In 2013, when I finally moved to Berlin’s Mitte from Macau, for months “ocelot, not just another bookstore” had become my afternoon spot every Saturday, after its neighbouring municipal library was closed. A very confortable and welcoming bookstore, ocelot is one of my favorite friend meeting places, alongside Handebstand: the first one is a bookstore, the latter is a secondhand one, both on the same street. Book dealers Maria-Christina Piwowarski, Ludwig Lohmann or Eva Voigt organize remarkable literary events regularly and also serve tasty coffees! Eva is for example always mindful and even lent me an iPhone charger once, a Japanese/Taiwanese attitude!
The staff is well informed and available for recommendations for a good read. The majority of publications are in German, but a good English section is present, both for adults and children. For example, the English translation of Half a Lifelong Romance by prominent modern Chinese woman writer Eileen Chang - what a pleasant surprise! The cozy reading seats for parents and children, along with the children book section, occupy one third of Mitte’s bookstore! Also a surprise is that children's books for Arabic refugees or even written in Canada’s indigenous language Inuktitut can also be occasionally found! Ocelot’s huge display windows face Volkspark am Weinberg. Both are must-visits for those who are around.
Find your way with 216 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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"Balaram" in Berlin is a vegan ice cream shop. They have 12 varieties and extra toppings are free! It's very good, it doesn't taste like ice or sherbet...
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The best part? Every plant is available for purchase so you can take a bit of the café home with you! From seedlings and succulents to plants that may require a little extra help to get out of the coffee shop.
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My favorite thing to order might just be their #17 plate which comes with stewed vegetables, fresh salad, butter-simmered chicken, chickpeas, lean beef, and collared greens.
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I am a big fan of their pistachio maritozzo which is a soft Roman bun filled with cream and topped with crushed pistachios. It's absolutely amazing, and not overwhelmingly sweet.
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One word to describe Macondo? Bustling! It's not the place if you need a quiet space to work, but it's nice if you want to have it all: work, play, wine, and coffee.
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Heisser Hobel stands out through their use of quality ingredients. Their dairy ingredients are collected from an organic family-run dairy farm, and their noodles are made in their stall throughout the day.
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I suggest stopping by the Berlin Art Market by the Zeughaus to pick up a locally created art piece. Since the market is located in the center of Museum Island it's easy to reach.
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Baked goods are made with ingredients made in-house or purchased from local suppliers. All food waste and single-use items (ie recycled compostable napkins) are turned into soil with their Gersi composting machine.
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"Idealpassage" in Berlin takes you on a historic walk - this passage reveals a complex from a century ago that served as a model for 'social housing'...
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