BERLIN ACCORDING TO YOUR PASSIONS
vegetable-centric menu. (But carnivores, fret not, they serve meat too.) There’s an abundance of food tours you can sign up for. KaDeWe’s food hall is a must visit. KaDeWe CEO André Maeder loves the chicken wings there. When you go, make sure you try Lenôtre’s cakes topped with fresh berries. Don’t miss Street Food Thursday at Markthalle Neun. We had the best short rib sandwich from Big Stuff Smoked BBQ there. Feel like splurging? Book a table at Tim Raue. This two-Michelin star resto that’s also on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants showcases the chef’s creative and bold take on Asian cuisine. We had the Ikarimi Salmon, Wasabi Langoustine, Sate Chicken and we’re still thinking about them. Berlin has a total of 36 Michelin stars. “Now the Parisians come to Berlin for good food,” said visitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker. And if you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’re spoilt for choice. Berlin has been named vegetarian capital of the world ( they have 49 vegan restos and over 200 vegetarian restaurants). This city is super green in more ways than one.
Obsessed with fashion?
KaDeWe, Germany’s largest and most elegant department store, will rock your world. A big chunk of their 60,000 square meters of retail space is devoted to high fashion. (The Missoni racks stopped us in our tracks.) “And we have the best shoe department in Germany,” said André Maeder. Want to discover Berlin’s young designers? Stop by Bikini Berlin. If hunting for old treasures is your jam, check out Berlin’s vintage shops and weekend flea markets (the one at Mauerpark is magical). Watch Jean Paul Gaultier’s creations in action at the One Grand Show at Friedrichstadt Palast.
If you’re a history buff, Berlin has so
much to offer. There’s a multitude of museums (some in World War II bunkers) and attractions and countless walking/biking/Segway tours that will take you back in time (decades or centuries, your choice). Explore Museum Island. Don’t miss the Berlin Wall Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie. Visit Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of German reunification after the fall of the Wall. Topography of Terror gives you a look at the horrors plotted and carried out by the Nazi right on the site of the Gestapo headquarters.
Love art? You’ll get your fill—from masterpieces hanging in museum and gallery halls (there are more than 400 galleries in Berlin) to street art. East Side Gallery, the longest open-air gallery in the world and the longest stretch of the Berlin Wall that’s still standing features the works of 118 artists from 21 countries, is a must, of course. If graffiti is your thing, there’s an Art of Banksy exhibit running at Bikini Berlin until January 2019. Tickets go for 14,50 euros, but you can flash your Berlin Welcome Card for a discount.
Do you travel to eat? Berlin is a playground for foodies. There are delicious treats at every corner: sausages from grillwalkers, currywurst (it’s a Berlin icon), late-night Doner kebabs. Even breweries and bars serve fantastic food. Check out BRLO Brwhouse’s surprising