SHANNON BENNETT’S
BEST OF BERLIN
MUSTAFA’S GEMÜSE KEBAP
(Mehringdamm 32, Kreuzberg) The best doner kebabs in the world, according to Bennett. “It’s the ground zero of kebabs,” he assures me, after explaining the strong Turkish influence on Berlin’s food scene. A long line snakes from the booth serving three types of kebabs for €3-4 each. Fresh pitas, generous lashings of chicken, sauces, herbs, spices, goat’s cheese and vegies make it arguably the best-value lunch around. Grab a Grolsch from the convenience store on the corner and drink it in line while you wait.
PRATER GARTEN (Kastanienallee 7-9, Prenzlauer Berg; pratergarten.de) “It’s the oldest beer garden in Germany, and I think it serves the best pizza in Berlin,” says Bennett. Enormous leafy old trees dominate the large outdoor space, along with hundreds of bright-yellow tables. There are large pretzels for snacks and plenty of pilsner. Beware, the garden is only open April to September (closed in winter), while the restaurant is open all year.
KATERSCHMAUS (Holzmarktstraße 25; katerschmaus.de) Think art, music, food. “You have to visit this place, plus the pizzas are amazing,” says Bennett. There’s a restaurant, four bars and three nightclubs all set by the popular canal. Inventive takes on recycled furniture and the quirky crowd make it feel something like the set of Mad Max.
CURRY 36 (Mehringdamm 36, Kreuzberg; curry36.de) This chain of sausage shops is named after the postcode of Kreuzberg in an homage to its street food. “Line up and grab a paper plate of grilled sliced sausage smothered in tomato sauce and curry powder,” recommends Bennett. “It’s surprisingly subtle and smooth. Plus it’s really cheap and the chips are great.”
TIM RAUE (Rudi-Dutschke-Straße 26; tim-raue.com) “Tim Raue is the best restaurant in Berlin right now,” says Bennett. Currently number 48 on The World’s 50 Best list, it boasts bold Asian flavours and is the spot to splash out at. Chef Raue’s standout dish is said to be the wasabi langoustine.