Friedrichshain Berlin – All our local tips

There is no sign anywhere saying that this ruin-like, run down little building that might have been an old workshop is the “Antje Øklesund”. I admit it’s hard to find but more than worth the search.

Inside you will get the special feeling, a special atmosphere that can only be created in these seemingly unfinished places; rooms of which you think they have hardly been overworked to make it a club for live music. Here you walk between old brick stone walls that are used as exhibition space for photography work. Or as the makers understand it, here everything and everyone is part of the art. Believe me in this: It’s an awesome place!

The music can be any type of live amusement – from Trash to Rock, from Singer/Songwriter to Electro-Pop. The website gives you funny descriptions of the band’s type of music. By my experience, it doesn’t really give you a clear picture; it’s always a bit of a surprise. But be sure the musicians are mostly unknown and give their best to convince the audience and to establish themselfs.

Be aware that the Antje Øklesund opens its doors usually only on Tuesdays, Thursdays (new!) (admisssion €3.00) and Fridays (admisssion €4.00). I recommend to always check the (bilingual!) website before you go.

Here a special tip to find it: When you are on Rigaer Strasse watch out for a super market called “Lidl”. Exactly opposite you will find a widely open gate, enter it into the backyard and go through, sticking to the right.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/antjeoeklesund

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Antje Øklesund | Music | Admisssion (Tue/Thu) € 3.00
Rigaer Straße 71 | Friedrichshain
Tue & Fri 22:00 – 02:00

Berlin is famous for many things. One of them is being green. You can find a little park, lawns and other little green areas on nearly every corner of this city. One example is the Boxhagener Platz, by locals called “Boxi(-Platz)”, situated right in the famous Kiez (= a hip little area) around Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article).

What makes this square/little park so special is not only the friendly atmosphere created by little children playing on Boxi’s playground, but rather the Saturdays and especially the Sundays.

On Saturdays is when the surrounding footpath turns into a market for fresh and organic food, local specialties and Berliner snacks.

But what makes it burst with people is the flea market on Sundays. It’s certainly not as big as the flea market in Mauerpark (see this article) but definitely

more charming and individual. Local artists have their stands there and funny street musicians know how to amuse people and make them stop by.

I love to start my free Sunday by having brunch with friends in the Simon-Dach-Straße and then wandering about at the flea market on Boxi-Platz.

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Boxhagener Platz | Art & culture, Shopping, Snacks | Free
Gabriel-Max-Straße 10 | Friedrichshain
Food market Sat 08:00 – 13:30 | Flea Market Sun 10:00 – 18:00

Normally a “Datscha” is a seasonal second home often located in the exurbs of Russian cities. But this Datscha is situated in the middle of Friedrichshain Kiez (neighbourhood) and concipated as a temporal second home for people who want to experience another culture.

Café Datscha represents the house of an old, rich Babushka, with high ceilings, wooden furniture, wide doors of colourful glass and many tiny framed pictures on the wall. On her menu she has everything the Russian/Ukraine/… grandchild can imagine: Borscht, Blintz, Pelmeni, Vareniki and much more.

If you want to try the wide range of snacks, sweets and warm food you have to visit the café on Sunday. Then they offer a big brunch (10:00-16:00) for 9 Euro (children 6 Euro).

So, Приятного аппетита (prijatnogo appetita!)

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Café Datscha | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Russian/Ukraine) | Blini € 5.50
Gabriel-Max-Straße 1 | Friedrichshain | +493070086735
From 10:00 daily

For years left as a dump, this former train depot has been converted into a unique place that is now of major importance for cultural life in the heart of district Friedrichshain: the “Cassiopeia”.

Two clubs feature live music, parties and/or host festivals. The music there ranges from Hip Hop to Funk, Rock to Hardcore, Electro and Reggae to Drum & Bass.

The beer garden is nice during the warmer days, just as is the outdoor cinema “Freiluftkino Insel” (season May – Sep) which will be run until September.

If you want to get active, here you have two chances:
Number one is the Skatehalle Berlin. Huge half pipes and rails challenge even advanced skaters and BMXers. It’s also extremely nice just to hang out there and to watch the pros and kids handling their boards.
Number two is the “Kegel” (the “Cone”). It’s basically a former water tower but it is nowadays used for wall climbing! Inside is a little exhibition space and further boulder walls.

Next big place inside the Cassiopeia is the cultural centre “RAW-Tempel” which regularly hosts nice events such as readings, exhibitions, workshops and, of course, parties.

The whole area is designed by famous mural artist Christian Wahle a.k.a “Lake” who, simultaneously, runs the “Kegel”.

If you want to discover Berlin check out the Cassiopeia – I promise you won’t regret it. Before or after your visit adjacent Simon-Dach-Straße (see the Simon-Dach Strasse article) can be your next option during your evening.

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Cassiopeia | Art & culture, Music, Relaxing | Der Kegel € 3.00
Revaler Str. 99 | Friedrichshain | +493029362966
See the website

Calling all sweet-tooths ahoy! The eagle has landed just off Simon Dach Strasse in Friedrichshain; Cupcake offers an impressive spread of rainbow coloured, e-number packed, sugary treats.

Yummy baked goods range from moist butterylicious (yes I made the last word up…) frosting crowned cupcakes to scrumptious traditional brownies and blondies.  All of which are guaranteed to trigger the proverbial diabetic coma or at the very least lead to a bad case of early tooth decay; which may I add is totally worth it.

The balance of kitsch/stylish is just right; not going overboard with pink/white décor and enough cute quirky touches nonetheless.  Being the English lass I am, I like to accompany my choice of cupcake (Pretty in Pink – in case you’re wondering) with a refreshing cup of tea, served in what looks very much like my grandmothers 1960’s crockery.

Don’t be fooled, this is not solely a girly affair, my mates and I are often outnumbered by generously tattooed men with furrowed brows indulging in a cupcake or two. Fear not vegans, you too can feast Bacchus style, as Cupcake offers equally tasty vegan options as well.

Friends and foes, be warned, my advice is ‘come prepared’.  I personally would avoid eating a couple of hours in advance; these sinful delights are calorific bombs waiting to explode! Come on now, how else do you think they taste so damn good huh? If on a diet avoid this place like the plague or if you are anything like me, come here when you’re feeling like being naughtily indulgent.

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Cupcake | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cupcake € 2.00
Krossener Straße 12 | Friedrichshain | +493025768687
Wed – Sun 12:00 -19:00

A book shop of its own kind. Small. Independent. International. SPECIAL.

Enter this cozy shop and feel comfy straight away. Old couches and old book shelfs makes you wanna spend hours in there. The friendly and English speaking shop assistant is always happy to help you; friends and neighbors from the area come by for a little chat. For me it has the sort of atmosphere that you usually find in little shops in villages traditionally run by families; but here you are in a big city!

Should you get stuck with their wide range of German, English, French, Spanish or Italian language books one day, it might happen that you wonder why so many people suddenly gather in the “East of Eden”. You’ll soon find out they come to see a band or musician who is actually going to play in there (on a little platform)!

These little events usually happen on Tuesdays. But to make sure, check their website!

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East of Eden | Music, Shopping
Schreinerstrasse 10 | Friedrichshain | +49304239362
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 19:00

Eastern Comfort Ship is a hostel which casts its anchor next to the East Side Gallery and Warschauerstr. The boat is simply a floating bar and hostel; it will not leave this location. Though, sometimes because of the waves it seems it will.

The event is a weekly get together which takes place on Wednesday, starting at 19.00. It’s  a relaxed evening, with live concerts and an international, friendly and open crowd. The meeting is also meant to bring together people looking for language partners.

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Eastern Comfort Ship | Bars, Music, Snacks | Entry fee until 20:30 € 1.00
Muehlenstr 73 | Friedrichshain | +491635272213
Wed from 19:00

For DVDs I highly recommend the video rental store “Filmkunst” (”Movie Art”).
Here you quickly understand that you haven’t arrived in one of these super commercial mainstream stores of which there are numerous ones in Berlin. The decoration of the walls – retro wallpapers – is only a first proof for that.

Films are logically sorted by country and then by directors – the best way to get to know (so far) unknown film maker legends. Of course, you can find underground stuff as well.

If you haven’t got an idea of what to watch: They’ve got charts. Wanna find all time favorites? The best horror, action, thriller or romantic movie? No problem.

You might think about bringing some time with you because the “Filmkunst” simultaneously is a little coffee shop. Enjoy your cappuccino and study the list of best movies!

When you go there for the first time bring your passport for a quick registration. All members have access to their online data base.

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Filmkunst | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Movie/Day € 1.60
Revaler Strasse 8 | Friedrichshain | +493041997165
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 13:00 – 00:00

As if Maria am Ostbahnhof didn’t offer us night trawlers and music junkies enough to sate our insatiable appetite for Berlin nightlife and music , the old bird has roped her hubby in on the deal too.

Josef am Ostbahnhof, which came to the fore in 2006,  is literally a club inside a club located within Maria and offering an intimate party/club environment with a slightly more underground edge.  Josef’s listings tend to be a bit ad hoc and irregular, but every two months, you are guaranteed the best in Dubstep and Grime, with the ‘Bass the World’ party series.

‘Bass the World’ is the longest running Dubstep night in Berlin, where party founders and dynamic duo Dj Maxximus & Mackjiggah, spread their musical gospel.

This April 16th marks the party’s 5 year anniversary. That being the case, the Godfathers of German Grime are hosting a spectacular birthday bash to celebrate. Expect performances from Newham Generals (dirtee stank) Ikonika (Hyperdub) and much much more.

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Maria & Josef | Bars, Music, Festivals & events
An der Schillingbrücke 2 | Friedrichshain | +493021238190
23:00 till late, days vary so refer to listings

Pizza Dach is located right in the heart of Simon-Dach-Strasse (See the Simon-Dach-Strasse article). It is by far not a high class restaurant but rather a snack bar. They offer normal sized pizzas for as cheap as € 2.50. And you get good taste and quality! That makes Pizza Dach one of the cheapest pizza places in that area.

Beer garden benches outside are the only seats you can take as the shop itself is too narrow inside. I can also recommend their variety of quality pastas which are cheap as well (from € 2.90).

The Pizza Dach has got a brother snack bar on Wuehlischstrasse 32 (only a few meters away). There you can sit inside and feel a slightly more comfy bar-restaurant-atmosphere, though prices are not the same but still relatively cheap.

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Pizza Dach | Snacks | 26 cm pizza € 2.50
Simon-Dach-Strasse 12 | Friedrichshain | +493020078786
24 hours daily

Yesterday, Jochen Sandig founded Tacheles (check the Tacheles article), the graffiti art house in Oranienburgerstr, today he is one of the founders of Radialsystem.

Recently, during a conference on public space, this location was referred to as a theatre, to which Mr Sandig replied: ‘I’m sorry, I have to contradict you, this space is not a theatre; Radialsystem is … a Radialsystem’. And indeed it is.

Radialsystem used to be a pumping station for a new system of waste water management for the city until 1999, and it is now one elegant and curious looking space for art. The mixture of red bricks and glass welcomes the viewer with a nice terrace by the river, a bar and a tamed industrial interior hosting many art events.

Radialsystem is an open space for creative ideas and hosts new media exhibitions, dance performances, concerts, theatre plays, conferences, receptions and many more. One exhibition opening I have attended there dazzled us with a cello concert performed in the dark. It started a lot of discussions. It made people think.

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Radialsystem | Art & culture, Music, Theaters
Holzmarktstr. 33 | Friedrichshain | +493028878850
Open daily

North to Treptower Park (see the Treptower Park article) , between the peninsula Halbinsel Stralau and the district Lichtenberg you can find a place where nature and architecture are closer together than anywhere else in Berlin.The Rummelsburger Bucht is a bay around the Rummelsburg lake. While walking all around the lake, which is actually a small branch of the river Spree, you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Berlin skyline and the new modern and fancy houses. Those were built mostly after 1997. In the 20th century this area used to be an industrial area.

Some of the old houses are under monument protection so they reconstructed most of them completely, for example the two “Knabenhäuser” (boys’ houses) which were part of an orphanage built under the German Emperor.

All around the bank you can find small fenced ecosystems where you can watch animals in spring and summer. In winter sometimes the lake is freezed up and if you are lucky you can ice skate there.

The closest station is Ostkreuz or Rummelsburg (S-Bahn).

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Rummelsburger Bucht | Relaxing | Free
Rummelsburger See | Friedrichshain
Daily

Simon-Dach-Strasse became very famous over the last couple of years. It is not at all a secret, hidden road but still more than worth to choose for going out.

Restaurants, cafes, bars, snack bars (such as the “Pizza Dach” (see the Pizza Dach article) or “Tigris” (see the Tigris article) and even barber shops, ice cream parlours, shops and bakeries – the whole road is lined with them. There is always a bar that offers Happy Hour for cocktails (then € 3.50 – € 4.50). Beers cost between € 2.70 – € 3.00 in most places.

Find all styles of bars: rock, retro, old school or modern ones. One bar, the “DK – Dachkammer” even has a very atmospheric lounge on the floor upstairs.
On Saturdays and Sundays people gather for “Brunch” when all cafes and restaurants offer quality buffet (all you can eat) for between € 5.00 and € 10.00.

When walking through Simon-Dach-Strasse pay attention to the recently renovated old buildings that are now probably more beautiful than they were in the times when they were built – an extraordinary example is on corner Simon-Dach-Str./Krossener Str. – check it out!

Important to know: Many more restaurants, cafes and bars are located at close by roads “Gabriel-Max-Strasse”, “Grünberger Strasse”, “Wühlischstrasse”, “Boxhagener Strasse” and “Gärtnerstrasse”. Although the most important road of all, “Simon-Dach-Strasse” can be used as a synonym for the whole area (in German called “Kiez”), including famous Boxhagener Platz (see the Boxhagener Platz article).

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Simon-Dach-Strasse | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Simon-Dach-Strasse | Friedrichshain
Daily

My secret tip : Sonntagstrasse.

For going out, most Berliners know and use trendy areas like around Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article) or Kastanienalle (see the Kastanienalle article). But if you go to Sonntagstrasse (regularly or not) you are either a real local or have read this article. Even those tourists who stay in nearby hostels are rarely seen here.

Get yourself a cheap pizza, kebab or beer in one of the cheaper stores and have it on a bench in adjacent Lenbachplatz (a little green area including meadows, a playground, table tennis tables, swings and soccer/basketball courts).

Or go for cocktails, coffee, beer, breakfast or foosball (here better known as “Kicker”) in one of the hip bars and cafes, such as the “Geronimo”, “Uebereck”, “Coffe Karma”, “Sunday”, “Tonart”, “Sieben” or “Lykia”. Or enjoy fine dining in the Asian restaurant “Transit”.

Sonntagstrasse even satisfies lovers of culture, e.g. in the theater “Zebrano” (simultaneously a bar & cafe). Also, unique clothing stores invite for shopping.

Located in the very east of trendy district Friedrichshain, Sonntagstrasse is extremely easy to reach by public transport. It starts exactly at one of two exits of S-Bahn station “Ostkreuz” (the northern exit!). Also, bus no. 240 and tram no. 21 pass by (get off at “Neue Bahnhofstrasse”). The famous Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article) is within a walking distance of about 10 minutes.

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Sonntagstrasse | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Several)
Sonntagstrasse | Friedrichshain
Daily

Spielwiese is a one room, rather small but cosy bar/ shop close to Warschauerstr.
What make it a special bar are its walls – they are packed with over 1100 games. Chess, Siedler, Monopoly, Risk and Magnet Table Football and many others one could not yet imagine. Games are available for rent and sale too.

The owner of the place, Mr. Michael Schmitt will amaze you with his knowledge of games. There might be people guessing with coffee, others in stars, Mr. Schmitt might be able to guess the game matching your personality.

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Spielwiese | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Shopping | Wine € 2.92
Kopernikusstr 24 | Friedrichshain | +493028034088
Mon, Thu & Fri – Sat 14:00 – 00:00, Tue & Sun 14:00 – 21:00

When being out, you soon might start to feel hungry. A cheap eat is what you want!

My recommendation: The Iraqi-style “Tigris” which is located on Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article).

Falafel, Schawarma, Haloumi – are the probably best known words of Arabian food you can get here. Get it as kebabs for € 2.50 or on plates for around € 4.00 really delicious, especially their hummus and sauces that come with it!

Have it as a take away (for me the better alternative to Turkish Doner Kebabs) or have it there – with a tea the team of “Tigris” offers.

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Tigris | Snacks | take away kebab € 2.50
Simon-Dach-Strasse 11 | Friedrichshain | +493029351212
Sun – Thu 11:30 – 02:00, Fri – Sat 11:30 – 06:00

Whenever I feel active to do something I go to my favorite park “Friedrichshain” For me it’s simply the best place to relax and retreat from daily life.

This park is the second oldest in Berlin after Tiergarten and was first completed in 1848 but had to go through times of war when the Nazis erected two Flak towers here which were blasted after the war and piled up with rubble. Same two little “mountains” are still there. Over the years flora and fauna grew back on here and now the F’hain is one of the most diverse parks in Berlin.

There’s no time of the day when you don’t see people jogging, going for a walk or letting their children play or being active in sports. Speaking about which, there is plenty to do here: Tennis courts (€ 12.00 / hr), half pipes, a nice little climbing rock, soccer and basketball courts,…

Also, where there used to be a swimming stadium (you can still see the former shape of it in the park ground) people love to go for beach volleyball (in summer) or roller skating on the surrounding 800 meters asphalt track.

Whenever it’s warm, barbecue and picnic are extremely popular, too, next to sitting in Cafe Schoenbrunn, in the adjacent beer garden or having cones of ice cream while wandering about at famous “Märchenbrunnen” (”Fairy Tale Fountain”, see picture) in the very western corner of F’hain.

On top of all that, there is a popular outdoor cinema (next season: May 19th – Sep 19th).

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Volkspark Friedrichshain | Cinemas, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Tennis € 12.00
Volkspark Friedrichshain | Friedrichshain | +491706344007
Tennis court: Tue – Sun 11:00 – 19:00