Meat

• Currywurst (Curry Sausage)
• Bouletten (Meatballs)
• Königsberger Klopse (Königsberg meatballs in white cream sauce)
• Leber Berliner Art mit Äpfeln, Zwiebeln und Kartoffelbrei (Berlin style liver with apples, onions and mashed potatoes)
• Kassler mit Sauerkraut (lightly smoked cured pork with sauerkraut)
• Eisbein mit Erbspüree (salted pork knuckle with pea puree)
• Hackepeter (raw minced pork, mostly eaten on rolls with loads of onions)
• Strammer Max (bread with ham and a fried egg)
• Döner Kebab

Traditional Berlin Food with Fish

• Aal grün mit Salzkartoffeln und Gurkensalat (green eel with boiled potatoes and cucumber salad)
• Rollmops (herring roll)

Vegetarian Traditional Berlin Food

While many traditional Berlin dishes are meat-heavy, you can find some vegetarian options as well:

• Pellkartoffeln (potatoes with quark and linseed oil)
• Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes, served as a side dish or main course with a fried egg)
• Linseneintopf (lentil stew)
• Teltower Rübchen (Teltow turnips)

raditional Berlin Deserts

• Berliner / Pfannkuchen (Berlin filled doughnut)
• Berliner Luft (whipped creme dessert)

Traditional Berlin Drinks

• Molle / Pils (beer)
• Berliner Weisse (beer with syrup, mostly raspberry or woodruff)
• Fassbrause (non alcoholic beer alternative)
• Berliner Luft (peppermint schnapps)

Traditional Berlin Food vs Traditional German Food

While you’ll often find traditional German dishes like

• Apple Strudel
• Pretzel
• Schnitzel
• Spätzle
• Maultaschen

in Berlin food guides, these are Southern German foods. This cuisine differs vastly from Berlin cuisine as they used to be different countries for the longest time.

International Berlin Food

The main international influences in Berlin are:

• Middle Eastern (think Döner Kebab, Falafel, Baklava,…)
• Asian (think Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, fusion,…)
• Mediterranean (think Italian, Greek,…)
• Fast Food

You can also find some more unique restaurants. Here are just some we like:

• Balkans: Split
• Cambodian: Angkor Wat
• Ethiopian: Bejte-Ethiopia
• French: La Cocotte
• Georgian: Batumi
• Indonesian: Mabuhay
• Jamaican: Ya Man
• Mexican: Ta’Cabron Taqueria
• Peruvian: Chicha
• Tajik: Tadshikische Teestube

Best Berlin Foodie Neighbourhoods

Berlin Mitte

As this is the most central area, it’s also the most touristy. Next to some tourist traps, you can find some true hidden (or not so hidden anymore) gems.

In our opinion, the best neighbourhood for foodies in Berlin Mitte is around Oranienburger Straße and the adjacent areas Hackesche Höfe and Torstraße.

Best Restaurants Mitte

For traditional Berlin food: Gambrinus

The best dessert: Princess Cheesecake

Something unique: Shiso Burger

Best brunch: House of Small Wonder

Best beer: Aufsturz

Berlin Food Tour Mitte

A guided food tour can save you the hassle of finding the best food spots on your own. On this Berlin Mitte food tour, you’ll sample 5 international and original Berlin specialists in Berlin Mitte:

Berlin Friedrichshain

This area is especially amazing when you want to go out in the evening. If you ask us, this is the best neighbourhood to have dinner, especially if you want to go bar hopping afterwards.

You’ll find the best food in Berlin Friedrichshain in the area around Simon Dach Straße.

Best Restaurants Friedrichshain

Best breakfast: Stilbruch

Best ice cream: Delabuu Ice Cream

Cheesy: MacLaren's Pub

Berlin vibes: Dachkammer

Best rock bar: ROCKZ

Berlin Food Tour Friedrichshain

The Secret Food Tour makes 7 different culinary stops – from traditional German to international cuisines.

Berlin Kreuzberg and Neukölln

This area is young, hip, and multicultural. The best street food and snacks as well as some of the best artisan ice cream stores in all of Berlin are located in this area. You’ll find cuisines from every continent.

The best area for food in Kreuzberg can be found around Schlesisches Tor. In Neukölln, we like the Schillerkiez or Alt Rixdorf.

Best Restaurants Kreuzberg and Neukölln

Best Currywurst: Curry 36

Best burger: Burgermeister

Best street food: Markthalle 9

Best drinks: Schwarze Traube

Best rooftop views: Klunkerkranich

The best dessert: Brammibal's Donuts

Berlin Food Tour Kreuzberg and Neukölln

In Kreuzberg and Neukölln, you can find a perfect combination of street food and street art. If you’re interested in both, why not try this guided tour?

Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Prenzlauer Berg used to be like Kreuzberg and Neukölln a couple of years ago. Nowadays, you can feel the gentrification. A lot of vegan and organic food can be found in this neighbourhood.

The best food in Prenzlauer Berg can be found around Kastanienallee.

Best Restaurants Prenzlauer Berg

For traditional Berlin food: Altberliner Restaurant

Vegan traditional food: Försters

Best desserts: Burak Künefe

Something unique: Blumen-Café

Best bar: Druide Absinth & Cocktailbar

Berlin Food Tour Prenzlauer Berg

Berlin is a big city. This food tour does it justice by sampling Berlin food on a bike tour.

Berlin Charlottenburg

This is a posh area. You’ll find many chic establishments. In residential areas you’ll find rustic “Kiezkneipen” (neighbourhood bars), around the more touristy Zoo area, you’ll find many modern rooftop bars and restaurants.

The best food in Berlin Charlottenburg can be found around Savignyplatz.

Best Restaurants Charlottenburg

For traditional Berlin food: Dicke Wirtin

Something unique: KLO

Best breakfast: Café im Literaturhaus

Best beer: Zwiebelfisch

Best vibe: Schwarzes Cafe

Rooftop views: Monkey Bar

Berlin Food Tour Charlottenburg

A guided food tour can save you the hassle of finding the best food spots on your own. On this Berlin Charlottenburg food tour, you’ll sample a selection of savoury dishes and sweet desserts at 3-4 stops. Make sure to book the Tastyburg Food Tour if you’re interested in Charlottenburg food.

Berlin Beer

The three major beers you’ll find in Berlin are

• Berliner Kindl
• Berliner Pilsener
• Schultheiss

Additionally, there are loads of craft beer breweries in town. We like:

• BRLO
• Eschenbräu
• Lemke
• Vagabund

Berlin Beer Tours

A tour for craft beer lovers like us: