Brunches

Blending German and Antipodean delights, the Aotearoa buffet greets you as you come through the door. This mixed-up Eurasian spread will satisfy all mixed up Pacificers with ribs, rice and cheese … ahh, just like mum used to make.
Enjoy the laid back atmosphere and pick and choose from a well-cultured selection. Weichselstr. 26a, S+U-Bhf Frankfurter Allee, Tel 2068 7314, Sun brunch 10:00-15:00, from 6.50 euros, cash only

Click here to find Aotearoa on the map

Avril provides a Middle Eastern brunch assortment of tomato-flavored fava beans, stuffed grape leaves, savory spinach pizza and even fresh fish, as well as the tastiest lemonthyme panna cotta this side of the Alps.
The weekday menu specializes in veggie and fish dishes such as stuffed herb eggplant or grilled dorade with ratatouille. High-ceilinged Altbau furnishings, a non-smoking room, children’s play space and ample outdoor seating on a tree-lined corner all add to the charm. Graefestr. 83, U-Bhf Schönleinstr., Tel. 6273 5398, www.cafe-avril.de,Mon-Fri 9:00-late, Sat-Sun 10:00-late, Sun brunch until 16:00, 9 euros adults, 4 euros children, main courses 8-13 euros, cash only

Click here to find Avril on the map

Boisterous and full with loads of Italian food on the tables to tuck into. Good vegetarian options too. Kollwitzstr. 66, Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Senefelder Platz, Tel 030 441 05 48, Brunch Sat-Sun 10-16:30, 8 euros.

Click here to find Belluno on the map

This Viennese-style café’s double, shaded row of small tables face the street, so watch passers-by or peer at the hip fellow coffee- drinkers. A lovely cake selection, breakfast allday, and a classic dark wood-cream leather interior make Berio perfect for marathon newspaper reading.
Try the ‘Schöneberger Markt’ breakfast - comprised of fresh and local offerings, for 8.50 euros, or the vanilla-quark-filled Pfannkuchen, 5.50 euros. Maassenstr. 7, U-Bhf Nollendorfplatz, Tel 216 1946, www.cafe-berio.de,Sun-Thu 8:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 8:00-1:00, from 2.90-8.50 euros, cash only

Click here to find Café Berio on the map

Eating here is like having brunch in your eccentric grandma’s shabbily elegant living room. It’s so comfortable you’ll want to stay all day, especially after you taste the creative breakfasts on offer, like the ‘Frosch King’, including lox, smoked trout and prosecco for 6.90 euros.Peruse the Café Bilderbuch Zeitung at their Sunday brunch,or stop by for a tango evening or tarot reading. Akazienstr. 28, U-Bhf Eisenacher Str., Tel 7870 6057, www.cafe-bilderbuch.de, Mon-Thu 9:00-1:00, Fri-Sat 9:00-2:00, Sun 10-1:00, from 3.80-10 euros, cash only

Click here to find Café Bilderbuch on the map

Tomasa, one of three in Berlin, is loved for its bedazzling variations of breakfasts and brunches, served all day by quietly efficient staff. In winter, hibernate inside in their womb-room ambience. In summer, enjoy the dappled shade of plane trees on the wide pavement outside. There are over 10 brunch variations, tapas and vegetarian dishes plus all the normal breakfast permutations and a 4.50-euro daily special, served with lashings of fruit to cleanse the palate./EL Motzstr. 60, U-Bhf Viktoria-Luise-Platz, Tel 213 2345, daily 8:00-late, Sun 9:00-late, breakfast 4.50-15 euros, credit cards, EC accepted

Click here to find Café Tomasa on the map

With its relaxed atmosphere and extensive menu, this spacious New York-style café bursts with morning energy. The sleek wooden interior spills out onto a humdrum terrace of vibrant, busy tables. Try ‘My best friend Karl’, Cream’s fruity spin on the traditional English breakfast, or share the ‘Salmon Breakfast’ - sumptuous, fresh smoked salmon served with fluffy cream cheese. It’s also a great hangout for lunch. Schlesische Str. 6, U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor, Tel 6107 4980, www.creamberlin.de, Mon-Sat 8:00-24:00, Sun 9:00-24:00, breakfast 4-12 euros, cash only

Click here to find Cream on the map

The perfect summer location, Freischwimmer is set on Berlin’s own set of Apocalypse Now, a.k.a. theTreptower Park banks of the Spree. The buffet table is cluttered with goodies such as salads (pasta, couscous, garden), seared salmon, matjes, turkey and yoghurt mint soup. The crowd is a mixed bunch with lots of bright summer prints, oversized sunglasses and dogs. Check it out at night when electronic music, beer and cocktails are in plentiful supply. Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 2a, U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor, Tel 6107 4309,www.freischwimmer-berlin.de, Mon-Fri 12:00-late, Sat-Sun 11:00-late, Sun brunch 11:00-16:00, 8.40 euros, cash only

Click here to find Freischwimmer on the map

This two-story café is popular because of its atmosphere - lofted ceilings, earthy green and beige decor, soft music and friendly staff - and its Bio food, all catered to vegetarians, vegans or the allergic. Kapelle’s generous breakfasts (9:00-17:00) satiate. Don’t pass up the fresh (Brazilian!) fruit smoothies (2.60 euros). Everyone from families to students to the elderly soak in the summer sun on the large patio opposite the historic Zionskirche. Zionskirchplatz 22-24, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel 4434 1300,www.cafe-kapelle.de , daily 9:00-3:00, breakfast 4.50-7.50 euros, EC accepted
Click here to find Kapelle on the map

Under the shade of a wide red awning, a local crowd gathers on the terrace in hungry anticipation of Mir’s pure and sensuous morning platters. Try the breakfast for two - a medley of fruits and jams, homemade brioche, eggs and vegetable soup and an ample continental platter of cheeses and cold cuts. By night, Mir’s a buzzing bar serving cocktail and good music. Lübbener Str. 1, U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor, Tel 6128 8700, http://www.cafemir.de/html/main.html Mon-Sun 10:00-2:00, breakfast 4-18.80 euros for two, EC accepted

Click here to find Mir on the map

On the Sunday buffet market, Nosh over-performs in terms of quality. From the gourmet cold meat cuts, to the tasty homemade quiches and blinzes, to the flavoursome soups and salads, not to forget the baguette and foamy cappuccinos, this is arguably one of the best ‘German- continental’ buffets in this part of town. Too bad the trendoid service means a lack of friendliness and a little bit of smug stinginess. Don’t bring children (we were ‘lectured’ - they are supposed to be charged 9 euros just for the seat!), while virtually all other brunches don’t charge extra for kids. Pappelallee 77, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str. Tel 4404 0397, daily 10:00-24:00, brunch 9 euros, cash only

Click here to find Nosh on the map

Not only does this Russian enclave, named after Doctor Zhivago’s literary genitor, provide good business lunches and romantic dinners with live music, it also excels at Sunday brunches: an impressive array of zakuski from the mini-crepe rolls (stuffed with cabbage,
carrot or spinach) to the carnival of marinated or smoked fish and salmon eggs, prawns and meaty delights, all rolled and wrapped in extravagant ways, as well as tasty warm dishes. Comfy outdoor seating across from the Wasserturm - perfect for summer lazing. Knaackstr. 22-24, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 441 3399, http://www.restaurant-pasternak.de/, daily 10:00-2:00, Sun brunch 10:00-15:00, 9.30 euros, all credit cards except AmEx accepted

Click here to find Pasternak on the map

This Sunday buffet offers wonderful freshly-made veggie concoctions from Sri Lanka - a subtle mix of spices reminiscent of Indian food with a more sophisticated touch. There are many rice-based dishes as well as spicy but light curries (sweet potato, aubergine, beetroot) you can eat with Polsambole (spicy grated coconut) and an Appe (delicate airy
coconut milk pancake), salads, soups and more. The desserts include the most amazing velvety fresh yoghurt with palm syrup and a lovely spread of fresh fruit. A real feast! Come after 15:00 and pay only 4 euros! Also lunch specials and dinners with Neuland meat. Knaackstrasse/corner Prenzlauer Allee, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 442 5301, daily 12:00-1:00, Sun brunch 11:00-16:00, 7 euros, 4 euros after 15:00, cash only

Click here to find Surya Kanthi on the map

Relaxed place to brunch and top it all off with a delicious chocolate mousse. Charge for children only 50 cents per year of age, and there is a playground next door. Crellestrasse 17, Schöneberg, S-Bhf Yorckstr, U-Bhf Kleistpark, Tel 781 92 30, Brunch Sun 10:00-15:00, 7.70 euros. www.toronto-fullhaus-npo.de

Click here to find Toronto on the map

Come the weekend, this 100-year-old New Orleans-style jazz cafe bursts with energy and musical conviviality.The characteristic Altbau interior is smothered in photographic memorabilia of jazz greats. Served on a leafy, sun-drenched terrace, the food - from the 3-euro egg on toast to the 7-euro huge Mediterranean platter - is a great value. Live music starts at 14:00, ranging from swinging jazz to rhythm and blues. Get there early to secure a seat inside, or reserve a table. Yorckstr. 15, U-Bhf Mehringdamm, Tel 215 8070, http://www.yorckschloesschen.de/, daily 9:00-3:00, brunch 9:00-15:00, brunch 2.80-7.20 euros, credit cards accepted

Click here to find Yorckschlösschen on the map