Beyond the Postcard

If there is one thing I would recommend doing in Berlin, it’s going on a walking tour. Disregard the temperature, the season, and the level of interest you think you have. This will be one of the most interesting walking tours you will ever do. I’m not a history buff by any means, and this was still my favorite experience. Berlin’s history is so powerful and there is still so much to be learned from it. Standing in the middle of the city and seeing remnants from its past lives was the craziest feeling. Other pros of doing a walking tour include seeing lots and lots of sights, getting your steps in for the day (and then some), and saving money because there are tons of free options!

Another must see is the East Side Gallery. This is the longest piece of the Berlin wall that is still standing and it is covered with absolutely incredible works of art. The entire length is around three fourths of a mile long and this is where you can find the famous Fraternal Kiss mural.

As far as food goes, obviously you have to get German cuisine at least once while in Germany. For this, I would highly recommend a dinner at Brauhaus Lemke in Mitte. They have tons of beer options and the brat plate served with homemade sauerkraut and mustard fulfilled all my German cuisine cravings.

We had another fantastic dinner at Transit, a Thai tapas restaurant. Literally everything from this menu sounded delicious and we were not disappointed. The hot chili dumplings, Chicco (crispy chicken with red curry coconut milk and veggies), and pad Thai were my personal favorites.

For a hearty brunch and fun morning cocktails, check out House of Small Wonder. They offer mimosa pitchers, a variety of sweet and savory breakfast options as well as Japanese inspired lunch items. This restaurant was a little pricier, but the menu is truly unique, the food tasted so fresh, and the portions were generous so I think it’s still completely worth a visit.

And lastly, my trip to any new city would not be complete without visiting a food hall. There were many to choose from in Berlin, but we ended up at Markthalle Neun thanks to its close proximity to the East Side Gallery. They had everything here! I got amazing spaetzle (German noodles) mac n cheese from the vendor Heisser Hobel that could probably cure any hangover.

Which brings me to my last topic, the club scene. If you’re looking for a fun night out in a more mellow environment (iykyk) go to Watergate. The music was phenomenal and it has floor to ceiling windows that look out onto the river! If you’re there late enough, you can see the sunrise from inside the club.

Tips & Tricks:

1. Bring cash! Berlin is still a very cash-based economy and you will need to pay in cash for most clubs.
2. Stay in the Mitte neighborhood. There are tons of good restaurants and it’s very central so you’re close to things like the Brandenburg Gate.
3. Get Döner Kebab! For some reason Berlin is really known for this and they are all over the city.
4. Research the clubs you want to go to ahead of time and check online for events they may be doing while you’re there. They may not be open to the public on certain nights so it’s good to plan in advance.