Café Einstein
There’s not a more civilised place to breakfast in Berlin than the original Café Einstein housed in a villa in Tiergarten. For a charming remnant of Central European Kaffeehaus culture - complete with bow-tied waiters, mirrored walls and great Apfelstrudel - Einstein feels astonishingly informal. Einstein roasts its own coffee, and the cappuccino is exquisitely smooth with perfect foam. Breakfast ranges from a croissant to poached eggs served in a glass to English-style eggs n’ bacon - albeit for higher prices than Berliners are accustomed to. Kurfürstenstr. 58, U-Bhf Nollendorfplatz, Tel 261 5096, daily 9:00-24:00, breakfast 5-15 euros, credit cards accepted
Café Intimes
It’s hard to say whether Café Intimes’ brunch takes over the whole street because its happy diners wish to soak up the sun, or if they’re simply pushed out by the overwhelmingly enormous buffet.
The most exceptional fare, featuring Mediterranean rice-stuffed peppers and super-rich honey-filled pancakes. Head down for the hardest decisionmaking process of your life! Boxhagener Str. 107, U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor, Tel 2966 6457, Sun brunch 10:00-16:00, 8.50 euros, cash only
Café Matilda
After a stroll alongside the canal, escape from the overcrowded banks to the beloved local haunt of Café Matilda, where international and artsy types sip frothy Milchkaffees while discussing their latest projects. This place is also perfectly suited for a lazy afternoon, a leisurely lunch (every day until 15:00), or just to get the heck out of the house. With great music and friendly service you’ll soon feel like a member of the Graefekiez family./AP Graefestr. 12, U-Bhf Schönleinstr., Tel 8179 7288, daily 9:00-1:00, lunch/snacks 2.50-8 euros, cash only
Café Sur
Merely stepping into this gourmet deli brings a jolt of gastronomical pleasure. Stock up on wine and Mediterranean delicacies - scrumptious olives, cheese, coffees, chocolate, meats from Italy and Brandenburg - or take a seat at one of the pleasant outdoor tables to better indulge in ready-made delicacies, if you can’t wait to get home. Akazienstr. 7, U-Bhf Eisenacher Str., Tel 3464 5954, Mon-Fri 10:00-20:00, lunch 4-8 euros, cash only
Café Uebereck
With an atmosphere fit for writing a novel, no detail is overlooked at Café Uebereck’s Sunday buffet. Mellow jazz wafts through the dim, moody rooms, out the open doors to diners in the sun outside. Drink a ‘Hemingway’ shooter in your panama for a taste of old Europe. Sonntagstr. 31, S-Bhf Ostkreuz, Tel 291 2792, daily 10:00-2:00, Sun buffet 10:00-16:00, breakfast buffet 7.20 euros, cash only
Café Zebrano
Comfortable contemporary atmosphere with both dining and lounge areas for the formal and lazy alike. Get value for money with any of the dozen celebrity-titled breakfast platter combinations or just take the glamorous ‘Brigitte Bardot’ croissant and coffee. Sonntagstr. 8, S-Bhf Ostkreuz, Tel 29 365 874, www.zebranobar.de, 10:00- late, breakfast 10:00-16:00, breakfast spread 4.60-6.90 euros or a croissant and coffee from 2.20 euros, cash only
Coffeemamas
Convenient, pleasant coffeebar serving excellent coffees. They roast the beans themselves!
Under the S-Bahn tracks, Hackescher Markt, Mitte, Tel 30 247 222 25, www.coffeemamas.de
Cup Cake
If you thought cup cakes were only for kiddies then think again! The all new ‘Cup Cake’ serves up over nine different types of cup cakes, from carrot to vanilla, with diabetic and vegan needs met upon request. These original American cup cakes can be complimented with everyone’s favourite American treats, including Rice Krispies, peanut butter candy, Oreos,
Nutter Butter cookies and the good ol’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Enjoy the elegant (smoke free) interior or suck down your fags on the seats out front. Krossener Str. 12, U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor, Tel 2576 8687, Tue-Sun 11:00-19:00, cup cakes 1.50 euros, cash only
Das Spielzimmer
Here’s the stylish hangout Prenz’l mums and dads have been waiting for. Chill with a coffee while your offspring let off steam on the indoor playground, complete with costume chest, and a baby area.
Schliemannstraße 37, Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., Tel 4403 7635, www.das-spielzimmer.net, Mon-Sun 10:00–19:00
Dodoos Palatschinken Bar
This small upscale Imbiss on the corner of Choriner Strasse and Schönhauser Allee is shooting for the pancakes of Central Europe, or Palatschinken, as they’re called in Austria. Similar to thin-skinned French crepes, they come with a large selection of fillings such as serrano ham with Emmental, pesto and basil or, more unusual, Hungarian salami and Camembert. The sweet options are endless and somewhat bombastic, with complex mixed of ingredients including marshmallow, vanilla pudding, ice cream, ultra-sweet decorative syrups, melted milk chocolate and a mysterious homemade strawberry-sauce - the specialty of the house. It all looks amazing. ‘Why do it simply when one can be complicated’ seems to be the spirit of the place. We applaud the initiative and recommend the standards: sugar, applesauce or Nutella, while still longing for a real creperie in Berlin. Schönhauser Allee 155, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., Tel 4470 2783, daily 11:00-23:00, from 2-7 euros, cash onl
Double Eye
Shun the Starbucks on the corner and stop here for your daily jolt. This bright green-and-yellow hole in the wall serves little but coffee, and their single-mindedness shows in the tastiness of their brew. The cocoa-powder eye sifted onto your Milchkaffee (2 euros) will reflect your own caffeinated saucers. An espresso is only 77 cents. Akazienstr. 22,U-Bhf Eisenacher Str.,Tel 0179 456 6960,www.doubleeye.de, Mon-Fri 9:31-18:29, Sat 10:05-15:29, 0.77-3 euros, cash only
Hackbarth’s
Solid gold! The walls and the bar in this classic café on a gallery-filled street shimmer, the summer days pour into the café, the service is friendly, and the food is delicious and simple.They’re very proud to offer Heinz products (baked beans, tomato soup, chilicon carne),but you can opt instead for satisfying plates like one with three goat cheeses and olives(6.80 euros). Art-world types in interesting fashions pontificate in the corners. Auguststr. 49, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel 282 7704, daily 9:00-late, breakfast 4-8.50 euros, cash only
Kauf dich glücklich
An institution, this cute coffee shop/ice cream parlour offers scrumptious waffles in the most charming environment of retro junk (also on sale) and pleasant street-side seating. The double chocolate melts on the tongue, the warm apple or cherry toppings with whipped or ice cream are great favourites among kids and adults alike … and you can choose from regular or whole-wheat. There’s also a selection of savoury options and crepes, as well as daily soups and even - at their second location on Kastanienallee
- Flammkuchen and a fashion boutique! Oderberger Str. 44, U-Bhf Eberswalderstr., Tel 4435 2182, Mon-Sun 11:00- 1:00, waffles/crepes 1.60-3.70 euros, cash only; Glücklich am Park, Kastanienallee 54, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel 4172 5651, Mon-Sun 9:15-23:00 (longer on weekends)
Kaufbar
Then head down to Kaufbar where everything from your coffee cup to the chair is for sale (sorry, staff not included). If you’re too tempted by all the goodies for sale inside grab one of their thousand board games and head out front or back. The private Hof is a pleasant place to sample something from their lovely all-Bio wine selection. Gärtnerstr. 4, S+U-Bhf Warschauer Str., Tel 2977 8825, daily 10:00-1:00, May-Sept closed Tue, from 5-9 euros, cash only
Milch Halle
The new location for Milch Halle boasts an open-spaced, fresh and playful café gazing out over a grassy square, next to a children’s playground. The rustic interior is cow-themed (like the café’s concept) in black and white and filled with a range of soya/organic goodies for sale. This kid-friendly eatery offers fresh, homemade treats such as the top-secret recipe Birchermuesli (2.90/4.60 euros), a daily selection of quiche (2.50 euros), sandwiches, soups and pasta salads and a wide range of homemade waffles. Try the best-selling banana/Nutella one (2.50 euros). For a summer taste, check out their freshly squeezed, chopped and blended smoothies - a fantastic healthy pit stop for lunch. /SR
Milch Halle, Auguststr. 50, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, smoothies/juice from 2.40 euros, pasta salad from 3.30 euros, cash only
Onkel Albert
A parent´s treasure with quality second hand childrens clothes for sale alongside a great café for the perfect after shopping coffee, yummy breakfast or fresh piece of cake, complete with toys for the kids.
Zionskirchstr. 63, Tel 440 45 610 www.onkelalbert.de
Sun-Fri 10-19
Great for Childrens Parties too!
Schmitt’s:
Comfortable before you even sit down, Schmitt’s has a lovely (smoky) atmosphere that will make you forget all pressing appointments. A grand spread of a breakfast buffet, including juice and Bio milk, is topped off with a self-service blini-making machine! Oderstr. 8, U-Bhf Samariter Str., Tel 2694 8191, www.schmitts-friedrichshain.de, 10:00-24:00, brunch 7.50 euros, major credit cards and EC accepted
Soylent Cafe Club:
This funky cafe set just off Boxhagener Platz oozes with retro cool. Pick up an old vintage 33” and read through the juicy, herbal drinks menu or order a special homemade burger and Parmesan salad for lunch. The artistic stencilled interior and 1970s style sofas
and chairs are perfect for chilling out to Soylent’s atmospheric drum and bass to jazz sounds. For those hot summer daze finish up with a refreshing iced coffee and a slice of cherry pie …scrummy!/SR Gabriel-Max-Str. 3, U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor, S+U-Bhf Warschauer Str., Tel 2936 9463, Mon-Fri 15:00-late, Sat-Sun 11:00-late, snacks and light meals available Mon-Fri 2-5 euros, special lunch menu on Sun 2-6 euros, cash only
St. Oberholz:
Spacious, stylish corner café serving great coffee and light meals. Nice place to stare at the masses passing by on busy Rosenthaler Platz.
Rosenthaler Platz, corner Brunnenstr./Torstr., U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel 030 240 855 8,www.sanktoberholz.de
Taitler Dairy Coffee & Deli:
Hamentaschen cookies, fresh challah on Fridays,and bagels that ain’t quite New York but a sight better than most in Berlin: the Jewish influence at this small Kosher café leads to flavors beyond standard Apfelkuchen. Friendly service and several outdoor tables make popping in for a pick-me-up a no brainer - just be sure to order your challah by Thursday night. Knesebeckstr. 6, S-Bhf Savignyplatz, Tel 0178 8817 100, Mon-Fri 8:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-18:00, pastries 1.20-2 euros, challah 2.50-3 euros, cash only
Wohnzimmer :
It’s called “living room” and that is what it is. Second-hand sofas and coffee tables strewn around a cosy retro interior, with an electronica soundtrack. Lettestr. 6 , Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str.