Food and drink

Ludwig Cramer-Klett, a former investment banker from Munich, says that the idea for Katz Orange occurred to him while he was in the Amazon with a shaman. Little surprise, perhaps, that it bears an offbeat, Alpine-cabin-meets-Andes vibe. The former brewery site is fronted by a pretty courtyard with seating; inside, the dining room and cocktail bar boast plenty of cosy nooks. Raising the comfort level further is a meat-centric menu dominated by stews and roasts, although vegetarians will find plenty that pleases too.

Following the success of the Cocolo ramen bar in Mitte – which boasts consistently long queues no matter the weather – Duc Ngo and his team opened this second outpost in 2013, next to the Landwehr Canal. It not only has a larger space but a longer menu (although bear in mind that you might still have to wait for a seat since it doesn’t take reservations). There are homemade noodles served in eight different broths, as well as gyoza, kimchi and a variety of rice bowls – and soba at lunchtime.

Equipped with just five indoor tables and a very strong sense of aesthetics, Roamers has conquered Neukölln’s brunch scene. The intimate space is decked out in rough bleached wood, while plants dangle from the ceiling and cacti, succulents and trinkets occupy every spare inch. The café serves simple seasonal cakes, eggs, salads and towering sandwiches. All mains are served on wooden boards covered in parchment paper and arranged prettily. 

This place on Karl-Marx-Allee takes its name from Czech Airlines, the former tenants of the building. Inside you’ll soon discover that it’s not just the name that current owner René Flatau inherited from his predecessors but also a chic 1960s aesthetic. “We’ve tried to preserve a timeless, classic atmosphere,” says Flatau. With flattering lighting, a laid-back soundtrack, comfy leather sofas to fall into and a cocktail list as long as a novel, CSA offers a cosy spot for those looking to hunker down. Stools that span the length of the bar, meanwhile, are an auspicious place to kick off an evening of exploring the surrounding area.

Third-wave coffee shops abound in Berlin but Yumi Choi and Kiduk Reus pride themselves on pioneering the trend. Their roastery and café in Prenzlauer Berg opened in 2007 and was so popular that people drank their coffee standing up. Don’t fret: this doesn’t happen at the newest Kreuzberg location, which is a spacious former carpentry workshop redesigned to conjure the simplistic cosiness of a Tokyo café. It doesn’t serve food but laptops are allowed and the coffee is, of course, spectacular.