A Foodie’s Guide to Kreuzberg, Berlin
Last updated: May 8, 2023
The food scene in Berlin is one I hold very close to my heart. Most of my weekend outings are planned around trying a new food or drink spot (new to me anyway), and my Google Maps is swamped with hundreds of blue pins, each representing a place in Berlin I love or am hoping to visit.
Sometimes, however, it can be a bit overwhelming when I’m adding new places to my list faster than I’m checking them off. So last week Dan and I decided to combat that by taking an afternoon off of work and having a foodie afternoon in Kreuzberg where we hit up several food joints and ordered smaller bites to eat. I felt like I knew Kreuzberg pretty well, but sketching out this food tour made me realize most of my visits had a specific destination, and I hadn’t wandered around in awhile. This afternoon/evening was so fun, (10/10 would recommend) and something we’re going to try to do every few months or so, so we can enjoy more experiences, and then I can share it with all of you! Read ‘til the end for a list of my favorite Kreuzberg eateries that I didn’t visit on my foodie tour, but wholeheartedly recommend, and ones that I’m looking forward to trying another time.
Albatross
When sorting through places to visit, Albatross was on my non-negotiable must visit column. I have been meaning to go to this bakery for so long, but am rarely in Kreuzberg during the daytime so I’m never around when it’s open. It naturally made sense to begin our day here so we hopped off at the station U Schönelinstraße and began our day. I knew I wanted to take a few items home so after having plenty of time to observe their beautiful display of pastries whilst in line, I ended up ordering a honey hole, apple danish, ham and cheese croissant, and pumpkin house bread. We sat on a bench outside and dug into the danish and croissant, and I instantly understood the hype. We decided to eat the croissant which was a perfect blend of savory and flaky, and also the danish which was somehow even better. I’ll definitely visit on an early morning one day (so I can have more options) and get a box of pastries to go. I’m already eyeing their carrot cake.
Bep Thoc
Next we headed over to Bep Thoc, a place that I found by just zooming into the neighborhood on Google Maps and clicking on random locations. I was sold pretty quickly when I saw they have a 4.9 out of 5 star rating, and serve banh mi. We split a curry chicken banh mi, after asking for it to be extra spicy, and it was so tasty. A part of me wanted to order another one, but I knew we had plenty of food left to try!
Worth noting also that their eight item menu is pretty limited for vegetarians and vegans, although there is one vegetarian banh mi.
Update: Unfortunately Bep Thoc is now permanently closed.
Original Unverpackt
Original Unverpackt isn’t a restaurant, it’s actually a low-waste supermarket. We wanted to visit since we were in the area, and I brought two empty glass jars to fill up with whatever goods peaked my interest. After weighing the jars and taking in their spices, dried goods, and treats I decided to purchase some organic tahini, and nutritional yeast. I’m very happy with my purchases, and have already made a dreamy hummus with the tahini. I read online prior that the prices were quite expensive, but I thought the items I got were fairly priced for being sustainable and organic. I spent €5.50 for 300 grams of tahini and just under 100 grams of nutritional yeast.
Duo - Sicilian Ice Cream
Duo was up next on our food tour, and the ice cream was rich and very creamy! We each got an ice cream sandwich made with their fluffy brioche bread. I tried pistachio and Bacio Siciliano, and Dan had chocolate and Cannolo Siciliano. I enjoyed it, but I think we should have just shared one since it was very filling, and a little too sweet for my taste. I totally forgot to order their pistachio granita topping, but I’ll make sure to try it another time. They also had a couple cakes and shakes! Since then I’ve revisited and found flavors I’ve grooved with more like their olive oil and vanilla flavor.
Tip: If you ever visit Duo on a weekend day and the line is too long head a little further down the street and find their Duo Sicilian Food Shop. They work on their experimental flavors here and always have around six interesting flavors to chose from.
Burgermeister
This burger joint has a few locations, all in Berlin, and got its start in the early 2000’s when one man noticed a closed-down vintage public toilet underneath the outdoor platform of the elevated Schlesisches Tor subway station. For whatever reason, he thought this forgotten spot in the middle of a busy street could make an epic fast food location, and years later it’s become one of the busiest burger shops in Berlin.
I’ve been meaning to hit up a Burgermeister for ages, and knew that this original spot at Schlesi had to be where I visited for the first time. There’s normally a long queue of people when I’ve walked by on weekends, but things were pretty calm this Thursday afternoon. We ordered two cheeseburgers and leaned on the cushioned rails awaiting the food. The burgers reminded me a lot of the kind of burger I would get back home at In-N-Out, filled with quality and character, and the kind of thing that gets both those places a cult following. It was very easy to finish, and great tasting!
Markthalle Neun - Heidenpeters
Although we visited on a Thursday, we arrived a couple hours before Street Food Thursday really began so half of the booths were still being set up. This food hall is the only place on our foodie tour that we had previously visited, but we were in the area and I didn’t feel like skipping it. I love these types of food halls that allow culinary artists to create amazing food, and kick-start their small business without the risks and finances involved in fully opening a restaurant.
We ended up ordering drinks from a stall we had been to before, Heidenpeters. Heidenpeters is a mini brewery in the back corner of Markthalle 9 that’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays and serves all kinds of craft beer on tap, my favorite being the Hazy Heidi. You can also take bottled beer home!
Bonanza Coffee Roasters
From there we walked up Muskauer Straße and through a lovely music school until we arrived at the original Bonanza Coffee Roasters to get an hour or two of work in while enjoying “the best flat whites in the city.” I can’t say I’m a coffee connoisseur, but I will say my oat milk flat white was very very good, and the atmosphere at Bonanza is so charming and open. It might be a little hard to find the entrance to Bonanza, but if you see the big mural with the cow then you’re in the right place.
ORA
Although we were considering ending the food tour at Bonanza, we decided to carry on and head to ORA, a wine bar and restaurant located in a former pharmacy. This was the most expensive place we visited that day, but everything here was really lovely, and we ended up sitting at the bar for awhile drinking a couple glasses of wine with a serving of olives. I ordered a glass of orange wine (pictured), which is a type of wine made with white white wine grapes, but the grape skin is not removed like in typical white wine production. I also had a glass of flor wine from the brand Tío Diego, which smelled like straight up liquor, and was the most alcohol-filled wine I’ve had at 18%. It was an acquired taste, but still quite enjoyable.
1001 Falafel
At this point we were hungry again so we decided to close the night out at 1001 Falafel, a little falafel and schawarma spot by Kottbusser Tor with killer falafel plates. We order a chicken teller and falafel teller, and were rewarded with plates full of hummus, rice, sauces, spices, vegetables, couscous, and pita bread. I had no idea this inconspicuous spot I had passed so many times was so tasty, and the prices were great for everything we got.
I had so much fun creating this little food tour, and I’m glad I got to finally do more things in Kreuzberg! I think next time I do this I’ll head to Neukölln. Now for a few other places in Kreuzberg I enjoy . . .
Kreuzberg Foodie Blog Posts:
More Kreuzberg eats I recommend:
Goldadelux - Their Sabich sandwiches are insanely good! Get it with everything, you won’t regret it.
Pico - My favorite tapas place in Kreuzberg and first or second favorite tapas spot in the city. Perfect for date night or with a group of friends. I liked everything! The green wine is a nice addition too if you’re in the mood for wine.
The Visit - One of my favorite places in Berlin to work on my laptop, and enjoy a quality cup of coffee. The decor is so pretty, and you should definitely get a slice of cake too. I’ve never tried one of their mains, but they look pleasant too, especially the Hummus Avocado Toast Plate.
Turkish Markt - On the border of Kreuzberg and Neukölln, this bi-weekly market is great to roam for those in search of produce, Turkish spreads, hot tea, fabrics, trinkets, street food, and more.
Mani in Pasta, Heisser Hobel, Rosa Canina, Manti Berlin - All four are in Markthalle Neun. At Mani in Pasta, the pasta makers incorporate seasonal ingredients, fresh Parmesan, and Sicilian pride in their amazing pasta dishes. Heisser Hobel is home to incredible käsespatzle (if you’re a fan of mac n cheese you’ve got to try it!). Rosa Canina offers creative ice cream flavors including apple strudel, black sesame, and Sicilian blood orange. If you’re interested in expanding your Turkish food repertoire try out Manti Berlin who sell the delicious Turkish dumpling manti, stuffed with your choice of cheesy spinach or meat (I think pork or beef) and topped with yogurt, chili sauce, and garlic.
Element Five - This vegan tapas spot will have you asking, “Is this really vegan?” From shrimp to duck to chicken they do it all and they do it fantastically! The tapas are on the smaller side so be sure to order a bowl or two of rice and a few extra sauces if you don’t want to leave hungry.
Zerostress Pizza - Their ground sausage and crispy potato pizza is my go to order here. All of their pizzas come with a suggested wine pairing that really brings out the pizza’s attributes.
19grams - A classic Berlin brunch spot and roastery with a few locations in the city, including one in Kreuzberg.
Annelies - For decadent and lush pancakes, alongside salty and creamy egg sandwiches on English muffin come here.
Tutti Island - One of my favorite falafel spots in the city, be sure to ask for peanut and aubergine sauce. Delicious! They also have a delicious Sudanese plant-based dessert called Luqaimat which consists of a fried donut sweetened with date syrup and orange blossom water.
La Maison - A tranquil café along the Maybachufer where you can find a shady terrace, stellar French pastries, and a picturesque atmosphere.
Sahara Imbiss - Come here for Sudanese plates filled with a mix of halloumi, tofu, chicken, and/or falafel along with fresh and cooked vegetables, peanut sauce, and optional spicy sauce.
Backery & Coffee - My favorite spot for Turkish baked goods. It’s a humble neighborhood spot and the Turkish baked goods are made in house and delicious (the German ones are outsourced though). Get there before noon to have more options as the Turkish bread does typically sell out by midday. My favorite item is their potato gözleme, be sure to take them up on their offer to warm it up!
Caphe Hoa - Both of their locations are in Kreuzberg, and I’ve only been to the Stallschreiberstraße one. They’ve got really great plant-based Vietnamese plates available in small and regular sizes so you can decide based on your hunger cues. The tofu glass noodle salad is normally my go to and in the summer they have the best cold drinks! My favorite is probably their coconut iced latte, and their lemonades are also great! Be sure to check out their specials, I saw that they recently added a cold brew orange juice and crème brûlée latte to their summer drinks repertoire.
Roll Inc. - Enjoy some of your favorite Indian dishes in a superb soft and chewy wrap.
Pastel - Delicious Portuguese pastries with vegan options, try the plant-based pastel de nada.
Good Morning Monday - Hearty breakfast plates at this cozy local’s brunch spot.
Doyuran - Tasty Turkish sandwiches filled with grilled meat and completed with fresh veg and flavorful sauce.
No Milk Today - This fully plant-based brunch restaurant is a lovely spot for a sunny day.
Akcaabat Saray Köfte - For awesome köfte sandwiches visit this neighborhood favorite. They have limited seating, but there are benches nearby.
Fior di Latte - Great ice cream just north of Viktoriapark.
Still on my list:
Chungking Noodles - Noodle shop
Madame Claude - Bar with furniture hanging from the ceiling
Peter Schlemihl - German food (I’m mainly interested in the Käsespätzle)
Senegambia African Imbiss - Senegalese & Gambian cuisine
Lecko Mio Gelateria - Ice cream including traditional German spaghetti ice cream
Two Trick Pony - Popular local brunch spot selling creative modern brunch
Goldies Smashburger - Smash burgers that look incredible
Chickpeas - Tasty looking hummus spot