Image by Ciarán Fahey

The heavenly smells wafting from Schwarze Pumpe will draw you in from the cold even before you’ve realised whether you’re hungry or not. In fact, you may wander in for just one Hefeweißbier (€2.90) and find yourself ordering a delicious Chili Con Carne (€4.50) too, as I did.

This cosy little pub/café/Kneipe has long been a favourite with locals, offering heart-warming (limbs too) German fare at its most tempting since it opened in 1993. Daily specials like Fenchel-Tomaten-Suppe (€3.50), broccoli and potato bake (€6), cheese Spätzle (schwäbische noodles) with salad (€6), or Grünkohl in Kräuter (cabbage in herbs, €3.50) are written on a board and taste much better than they sound. (Thankfully this rule applies to most German cuisine.)

A menu also offers set dishes at very reasonable prices – breakfast, including the typical Rühreier (scrambled egg) with bread for €3.20, is served from 10:00 -14:00, the kitchen remains open to 23:00, and a very popular Sunday brunch is available for just €5 every… well, Sunday.

This old-fashioned joint looks like it hasn’t been done up in years, exactly as I like it, and the homely feeling is extenuated by the friendly staff who seem to know everyone who walks in the door.

With the day’s newspapers available for perusal, good music, a cosy atmosphere, simple wooden decor and delicious food and drink, you might find yourself staying longer than originally planned. And with the nights getting ominously colder, where’s the harm in that?

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Schwarze Pumpe | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (German) | Apfelschorle € 1.50
Choriner Straße 76 | Mitte | +49304496939
10:00 – 01:00 daily (Kitchen ’til 23:00)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Ciarán Fahey

A short tram ride east will bring you all the way to Asia. Well, not quite – Berlin’s public transport isn’t that good – but the M8 will bring you as far as the Dong Xuan Center where a thriving Vietnamese community is blossoming on what used to be decrepit industrial wasteland.

‘Little Vietnam’ consists of an untidy collection of huge hangers stuffed to the brim with shops upon shops selling all manner of stuff you never knew you needed. Tacky and flashy are the order of the day – this is the place to come for neon shop signs, plastic flowers, cheap wedding dresses, rubber reindeer or plastic figurines. Those friendly one-armed waving cats can of course be found here, as can porcelain pigs engaging in activities no decent porcelain pig would normally be found in.

Weird wares are scattered all around, sandwiched between karaoke bars, shoe shops, barbers, hair salons and nail salons. It’s another world. Old men play cards at a furious pace around tables under clouds of smoke, money changing hands quicker than the eye can see. Live carp patiently await purchase in huge tanks at the back of supermarkets crammed with tins of things I’d never heard of and crazy fruit I’d never seen before.

Browsing through the hustle and bustle is hungry work and a number of restaurants of questionable hygiene offer authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Again, you might have no idea what you’re eating but hey, it’s cheap, cheerful, and certainly an adventure!

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Dong Xuan Center | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Vietnamese)
Herzbergstr. 128 | Outer – North&East | +493055152038
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Ciarán Fahey

Long one of my favourite haunts, the only disadvantage bohemian Café Cinema has for me is that it seems to be one of everybody else’s favourite haunts too. It can be hard to find a table!

I first stumbled in here in 2004 and I’ve been stumbling out of it pretty often since.

Old movie posters and film snaps decorate the walls, overseen by film-set lighting above, but it’s the classic lines of its simple and tasteful furniture, with candles adorning the tables, which give this cosy Berlin institution (in operation since 1990) its cosmopolitan air.

But for the music which is always great, (I’ve never heard a bad song here), you would imagine you were back in the 1920s, a wonderful time to be in Berlin by all accounts. (I’m not that old.)

Friendly prices ensure regulars return, with coffee just €1.50, beer (.5l) for €2.90, and proper Cuba Libres being set free for €4. Snacks range from cake for €1, stew with bread for €2.50, a mixed salad with sheeps’ cheese and tuna for €3.70, or (from 18:00) two fried eggs with salad and your choice of tomato, ham or mushroom, or a combination, for no more that €3.50.

Café Cinema is a favourite meeting place for Berliners and it stays open late too. That’s probably not a coincidence.

Don’t forget to check out Haus Schwarzenberg (check the Haus Schwarzenberg article) just behind it while you’re here.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Cinéma | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks | Cake € 1.00
Rosenthaler Straße 39 | Mitte | +49302806415
12:00 – late daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Ciarán Fahey

Berlin is nowhere near Mexico unfortunately, and the search for a good Mexican comedor in this city can be a hungry one. I’d just about given up all hope when I met a dog out for a cycle with his owner. It was dark and he had a light on his back as he jogged along beside her. They stopped at this cosy-looking place in Kreuzberg and she recommended I go in. “Es ist fantastisch!” The dog looked intelligent so I did.

Ta’ Cabrón is warm and comforting with simple furnishings, a couple of Mexican wrestling masks and the plastic cacti demanded by stereotype. Specials are written up on a board proclaiming various types of tacos (from €4), quesadillas (from €3.50), tostadas (€5.50), burritos (€5.50), enchiladas (€5.50), tamales (€6) and molletes (€6), all with various fillings, along with nachos (€1) and guacamole (€3.50). You help yourself to cutlery so if it’s delayed, you’ve no one to blame but yourself. I ordered a taco gobernador (€6) and a beer (€2.80) and was delighted to be served an authentic taco (with real tortilla!) stuffed with shrimp. I helped myself to the homemade hot sauce. Absolutely delicious. Maybe even too delicious - portions are unfortunately never big enough.

Joaquín Robredo from Culiacán, Sinaloa is two years in business. It really is “¡Ta’ Cabrón!” to have a genuine Mexican taquería in Berlin! It quickly filled up as I was eating – it seems I’m not the only one to be grateful.

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Ta’ Cabrón Taquería | Snacks, Restaurants (Mexican) | Quesadillas € 3.50
Skalitzer Str. 60 | Kreuzberg | +493032662439
Tue – Thu 13:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 13:00 – 00:00, Sun 13:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Paul Vachier – www.transmitmedia.com/photogallery/

If you miss classics, if you want a break from big cinemas, or if you’re just looking for some neighbourhood hidden location, have a look at the silent film evenings in Morus street 14. It’s a social project in Neükölln – films are accompanied by live piano, every first Wednesday a month.

Expect a charming electro piano, an original piano soundtrack performed by Francois Regis, films by directors such as Lubitsch and Charlie Chaplin, a small bar with affordable prices, authentic, cosy atmosphere and elderly public. The films are organized within a bigger social project and are donation based.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Morusstreet 14 | Cinemas, Music, Snacks
Morusstr 14 | Neukölln
Every 1st Wednesday of the month from 19:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Sharon Mertins

Throughout the past few years, Prenzlauerberg has gained a reputation for being more family oriented than an area with good vibrant nightlife. But there are still a few places up there that I frequent when I’m in the mood to have a late night out…

Every time I walk into Soupanova I feel the urge to giggle. It might be the clashing colors yellow, orange, green, red, pink, lilac…or the Indonesian light ornaments and all the mirrors around that reflect them, the flower stamped chairs, or maybe just the bartenders who always seem to welcome people with a big smile and a little giggle to go with it. I guess I like it because all the colors and flower ornaments around suddenly get me in a good mood….like being invited into someone’s living room somewhere in a warm part of the world.

The place consists of three rooms: Chill room, bar room, and live music / DJs / reading room with a nice flowery stage. Anything can happen in the third one. Sometimes, if the occasion calls for it, they have karaoke! They serve freestyle food, a mix between Indonesian, Thai and Indian, like dumplings and the famous ‘Intersoup’ with coconut milk. They have cocktails, spirits and fresh juice. The only down side is that they only have two kinds of beer. But the vibe there is always nice, and whenever the weather permits it, they have outside sofas.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Soupanova | Bars, Music, Snacks, Restaurants | Snacks € 4.50
Stargarder str. 24 | Prenzlauer Berg
From 18:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Sharon Mertins

Being a vegetarian in Berlin is nowhere near as big a challenge as in other cities. The choices we have here are fantastic. And one of the favorites to eat here is falafel. In Kreuzberg, you can take your pick depending on which area you find yourself in due to the large amount of Turkish Imbisses.

But all falafel is not the same, and very often, ordering it at the first imbiss you find can lead to complete disappointment. One of the most delicious and freshest I’ve had here is the one at Nil Sudanese Imbiss, where you can get the best ‘Tamiya’ (Sudanese version of Falafel). Their homemade peanut sauce (which they put on top of the Tamiya) makes my mouth water just thinking about it, and their lentil soup and peanut soup in wintertime are an absolute delight.

They have many different options for vegans and also offer fish and chicken options. ‘Nil’ started off small in Friedrichshain and then opened up another even smaller Imbiss in Wrangel kiez both of which gained a lot of popularity. The only problem I found there was that there was never any place to sit other than a small bench outside. But to my pleasant surprise, Nil just took over the corner of Boppstrasse and Kottbusser Damm with plenty of sitting space outside right next to the small park.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nil | Snacks | Fish € 4.50
Kottbusser Damm/Boppstr. | Kreuzberg
From 12:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Sharon Mertins

Fleamarket culture is something particularly wonderful in Berlin. But with so many people wanting to partake in this experience, popular fleamarkets like Mauerpark and Boxhagener platz have become something of a battle to walk through in the past two years.

As all of these markets started getting fuller and fuller, and rent prices started going up in the neigbourhoods of Prenzlauerberg, Kreuzberg, and parts of Friedrichshain, many artists and international students moved their creative bohemian lifestyle down to the Neukölln streets. This little migration has changed the face of Neukölln drastically.

There are new ideas flowing and shops and bars popping up all over the place. And with these new additions came the ‘Nowkoelln Flowmarkt.’ It’s still small enough to have a very meticulous look through it. Still local enough to find your next door neighbour selling homemade chocolate cake and coffee. But hipper than other fleamarkets since it’s participants and visitors are mostly that wave of international creative types. You can still find odd little things like old 1950′s ornaments or modern locally hand made trendy products. And all for fleamarket prices.

It only happens every third Sunday of the month, but it’s always a nice relaxed atmosphere, sometimes with street performers and ‘bio’ food stands. But most importantly, without the big tourist traffic jams….

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nowkölln Flowmarkt | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Maybachufer, Neukölln | Neukölln
Every 3rd Sun of the month 10:00 – 17:00 (See website)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Sharon Mertins

Freischwimmer is for me, Club der Visionäre’s (check the Club der Visionäre article) well behaved older brother. Whereas Club der Visionäre is loud, outgoing and all in all a bit more adventurous, Freischwimmer is quiet and has more of a shy disposition. They both have their charm and in the end it all depends on which mood you find yourself in. But for a lovely spot close to the water, a cold beer, a nice cup of coffee and maybe a small bite to eat, I always find Freischwimmer a good bet.

It used to be an old boat rental station and is now an ‘international food’ restaurant. There are about 140 seats along the water, and about 60 inside. This means you most likely won’t find yourself fighting for a place to sit along the water. And if you’re with other people, this is one of the best spots to chill out. The atmosphere is always relaxed and though I’ve never actually eaten there, the food choices are wide.

The only problem you may encounter is a little bit of a wait for your order. But even this has never been a problem for me. On Sundays they have brunch starting at ten. My favorite time is the evening on a warm summer day when even though still pretty much in the middle of a big city, you feel like you’re floating on an old wooden boat somewhere far away…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Freischwimmer | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (International)
Vor dem Schlesische tor 2a | Kreuzberg | +493061074309
Tue – Fri from 16:00, Sat – Sun from 10:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin

Image by Sharon Mertins

Despite the massive amount of bars and cafes in a city like Berlin, it’s not always easy to find one that pulls you back because of it’s… ‘je ne sai quoi.’ That one bar for me is the Haliflor. Why? It isn’t only because it’s in a relatively quiet street away from the commercial bits in Mitte, or the fact that they have yummy ‘bio’ breakfasts with playful names.

The main reason I consider this bar a bit of a gem is that to me it represents that Berlin uniqueness and freedom that a lot of us come here to seek. Almost every single item in this place was lovingly designed by it’s owner Andreas Knauer, and made with his own two hands, from the tables to most of the lamps, to the sliding windows.

But even without knowing this little detail, it’s that rustic feel, art deco-ish style, the way the windows close with the help of the weights hanging on the side, the stuffing coming out of some of the chairs, the relaxed yet friendly attitude of the people who work there, the shape of the lights, it’s complete lack of commercial flavor, and somehow the color tones in there that makes me want to keep going back. I don’t know, it somehow feels like one of the few bars in which I can think to myself, ‘Oh yes, I’m in Berlin.’

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Haliflor | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks
Schwedter Str. 26 | Mitte
10:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Berlin