DELICIOUS PIT STOPS

COMMUNITY GARDEN + OUTDOOR BAR

PRINZESSINNENGÄRTEN (Prinzenstraße 35-38; prinzessinnengarten.net). An amazing oasis of a vegetable garden manned by mostly volunteer workers (you can buy anything from tomatoes to herbs for a song), and bars made from shipping containers in an enchanted forest strung with fairy lights. Towards the back is a large treehouse that could double as a set for The Lost Boys, with swings and a stage, built by locals.

COFFEE

NANO KAFFEE BERLIN (Dresdener Straße 14; nano-kaffee.de). For serious, speciality coffee and unique blends.

FIVE ELEPHANT (Reichenberger Straße 101; fiveelephant.com). A micro roaster and bakery. Try the espresso soft serve sprinkled with ground-up beans and served by a hipster barista.

SHOP

COOL KREUZBERG is worth the wander, particularly VooStore (Oranienstraße 24; vooberlin.com). Find minimalist brands, chic jewellery, books and a hip coffee house inside.

MITTE’S streets are packed full of interesting shops, good vintage stores, cafes and bars down laneways. Hackescher Markt is an interesting mix of graffitied laneways that lead to bars, hidden restaurants and the Anne Frank Zentrum memorial museum.

FOOD HALL

KADEWE (Tauentzienstraße 21-24; kadewe.de) is a department store famous for its food hall the size of several football fields and traditional butcher, fishmonger and baker.

RESTAURANT

EINS44 (Elbestraße 28/29; eins44.com) Like all good things in Berlin, you’ll find this quirky restaurant in a completely random spot through a wire gate in the back of a car park. It’s produce driven, simple and uniquely Berlin, an interesting experience with great service and an excellent German drinks list

CANAL PICNICKING

Start at the corner of Ratiborstraße/ Paul-Lincke-Ufer in Kreuzberg and walk along the canal to Carl-Herz-Ufer. Or in good weather take a beer, some bread and cheese to people watch and enjoy life as the local bohemians do.