BERLIN: A Local's Guide to the Best Grocery Shops in Berlin

From desperately searching for molasses style brown sugar (I’ve given up my search at this point), or marveling over how inexpensive bread can be, to dealing with perhaps the quickest checkout cashiers of all time (good luck packing up most of your groceries before it’s time to pay), grocery shopping in Berlin is quite an experience. Jokes aside, I really appreciate the quality and diverse selection of foods I find in markets and specialty shops here. With that in mind, I decided to write a post about where I like to get my favorite foods in Berlin.

This post is actually also my first sponsored blog post (!!!) and is brought to you today in partnership with FavorLab. FavorLab is a new Berlin-based startup that’s majorly filling the gap for delivery culture in Berlin. Their mission is to deliver any kind of item(s) you can think of from your selected merchant in no more than a couple hours. This includes groceries, toiletries, flowers, fast food, and more.*

*Unfortunately FavorLab is no longer in business. I can recommend REWE delivery for bigger hauls, Gorillas (use my code NF854375 for €5 off your first order) for small hauls delivered to you in less than twenty minutes, and Wolt (use my code DTAEZ for €6 off your first order) for restaurant food deliveries.

Veganz

Although vegans are generally accommodated for in most supermarkets in Berlin, Veganz is really great for plant based people, those with dietary restrictions, or anyone who’s looking to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. I occasionally visit the Prenzlauer Berg location to try a new plant-based cheese, stock up on nutritional yeast, and get a hold of a few other other tasty looking items.

Although I don’t frequently visit them, other good ethical grocery mini-chains include: Original Unverpackt, a low-waste grocery store, and SirPlus, a low-waste market that resells ‘ugly’ produce and food that is set to be thrown away from other shops. There’s also Too Good To Go, which is an app that connects users with businesses that have surplus food that you can pick up during an allotted time at a very discounted rate.

REWE

The classic REWE is a neat place to do a quick mid-week essentials run, or a bigger shopping trip online if I’m feeling lazy that week. My latest REWE haul was actually delivered via FavorLab in less than 90 minutes, which was a much quicker and more efficient experience than REWE’s delivery system which requires a €50 minimum purchase, and typically can’t be scheduled to arrive until at least 1-2 days after you order.

I used to live across a 24-Hour REWE (by which I mean open from 7AM Monday to 11PM Saturday because we’re still in Germany), and although I never had the sudden urge to start shopping at 3AM, I liked that I had the option. I’ve shopped around at other big German supermarket chains like Edeka, Netto, Real, and Lidl, but REWE is the closest of the bunch to my apartment now, and is the one I know the best. Most I’ve visited have a large variety of items too, and I rarely leave without finding everything on my shopping list.

Centro Italia Mercato

This Italian specialty store has many great items imported from Italy. My favorites are probably their fresh ravioli and gnocchi. They also have lots of imported wine to pick from. I customarily come in to buy something to spice up my pastas, or to sit at their café and enjoy a warm plate of pasta or filling sandwich.

Denn’s BioMarkt

Denn’s is an organic shop with numerous locations in Berlin. They always have a lot of sales going on for their products, plus a solid selection of specialty items, and I’m usually here to buy fruits and vegetables.

Asia-Markt

There are plenty of Asian markets in Berlin, but I especially like Asia-Markt on Kopenhagener Straße. Although the market itself is quite small, I appreciate their large range of sauces including Soy, Pad-Thai, Teriyaki, Oyster, Sesame, Chili-Garlic, Peanut, KBBQ and more. I normally come to try a new sauce, get some mochi and dumplings, and maybe pick up something I ran out of like nori wraps or rice paper. They also have a lot of Indian spices and food, something I see missing from most general Asian markets I’ve been to here. For a bigger Asian supermarket I would suggest Vinh-Loi.

Chili & Paprika

As a Latina who loves to cook, living a ten minute walk away from this little shop is so convenient. I love coming here to buy tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa, enchilada sauce, chili peppers, tomatillos, Cotija cheese, Oaxacan cheese, beans, and more. This little gem of a store is very small, but well-stocked, and carries items I haven’t found anywhere else in Berlin.

EL-FI

EL-FI was introduced to me four years ago by a Turkish friend, and I find myself going back every few months to purchase a few favorites including saffron paste and olive paste. I also head over whenever I need specific ingredients to make a Turkish recipe. You can find pre-made Turkish specialty dishes like Gözleme and Adana kebap.

Farmers’ Markets

I visit Farmers’ Markets more just to see what’s available, and to treat myself to some farm fresh produce. There’s plenty of options for Farmers’ Markets in Berlin, and I especially enjoy smaller lesser known ones like Bötzow Markt, which mainly focuses on produce and street food. The blueberries and strawberries here are always so juicy! The Turkish Market at Kottbusser Damm, and Kollwitzmarkt are fun to visit too, and they always have a great deal of locally sourced packaged goods like honey, spreads, jams, bread, and cheese.

Let me know if any of these markets are new to you, or if you know of any markets in Berlin you think I might like. All of these stores are currently open with mask and social distancing regulations.

Where I Like to Buy My Groceries in Berlin