Berlin Guide for Tourist

PRENZLAUER BERG

11 Cafe-Restaurant Miro, Raumerstr. 29. U2: Eberswalder Str. The kind of place where the food looks almost as good as it tastes. Generous portions of delectable Mediterranean cuisine. Breakfast 3-8. Soups 3. Open lOam-midnight.

La Bodeguita del Medio, Husemanstr. 10. U2: Eberswalderstr. A Cuban tapas bar, decorated by customer scrawlings that cover the tables, walls, and ceilings. Aside from the tapas (4-8) there’s not really a menu-they cook new dinner specials every day. Sa-Su dinner buffet (9.50) starting at 7pm. Open daily 4pm-late.

The Chop Bar, Pappalallee 29. A friendly West African restaurant. Try the Jassa Djin (7), a tasty mackerel dish, or any one of the vegetarian options (6.50-8). Open Su-Th 4-1 lpm, F-Sa 4pm-midnight,

Li Do, Knaackstr. 30. U2: Senefelderpl. Essential East German chic: The dusty, busted chandelier. Try a blini burger (8; lox layered with thin buckwheat pancakes) or a more filling pasta special (5). Open daily 9am-late.

Nosh, Pappelallee 77. U2: Eberswalder Str. “Borderless cooking” brings bagels, pad thai (7), and the Berliner breakfast (6.30) together on one menu. Pastries so good other cafes sell them. Open daily from 9am, kitchen closes at midnight.

CHARLOTTENBURG

Mensa TU, Hardenbergstr. 34, lOmin. from Bahnhof Zoo. The mightiest of Berlin’s Mensen. Vegetarian options. Meals 2-4. Cafeteria downstairs has longer hours and higher prices. Mensa open M-F ll:00am-3pm. Cafeteria open M-F 8am-5pm. O

Schwarzes Cafe, Kantstr. 148. S3, 5, 7, 9, or 75 to Savignypl. Exposed brick walls, curious frescoes, and absinthe on the menu give Schwaizes a bohemian feel, but most notably it’s aways open (except Tu 3am-10am). The bathrooms must be seen to be believed. Breakfast served around the clock (6-8).

Restaurant-Cafe Bleibtreu, Bleibtreustr. 45. S3: Savignypl. Gilt-framed mirrors, classic film posters, and one London phone booth decorate this low-key local favorite. Large portions; many vegetarian options (5-6). Open daily 9:30am-lam.

Orchidee, Stuttgarter Platz 13. Won tons, satay, pho, and maki all under one roof. Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese tastes unite. Try the coconut juice. M-Sa 1 lam-midnight, Su 3pm-midnight.

SIGHTS

Most of central Berlin’s major sights are along the route of bus #100, which travels from Bahnhof Zoo to Prenzlauer Berg, passing by the Siegessaule, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, the Berliner Dom, and Alexanderplatz. There are only a few places to see remnants of the Berlin Wall: a narrow band stands in Potsdamer Platz; the popular Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie guards another piece; the sobering Documentation Center in Prenzlauer Berg preserves an entire city block; and an embellished section in Friedrichshain has become the East Side Gallery.

MITTE

Mitte was once the heart of Berlin and has most of the city’s imperial architecture. The district was split down the middle by the wall and much of it fell into disrepair, but the wave of revitalization that swept post-wall Berlin hit Mitte first.