20 Cool Restaurants in Berlin, Germany in 2025
Last Updated on December 7, 2025
Berlin is known for being cool af, and that’s no different when it comes to its restaurant scene. In my decade of living in the city, I watched as the food scene grew from rather basic to overflowing with options to suit any taste.
This is the city for you if you’re looking for graffiti-covered exteriors hiding Michelin-starred sushi, where former pharmacies serve natural wine, and where you’re just as likely to find a celebrity at a steakhouse as you are an artist at a daytime bar sipping Negronis over their laptop
Unlike other European capitals with their rigid dining traditions, Berlin thrives on its casual chaos and constant reinvention, creating spaces that feel both effortlessly cool and genuinely welcoming.
The city’s best restaurants aren’t just about the food—though the quality rivals anywhere in the world—they’re about atmosphere, energy, and that ineffable Berlin spirit that makes even the most elevated dining experience feel unpretentious.
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From hidden backyard diners to theatrical 1920s ballrooms, from serious farm-to-table concepts to maximalist Italian spectacles, these twenty restaurants represent what makes Berlin’s dining scene so compelling: a refusal to choose between substance and style, between local and international, between high and low.
Whether you’re a visitor planning your culinary itinerary or a local looking to rediscover your city, we’ve got you covered in our cool restaurants in Berlin guide.
20 Coolest Places To Eat in Berlin: New Additions & Classics
Borchardt
Borchardt stands out as one of Berlin’s more glamorous dining experiences in this otherwise laid-back city. The restaurant delivers genuine hospitality alongside quality German and international cuisine. Food-wise, they are famous for their Wiener Schnitzel, and they even offer a vegan version! The prices are as elevated as the cuisine, but the unparalleled people-watching more than justifies the premium. (Brad Pitt famously met his ex-girlfriend here.)
But what’s most striking is Borchardt’s authentic local following: on a Friday night, the dining room fills with regulars and the space turns into a dance party with local DJs. (It is Berlin, after all!) Borchardt is the perfect choice, whether you’re after a high-end dining experience or an all-in-one Friday night destination.
Address: Französische Str. 47, 10117 Mitte | Map
893 Ryotei
“This place?” I’ll never forget the first time I went to 893 Ryotei because I was fairly certain I was at the wrong location. But nope! Hiding behind a nondescript and very graffiti-covered facade lies a Berlin pinnacle of Japanese fine dining. Created by acclaimed restaurateur Duc Ngo, the restaurant presents a striking contrast between its graffiti-covered exterior and the refined elegance inside. The sushi craftsmanship here sets a standard that appeals equally to devoted foodies, as well as those who are simply marking a special occasion with an unforgettable meal.
Address: Kantstraße 135/136, 10625 Charlottenburg | Map
Grill Royale
Grill Royal is another high-end dining favorite in Berlin, where film stars, politicians, and local luminaries gather to see and be seen. (Good luck getting a seat during the Biennale!)
The spacious dining room evokes 1960s sophistication with plush grey banquettes, red lamps, and striking art adorning the walls, while glass-fronted refrigerators showcase the restaurant’s impressive selection of prime Wagyu and Kobe beef. There is no background music, in order to encourage you to chat up your neighbors. (There’s also a Berghain scarf proudly adorning the wall. Again, this is Berlin after all!)
Despite its star-studded clientele, the atmosphere remains surprisingly approachable, with professional staff who navigate the packed room with ease, offering knowledgeable wine recommendations. The food lives up to the hype: steaks are nothing short of sensational, while the crisp sweet potato fries have achieved cult status among regulars.
Address: Friedrichstraße 105b, 10117 Mitte | Map
Cecconi’s
Cecconi’s is one of the two chain restaurants on this list. Just like their other locations dotted around the globe, their Berlin outpost offers sophisticated Italian dining to the heart of the city.
The restaurant’s striking interior features black and white marble, rich wooden furniture, and vibrant red leather chairs beside the chefs working their magic in the open kitchen. The menu strikes an impressive balance between comforting classics like Garganelli Bolognese and pizza with buffalo mozzarella, and luxurious indulgences, such as spaghetti with lobster or black truffle pizza. Don’t miss the extraordinarily creamy Burrata as a starter, or the heavenly profiteroles with pistachio ice cream for dessert.
Address: Torstraße 1, 10119 Mitte | Map
Brasserie Torbar
Torbar is an upscale French brasserie in Mitte that draws a similarly celebrity-studded crowd as Grill Royal. But instead of steak, the menu here delivers reliably excellent French classics: Entrecôte, Moules-Frites, steakhouse cheeseburgers, and tartar, accompanied by an impressive wine selection. Standout dishes include the classic Shrimp Cocktail, and the generous Moules Marinière: mussels swimming in white wine sauce with parsley and garlic, served alongside crispy French fries.
Address: Torstraße 183, 10115 Mitte | Map
Cookies Cream
Cookies Cream offers another uniquely Berlin restaurant experience. To get there, you’ll walk down the alley behind a hotel, past stacks of garbage bins. (Really!) Stop when you’re standing under the chandelier and press the doorbell to enter. But the dramatically understated entry is not just a cheap party trick! Cookies Cream is celebrated for being one of just a few Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurants in town.
The five- or six-course tasting menus showcase intriguing creations like pointed cabbage with Koshihikari rice and cauliflower mushroom, or the beloved red peppers with roasted pepper ice cream and jalapeño sauce. The natural wine list emphasizes Austrian, French, and German whites and lighter reds, with inspired pairing options including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic selections.
Address: Behrenstraße 55, 10117 Mitte | Map
Paris Bar
Paris Bar still stands as Berlin’s most legendary dining institution: a French brasserie that has served as the unofficial living room of the city’s art world for over seven decades. Originally opened in 1950 by a former French Armed Forces canteen cook to satisfy homesick French dwellers craving foie gras and onion soup, the restaurant was elevated to true high society status in 1977 when Austrian duo Michel Würthle and Reinald Nohal took over.
Since then, Paris Bar has become a secret society of sorts, known the place where David Bowie and Iggy Pop gave their notorious Rolling Stone interview, and where Madonna famously snagged a reserved table that was being held for Gina Lollobrigida.
But don’t let all those big names scare you away! Anyone is free to reserve a table and to enjoy the classic French fare that Bowie once called the best steak frites in town. (If it’s good enough for Starman, then it’s good enough for me!)
Address: Kantstraße 152, 10623 Charlottenburg | Map
Bar Kink
Bar Kink breathes some avant-garde energy and high-end cuisine into a former brewery in Prenzlauer Berg. The dramatic interior features soaring ceilings and large-scale art installations, including Swiss artist Kerim Seiler’s striking work composed of 100 meters of neon tubing that bathes the space in atmospheric light. After you settle in, order one of their signature small plates or cocktails, like the Lucky Flaeming: a combination of whisky, clarified mango juice, curry, and orange-blossom honey.
Address: Schönhauser Allee 176, 10119 Prenzlauer Berg | Map
Barra
Attention foodies booking a visit to Berlin: Barra is one of Berlin’s most beloved dining destinations, and reservations get snapped up, weeks in advance. So if you want to come here, then be sure to book ahead!
However, those with the foresight to plan ahead, will be rewarded by an elevated dining experience. Located in trendy Neukölln, this cozy and minimalist restaurant run by Head Chef Daniel Remers and partner Kerry Westhead takes a produce-focused approach to modern cuisine.
The ever-changing seasonal menu revolves around simple dishes, done extraordinarily well. Think: comforting flavors and unexpected combinations that range from succulent grilled sweetcorn with hazelnut butter and marjoram to a revelatory celery salad with apple, hazelnut, and Colton Bassett blue cheese that somehow manages to be both crunchy and delicate, sweet and tart, all at once.
Address: Okerstraße 2, 12049 Neukölln | Map
Pinci
Pinci represents a rare breed in Berlin’s ever-churning restaurant scene: a new addition to the culinary scene that feels like an instant classic. The concept is refreshingly straightforward: bring authentic Italian daytime bar culture to Berlin with quick but high-quality food, excellent coffee, and cocktails. Stop in for a caffè al banco and a high-quality croissant on your morning commute, return for a proper tramezzino at lunch, or linger over a Negroni in the evening.
Address: Große Hamburger Str. 42, 10178 Mitte | Map
Bar Basta
Bar Basta opened up shop in the Casa Camper hotel, offering a fresh new perspective in the city. No reservations, no waiting list, no pretention, just great food and even better people-watching.
Weekday breakfast offerings include creamy scrambled eggs with Comté, fresh sourdough with ricotta and warm honey, and the essential croissant and juice for the office commute, while weekends transform into “Weekend Boozy B” with indulgent specials like the “Ol’ Dirty Basta” meatball sandwich and French toast with brown butter and mascarpone, accompanied by pitcher cocktails like Negroni Sbagliato and Mimosas. The evening menu stays true to the pop-up philosophy with honest, relaxed vibes, intense flavors, and plenty of signature sauces, featuring both rotating dishes and returning classics.
Address: Rosenthaler Str. 53, 10178 Mitte | Map
Beuster Bar
A friend once called Beuster Bar: Soho House South, and on certain warm summery evenings, I have to agree. Beuster Bar stands out from the other more casual eateries on Weserstraße, with cozy interiors, French food, and a chic yet welcoming vibe. Standout dishes include the Moules Marinières made with tarragon and confit fennel, the fries served with aioli, and the oysters by the half dozen. It’s especially popular during the summer months, where people linger, sip wine, and watch the world go by.
Address: Weserstr. 32, 12045 Neukölln | Map
Julius
Julius is the more casual outpost of the former Michelin-starred Ernst. Pop in for an all-day dining experience that can take you seamlessly from brunch to dinner. The Nordic-influenced space with clean white walls and an open kitchen maintains a surprisingly laid-back vibe despite its meticulous attention to detail.
Locals swing by in the morning for hand-roasted coffee and signature cube-shaped Japanese brioche. But the place truly shines during the evenings. That is when Chef Shunsuke Naogoka applies Japanese techniques to local, seasonal products, creating nightly changing 8- to 10-course tasting menus. Think shiitake tempura with dashi maki, line-caught sea bass with cockles and kaffir lime sauce, and inspired desserts like pear, yogurt, and shortbread compositions, served alongside some spectacular wine pairings.
Address: Gerichtstraße 31, 13347 Wedding | Map
Coccodrillo
Coccodrillo stands out like a fun fair in the center of Weinbergspark with its tomato-red color scheme and neon-lit entrance. The interiors deliver arresting maximalism at its finest: red lacquer gleams from floor to ceiling while neon, mirrors, and sculptural lights create a shimmering atmosphere that verges on playfully naughty. (Be warned that the toilet doors are one-way mirrors.) Try out starters like the signature giant burrata with fresh tomato sauce and hot bread, truffle pasta or a stunning dessert of strawberries, tomatoes, basil, and fried coconut on vegan whipped cream.
Address: Veteranenstraße 9, 10119 Prenzlauer Berg | Map
Frieda
Café Frieda channels Parisian bistro charm into former East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg. The vibrant space features a huge seating counter wrapping around the open kitchen, and a comfy red banquette, all accented by vinyl records and speakers. The menu takes sustainability seriously, working with local producers focused on biodiversity to create small plates, like the grilled whole red mullet with fermented tomato and crispy house chili sauce. Don’t miss the to-die-for housemade sourdough bread or the truly next-level soft serve made with local milk in rotating flavors like hazelnut praline with sea salt or Meyer lemon with olive oil. European natural wines dominate the beverage program, with extensive French selections by the glass.
Address: Lychener Str. 37, 10437 Prenzlauer Berg | Map
Otto
Otto represents the new generation of German dining, where Berlin-born chef prodigy Vadim Otto Ursus proves local farm-to-table concepts can rival any import. This tiny 20-seat venue in a no-fuss neighborhood setting focuses intensely on ingredients from the Berlin-Brandenburg region, including the restaurant’s own garden, with a menu that evolves constantly.
Raw concrete walls and simple wooden furnishings create a Nordic-influenced aesthetic, while the open kitchen offers glimpses of your food being prepared. This seasonal, hyper-local approach means every visit feels fresh and spontaneous, though you’ll want to plan ahead since they’re only open Thursday through Monday.
Address: Oderberger Str. 56, 10435 Prenzlauer Berg | Map
Ari’s
Ari’s brings an unpretentious American diner spirit to a Kreuzberg backyard. Here, chef-owner Arianna Plevisan blends her Peruvian, Italian, Greek, and fine dining background into thoughtful comfort food with Latin American influence. The minimalist, open-kitchen space channels Williamsburg vibes while serving lowbrow classics done simply and well: fluffy pancake stacks, chopped cheese sandwiches, and burgers on Martin’s Potato Rolls with hints of Peruvian chili, plus the “Lima Kreuzburger” with shoestring fries. Essential orders include chips with aji verde (that cilantro-jalapeño Peruvian green sauce), weekend ceviche, the vegan Spicy Green Goddess salad, and churros or Tres Leches cake for dessert, all best enjoyed with a mezcalita.
Address: Glogauer Str. 2, 10999 Kreuzberg | Map
Luna D’Oro
Luna D’Oro transforms the ground floor of the iconic Clärchens Ballhaus into a theatrical celebration of 1920s Berlin glamour and German culinary tradition. Former Ember head chef Paul Gerber delivers “ugly delicious” German food: hearty, unfussy classics elevated with genuine love and skill.
Standout dishes include absurdly good fried Gürkchen with thick dill mayo, classic Königsberger Klopse, and the showstopping Goldbroiler auf Brot: perfectly roasted half-chicken with golden crisp skin atop rye bread soaked in chicken juices. Desserts lean fully into ’80s nostalgia with kitsch Spaghetti Eis and vivid green Woodruff Götterspeise that tastes like pure childhood joy. Service borders on impeccable, and the utterly fair pricing—three courses and two glasses of wine for under €50—makes the whole experience accessible rather than precious.
Address: Auguststraße 24, 10117 Mitte | Map
Ora
A former 19th-century pharmacy on Oranienplatz has been transformed into one of Berlin’s most cinematically beautiful dining destinations. ORA takes its name from the only three neon letters still functioning on the façade when the owners took over in 2015.
What began as a café has now successfully evolved into a sophisticated wine bar and restaurant. The daily changing menu showcases the kitchen’s creativity and commitment to utmost freshness. Recent highlights include cured salmon with kohlrabi salad, apples, radish, and horseradish cream that proves beautifully light and refreshing, and pikeperch fillet with creamy barley risotto. ORA’s impressive wine list boasts over 300 selections alongside cocktails, while their housemade sourdough bread has achieved such cult status that regulars buy it here instead of visiting bakeries.
Address: Oranienpl. 14, 10999 Kreuzberg | Map
Paolo Pinkel
Paolo Pinkel brings some unexpectedly 1980s Miami vibes to Karl-Marx-Straße in Neukölln, with complete with palm trees, neon lights, and Asian lanterns. This is one of the best spaces in the city for late-night eats. (Surprisingly, Berlin has few options for a city so obsessed with nightlife!) But here you can order from three different kitchens serving up Chinese, Cypriot, and Peruvian food. Delicious offerings range from savory yuca fries with three fantastic mayonnaises and vegan ceviche with avocado and miso mayo to vegan shiitake wontons. The deliberate no-reservations, order-at-the-counter approach creates an almost party-like atmosphere.
Address: Karl-Marx-Straße 55, 12043 Neukölln | Map
Cool Restaurants in Berlin | Final Thoughts
Berlin doesn’t like to play by the rules that govern most cities, and that’s no different when it comes to dining. For the most part, things run on the casual and sometimes even chaotic side. But it’s that unpretentious and sometimes even straight-up rebellious spirit that sets Berlin apart.
Here, a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant requires you to buzz through an unmarked door past garbage bins, and celebrity hotspots serve you with genuine warmth rather than attitude. The prices are often lower than in other city centers, and many times, you can roll up to any one of these places without a reservation.
Whether you’re dressed up for Grill Royal or rolling into Ari’s after a long night out, you’ll find that the best meals in Berlin are the ones where great food, combines with that unmistakable Berlin energy. Guten Appetit!
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