When I was studying at Humboldt University, this library would often come to my rescue: never overcrowded, cool in the summer months and only a few familiar, distracting faces. The Staatliche Bibliothek (short: StaBi) Unter den Linden in Mitte belongs to the biggest 'universal' library in Germany and its stylish '70s vibe makes it a pleasurable place to read, order rare editions or simply observe people come and go.
After entering through the impressive, old facade, visitors will be surprised with the clean, modern look of the entrance area. Guided tours are offered for free on every first Saturday of the month, as well as every Friday (more information here). If you're not only coming for the aesthetics of wood, a lot of orange and contemporary art installations by Olaf Metzel and Tobias Rehberger, with an monthly or annual pass (12 and 30 euro), you get access to every book you can imagine.
PS: the bigger, less stylish sibling of this library is the StaBi at Potsdamer Straße in Tiergarten. Don't be mistaken by how many actual books you see in the shelves both here and in Mitte: The principle is to order electronically from the large archive, which remains invisible to the library visitors. Makes it even more exciting, no?
Find your way with 216 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
My favorite item they offer has to be their potato gözleme: it's a generous portion that's rich, flavorful, and both crispy and soft.
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Away from the hustle and bustle of Mitte, you enter a lush and leafy world, full of bistros. In the midst of all that magic, you will find Capvin...
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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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A classic slice of pepperoni or truffle mushroom is the way to go here, although they offer other great toppings like olive, ricotta, salsiccia, and even vegan butternut squash.
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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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216 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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