Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
13
fondue is great.
Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat & Sun
noon-midnight.
Facil
Mandala Hotel, Potsdamer Str. 3
T
030 590 05
ext. 1234,
W
facil.de; U-Potsdamer Platz; map
pp.90-91.
Michael Kempf 's restaurant in the
Mandala
Hotel
not only offers amazing food but also splendid
views from the fifth floor despite its lush bamboo garden.
Popular with business types, politicos and serious foodies,
Kempf 's Michelin-starred, fish-heavy menu has become
justly famous. Dinner costs €16-55 per course; try a lunch
reservation for something slightly cheaper overall (€18-39
per course).
Mon-Fri noon-3pm & 7-11pm.
Hugos
Hotel InterContinental, Budapester Str. 2
T
030 26 02 12 63,
W
hugos-restaurant.de;
U-Wittenbergplatz; map pp.90-91.
In a gorgeously
appointed room at the top of the
Hotel InterContinental
,
superstar chef Thomas Kammeier creates Michelin-starred
“New German-Mediterranean” food that you can sample -
for a price - while enjoying the restaurant's panoramic
views (mains €44-52).
Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm; closed
mid-July to mid-Aug.
Paris-Moskau
Alt-Moabit 141
T
030 394 20 81,
W
paris-moskau.de; S-Hauptbahnhof; map pp.90-91.
Housed in a nineteenth-century rail signalman's house on
the Paris to Moscow line, this French gourmet restaurant
offers a curious mix of old Berlin and contemporary
elegance and serves hearty dishes like deer and rabbit, fish
and vegetarian lasagne with beetroot and chestnuts
(€39-65), all backed up by a great wine list. Popular with
politicians and civil servants from the nearby government
district, and elegant without being too snooty.
Mon-Fri
noon-3pm & 6-11pm, Sat & Sun 6pm-midnight.
CAFÉS, BARS AND BEER GARDENS
Ì
Café am Neuen See
Lichtensteinallee 2
T
030 254
49 30,
W
cafeamneuensee.de; S- & U-Zoologischer
Garten; map pp.90-91.
A little piece of Bavaria in the
middle of the Tiergarten; this beer garden is next to a
picturesque lake where you can rent a rowing boat. The
usual snacks - and superb pizzas (€9-15) - are served
alongside frothing jugs.
Daily 9am-late.
Café Buchwald
Bartningallee 29
T
030 391 59 31,
W
konditorei-buchwald.de; S-Bellevue; map pp.90-91.
This old-fashioned
Konditorei
has been serving its famed
Baumkuchen,
a kind of layered cake, since 1852 (€2.90) and
used to supply the royal court. A perfect break from a stroll
around the Tiergarten.
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun
10am-6pm.
Schleusenkrug
Müller-Breslau-Str.
T
030 313 99 09,
W
schleusenkrug.de; S- & U-Zoologischer Garten; map
pp.90-91.
Wedged between a canal lock, the zoo and
Tiergarten, this beer garden is a great spot to spend a last
hour before hopping on a train at Zoo Bahnhof. Chairs are
easy to move around for optimal sunning, and anything
from the small daily menu (mains €9-15) is a safe bet.
Inside, it is modern diner chic.
Daily: March-Oct 10am
until late; Nov-Feb 10am-6pm.
RESTAURANTS
Angkor Wat
Paulstr. 22
T
030 393 39 22,
W
angkorwat
.kambodschareise.de; S-Bellevue; map pp.90-91.
Excellent place, serving subtle variations on traditional
Cambodian food at moderate prices (mains €10-15). The
two-person set meals (from €30) are a great way to sample
a cross-section of delicious dishes, and the Cambodian
CITY WEST
CHEAP EATS
Bier's Ku'damm 195
Kurfürstendamm 195; map
p.108.
Neon-lit place famed for its
Currywurst
and
its popularity with German politicians and celebrities
(you can even get champagne), although its prices
remain everyday. Also serves meat skewers and
meatballs.
Mon-Thurs
11am-5am,
Fri
&
Sat
11am-6am, Sun noon-5am.
BREAKFAST AND SUNDAY BRUNCH
Breakfast
(
Frühstück
) will often be provided by your hotel, but many cafés serve it throughout
the day. Prices start around €3 for a basic bread, eggs and jam affair, rising to €15 for more
exotic, champagne-swigging delights.
Typically, you'll be offered a small platter of
cold meats
(usually sausage-based) and
cheeses
,
along with a selection of marmalades, jams and honey, and, occasionally, muesli or another
cereal. You're also generally given a variety of
breads
, one of the most distinctive features of
German cuisine. Both brown and white rolls are popular, often baked with caraway, coriander,
poppy or sesame seeds. The rich-tasting black rye bread, known as
Pumpernickel
, is a particular
favourite. Freshly brewed
coffee
is the normal accompaniment, though plain or herbal
tea
and
hot chocolate
are also common. A glass of orange
juice
is sometimes included as well.
Sunday
brunch
is a very popular affair, offering first-class people-watching and often
excellent food - and proves particularly good value when offered as part of a
buffet
. Expect to
pay €6-10 for unlimited food; drinks are paid for separately.
