The sky over Berlin: What can Berlin do in summer?

Berlin - the city of artists and hipsters, investors, the found and the lost

The first leaves are already turning red and yellow, the air is getting fresh, the light is very soft and golden. Slowly, almost cautiously, the time of the readers begins behind the café window panes, with books about cake and tea, with the first cool wind on their necks and a kaleidoscope of memories in their luggage. The last days of summer weren't that long ago. Not long ago I was in the middle of summer and in the middle of Berlin. The city, which I regularly visit from time to time, is worth a visit at any time of the year, but in summer Berlin is actually just wonderful.

*Press trip

Although I always feel like a foreign body in the familiar anonymity and grandeur of Berlin, although the city takes me in for a brief moment only to spit me out again, Berlin shows a different side with every visit. I think you have to get really creative to get bored in Berlin. Because there really isn't anything here that doesn't exist. Berlin has many faces and such a wide range of possibilities that you can quickly get dizzy. The city of artists and hipsters, of investors, of those found and lost, the city of night people and "real" Berliners, who sometimes can no longer recognize their own homeland, the cityscape and attitude to life is growing, vibrating and changing so quickly. Not always to the advantage, not always to the disadvantage.

In any case, Berlin lives and pulsates like a beautiful monster that cannot decide between aspiring luxury, lack of personal hygiene, individuality, masses, madness, melancholy and alternative concepts of life. It doesn't even have to. Berlin is definitely the home of diversity and contrasts and therefore also unique. Some come for the history, others for the sights, others because the city is hip. I came this time to experience the city. Without appointments and with a wide berth around the typical sights because I've seen almost all of them. My object of desire this time was, among other things, the Berlin gastronomy. And the city really has a lot to offer, because the internationality is clearly noticeable not only on the streets but also in the culinary area. You've definitely come to the right place if you want to feast your way through the world's cuisine or experience unusual bar concepts. Therefore, in this article, I will take you to dreamy rooftop bars, Israeli specialties, Russian delicacies and a café full of little "miracles".

Great cinema above the roofs of Berlin: Rooftop Bar in Motel One Berlin - Upper West

I was lucky enough to stay at the Motel One Berlin-Upper West and I must say, I wasn't disappointed! The hotel impresses with its stylish design and numerous cinematic elements. Authentic film props, Golden Bears, and vintage cameras are displayed throughout the hotel. The individual design and attention to detail are clearly evident. But the highlight awaits on the 10th floor. At 118 meters tall, the Motel One Berlin-Upper West is the fourth tallest building in Berlin. From the hotel's rooftop terrace, guests are treated to a magnificent view of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. With this view, even breakfast in the spacious, light-filled rooms, boasting five-meter-high ceilings and panoramic views of the Kurfürstendamm and the Berlin Zoo, becomes a truly special experience. The rooftop bar is open not only to hotel guests but also to all interested visitors, although queues can sometimes form at the hotel entrance on weekend evenings. But the wait is definitely worth it. And for those who aren't keen on that, I can only recommend staying in a hotel for a few nights. Despite its absolutely luxurious interior and excellent location, the Motel One Upper West in Berlin is extremely good value for money considering what it offers, and can easily compete with luxury hotels in terms of both location and elegant design.

Advertising

Neni Berlin: Exciting fusion cuisine with an animal view

A good friend had reserved a table for us at this beautiful restaurant. Neni is located on the 10th floor of the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin in Charlottenburg and primarily offers exciting fusion cuisine with Persian, Mediterranean, and Austrian influences. The restaurant is bright, welcoming, and modernly furnished. From the large panoramic window, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the zoo. The international ambiance and interior design, which somehow evokes a vacation feeling, are particularly appealing. Thanks to the many plants in the restaurant, you truly feel like you've found a green oasis in the middle of the urban jungle. My dish, the Sabich sandwich, didn't quite win me over or blow me away, but it still tasted fresh and somehow interesting. Therefore, I suppose I simply made the wrong choice, as I had never eaten Sabich before. My friend ordered a dessert considered a specialty from the Old City of Jerusalem, which I was fortunate enough to try. I found it very delicious and unusual. I would definitely visit Neni again if I had the chance, solely because of the great atmosphere.

Monkey Bar: Why I thought of chickens rather than monkeys

Generally, you can only get into the Monkey Bar if you've been to Neni beforehand, or of course, if you're a guest at the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. It's a nice bar with a pleasant atmosphere and a great view of the city, but personally, I found it a bit too crowded, and I honestly can't understand why people want to sit there crammed together like chickens on a perch, sipping overpriced cocktails. But perhaps I was so spoiled by the fantastic rooftop bar at Motel One that I felt claustrophobic in the Monkey Bar. The bar seems to be one of the trendiest spots, especially among an international crowd. You can go in, but you don't necessarily have to. If you're looking for freedom of movement, this is definitely the wrong place. Despite the crowds, I found the clientele pleasant, which probably contributes to the bar's popularity.

Advertising

Das Spreegold: Where vegan vegetable pasta is taken very seriously

Spreegold is a well-known restaurant chain in Berlin, and we visited the restaurant in Bikini Berlin. Besides the many homemade dishes, the large rooftop terrace is particularly inviting for relaxing and lingering when the weather is nice. From the rooftop terrace , you have a wonderful view of the Motel One Upper West and the Waldorf Astoria. Parties are also occasionally held at Spreegold Bikini Berlin. The clientele is mixed, quite young, and accordingly, the whole atmosphere is "hip and modern," which also seems to include a slight sense of being overwhelmed by the staff ("hip and modern" seems to be increasingly becoming a worldwide synonym for "We understaff but charge an extra €5 for a sandwich as soon as there's even a hint of avocado in it"). Apart from breakfast and brunch, Spreegold offers a fairly limited menu of various snacks and dishes. We opted for the vegan vegetable pasta, which, as the name suggests, consists entirely of vegetables. We were also kindly reminded that it really isn't pasta in the traditional sense. For a purely vegetable-based pasta, I found it quite tasty, fresh, and perfect for a balmy summer evening. The service was very friendly but also visibly a bit overwhelmed by the number of guests. True to the motto: hip and modern, indeed 😉

The House of Small Wonder - The Instagram Mecca full of small wonders

Anyone caught in a sudden summer downpour will find a warm and cozy refuge at the House of Small Wonder . Its frequent Instagram posts had piqued my interest years ago. The pictures of the beautiful, fairytale-like spiral staircase definitely intrigued me, so I spontaneously suggested we go. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for our visit, because experience had taught me that "spectacular" Instagram spots often weren't so spectacular in reality. Just like some Instagrammers, I suppose. But I was pleasantly surprised! Apart from the slightly longer wait for a table, I was thrilled with the small café, which primarily serves breakfast and brunch. My friend and I immediately fell in love with the cozy and somewhat alternative atmosphere, which I already knew from cafés and restaurants in New York. As is so often the case in Berlin these days, we were greeted in English. I was surprised, however, when I tried to speak to the staff member in German and she either couldn't or wouldn't. That was one point I found a bit odd, because I believe that if you've lived and worked in a particular country for years, you should at least have a basic grasp of the local language. Of course, House of Small Wonder primarily attracts a very international clientele, but I still find it concerning that some restaurants in Berlin are now deliberately avoiding the German language altogether. Aside from that, however, all the staff are extremely friendly, competent, and courteous. The café originally comes from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, my favorite neighborhood in New York, before the owners, Shaul Margulies and Motoko Watanbe, moved the café to Berlin. Since 2014, House of Small Wonder has been delighting its Berlin visitors with refined, predominantly Japanese-inspired "comfort food" made from fresh, organic ingredients. The food we ordered was truly a little miracle that brightened up our rainy day. We definitely felt very comfortable and will gladly return.

The Green Lamp Berlin: Travel through time to the Russian thinkers and poets

Advertising

From 1819 to 1820, an elite circle in St. Petersburg called "Zelyonaya Lampa," meaning "Green Lamp," was frequented by numerous artists, writers, intellectuals, and members of the nobility. Among the most famous were Alexander Pushkin and his Decembrist friends. This elite circle wasn't just about debating and discussing; they also enjoyed excellent food. "Die grüne Lampe" (The Green Lamp) in Berlin now revives this tradition. This cozy restaurant in Wilmersdorf offers traditional Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian cuisine with a modern twist. For me, "Die grüne Lampe" has become a must-visit on every trip to Berlin, as Russian restaurants are still relatively rare in Germany. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy the summer with kvass and fresh, summery salads. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to eat there this time because we arrived too late in the evening and the kitchen had already closed. One of my absolute favorite Russian dishes, and therefore my personal recommendation at the Green Lamp, are the traditional syrniki, Russian pancakes made from quark batter. Mmmh, just thinking about them makes me want to make some myself again.

Accommodation options in Berlin

The Scandic Hotel at Potsdamer Platz

I first experienced Scandic Hotels on my adventurous trip across Scandinavia and was immediately impressed by their location, comfort, and breakfast. As a tour guide at the time, I especially appreciated comfortable, functional, and cozy hotels after a long day of work. Since then, I've associated Scandic with reliability you can count on. That's why I chose the Scandic Hotel at Potsdamer Platz for my trip to Berlin . Besides its ideal location, just a few minutes' walk from Potsdamer Platz train station and the subway, the hotel offers large, bright rooms with cozy furnishings and spacious bathrooms. The hotel is intentionally decorated in a Scandinavian style, with lots of wood, modern furniture, and many unique lamps. The rooms are decorated in the colors of the seasons, and guests can choose the room corresponding to their favorite season.

I was able to switch off from the hustle and bustle of the big city very well in the hotel, even though it was right in the middle of the action. Nevertheless, it was so quiet in my room that for a brief moment I even forgot that I was in Germany's largest city. When I travel, I attach great importance to sustainability and environmental awareness. Therefore, I find it particularly remarkable that the hotel is registered in the current VDR Certified Green Ranking as the hotel with the highest number of points in Berlin - and is therefore also the greenest hotel in the city. In the room you will find, for example, waste bins with a separation between paper, plastic and organic waste. Plastic cups and plastic cutlery are not used at breakfast. The rich breakfast takes place in buffet form in the hotel's restaurant "3rd floor". There are many delicious organic products to choose from. The large variety of different rolls and breads at breakfast alone is immense. In addition, there are also pancakes, a large yoghurt and muesli station, fresh fruit and vegetables and much more.

It's just a bit hectic in the mornings, as the hotel is very well booked on weekends. Unfortunately, I can't judge how it is during the week, as I was staying over the weekend. My tip: Before 8:00 a.m. it was much quieter and more relaxed at breakfast. For me, the Scandic am Potsdamer Platz is the ideal address for a city trip or business stay due to its central location, reliable quality and absolute cleanliness.

Address:

SCANDIC BERLIN POTSDAMER PLATZ
Gabriele Tergit Promenade 19
10963 Berlin, Germany

The Motel One Berlin - Upper West

As mentioned before, I not only enjoyed the rooftop bar at the Motel One Berlin-Upper West , but also stayed overnight. The fantastic location alone, nestled between Kurfürstendamm, the Zoological Garden, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, quickly won me over. The subway was almost unnecessary, as I could reach nearly everything on foot. For those who prefer to travel, buses, trams, and the subway are all readily available. In addition to the practical advantages, I felt very comfortable in the hotel's elegant and artistic design. This hotel proves to me that affordable hotels don't necessarily have to compromise on quality, amenities, or location. Quite the opposite, in fact; it offers everything you would expect from a good city hotel, and in my opinion, it even far exceeds those expectations.

Address:

MOTEL ONE BERLIN UPPER WEST
Kantstrasse 163/165
10623 Berlin, Germany