Balthazar

Style:
German, Fusion

More:


Reviews:
A reviewer on TopTable writes: "The Balthazar in Berlin was a lovely restaurant and the food was magnificent. The dress code was smart casual, but we felt a little under-dressed. The ambience was nice, but English restaurants now combine fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere, this as yet to be seen. We had the lobster meal and although every course was superb, the tastes were very similar, a difference in taste would have been prefered. overall an excellent experience, with pleasant staff and a very nice 40th birthday."

The Basics:
Kurfürstendamm 160, 10709 Berlin-Charlottenburg (U Adenauer Platz)

URL: http://www.balthazar-restaurant.de/

+49 (0)30 89 40 84 77

Accessible? yes

Child-Friendliness? no

Related Tours/Sites:

Schaubühne

A visit could be integrated with The "Jewish Berlin Tour" in West Berlin or with a customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

5 *****
Hotel Louisa's Place
4 ****

3 ***
Hotel-Maison Am AdenauerplatzHotel Kurfürstendamm am AdenauerplatzHotel Quentin Berlin am KurfürstendammAGON Hotel LichtburgHotel Orion
2 **
Hotel-Pension am Lehniner PlatzHotel Amadeus am KurfürstendammHotel RheingoldCity Hotel am Kurfürstendamm
1*

Hostels:

Apartment Hotels and Serviced Flats

Brachvogel

Style:
Beer Garden (Biergarten) with some German food and service

More:


Reviews:
Qype user "Kreuzberger" is disappointed of Brachvogel (in German). The service is quick; but the menu neglected to mention that there is ham in the avocado salad (to that vegetarian's dismay); the dishes were rather small for the pricing; and the audience was not "young" enough: mostly young parents or young people with their older parents. Kreuzberger summarises by writing that going there for a beer-garden experience or because it is kids-friendly and has a mini-golf course is one thing, but don't go there for the food.


The Basics:
Carl-Herz-Ufer 34, 10961 Berlin-Mitte (U Prinzenstrasse)

URL: Brachvogel

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness? mini golf and playground outside

Related Tours/Sites:

Kreuzberg, Landwehrkanal
Could be integrated with the Kreuzberg tour, or with a customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

4 ****
Winter's Hotel Berlin Mitte

3 ***Meininger City Hostel Hallesches Ufer

2 **
Motel One Berlin-Mitte
Meininger City Hostel Tempelhofer Ufer
aletto Jugendhotel
Hotel Am Anhalter Bahnhof

Bangaluu

Style:
Eclectic

More:
The idea behind this club/restaurant is neither the food nor (surprisingly enough for a club) the music, but the atmosphere: you're served on a bed (with white linen), later get a massage. Pretentious? Un-Berlin like? Perhaps - but "tourists love it".

Reviews:
The controversy whether Bangaluu is all "it" or not continues, for example, on the pages of Berlin-Life: "The bed restaurant concept has made a successful splash in Berlin in the shape of Bangaluu Dinnerclub. A decadent shrine to relaxation and sensual pleasure, Bangaluu's guests are cordially invited to recline Roman Emperor-stylee on spotless white linened beds (they must be a bugger to get clean!) and feast on succulent snacks such as wasabi and avocado sushi. Once your appetite has been satisfied feel free to flag down a masseuse for a soothing body rub, or sit up and pay attention to whatever show is being put on that night. Divas, dancers and even male strippers are regular entertainers here."


The Basics:
Invalidenstr. 30, 10115 Berlin-Mitte (U Zinnowitzer Strasse)

URL: Bangaluu

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:

Museum of Natural History
Could be integrated with a customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

4 ****
HSH Hotel Apartments Mitte
RAMADA Hotel Berlin-Mitte
La Vie Hotel Joachimshof

3 ***
Mercure Hotel Berlin an der Charité
Hotel Zarenhof

Borchardt

Style:
Franco/German

More:
One of Berlin's well known elite restaurants

Reviews:
Here, too, we had several satisfied clients. One couple has specifically noted the huge steak served, which was good and big enough for two to share (which is what the waiter has in fact recommended, and made the meal not as expensive as one might think).

Fodor's also have several raving reviews of the place, we will quote only a little of:
"The menu changes daily at this fashionable celebrity meeting place. The high ceiling, plush maroon benches, art-nouveau mosaic (discovered during renovations), and marble columns create the impression of a 1920s café. The cuisine is high-quality French-German, including several dishes with fresh fish, veal, and some of Berlin's best (and most tender) beef classics." [...] two other Fodor's users have written about the local and political celebrity factor.

And more celebrities: "Patrick Dempsey And Michelle Monaghan Hit Berlin Hot Spot" at the Hollyscoop: "Founded in 1853 by A.F.W. Borchardt this hot spot is known for its great French and Italian specialties. Dishes such as filet of beef with herb butter and potatoes are great choices. Patrick and Michelle were spotted dining on the outside patio, which is a perfect spot for summer." ; "Selma Blair leaving Borchardt" here.

Painter Edward B Gordon depicts Borchardt in his painting blog: "This is the hand of Philippe Lemoine. Philippe is the chef at the famous Borchardts Restaurant in Berlin. Last night I was a guest in his kitchen for about 5 hours. That is an honour, a very special honour indeed. His hands reminded me of the hands of a conductor, but then again that is hardly surprising, as he was in a way conducting an orchestra - an orchestra of cooks." (beautiful painting!)

The Basics:
Französische Str. 47, 10117 Berlin, Germany (S/U Französische Strasse)
+49 (0)30 81 88 62 62

URL:

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
Mitte, near the Unter den Linden avenue, the Gendarmenmarkt
Could be integrated with "Berlin's Top Sites Tour", with a Cold War Tour and Berlin Wall Tour, or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Adlon Kempinski (5 *****)
Hilton Berlin (5 *****)
The Regent Berlin (5 *****)
Sofitel Berlin Gendarmenmarkt (5 *****)
Westin Grand Berlin (5 *****)

CityHotel am Gendarmenmarkt (City Partner), (4 ****)
Clipper City Home (suite hotel/ serviced apartments) (4 ****)
The Mandala Suites (suites/serviced apartments) (4 ****)
Maritim ProArte Berlin (4 ****)

Apartments am Brandenburger Tor/Apartments at Brandenburg Gate (apartments/holiday rental)

More hotels and accommodation in Mitte near Bocca di Bacco restaurant

Bocca di Bacco

Style:
Italian

More:

Reviews:
Several of our clients have expressed their utter enjoyment of this place; but don't take only our word, try Fodor's: "Hip Bocca di Bacco is the talk of the town primarily because of its blend of down-to-earth atmosphere and high-quality cuisine. Homemade pasta dishes, surprisingly hearty Tuscan classics (with an emphasis on wild game and fish), and an equally delectable assortment of desserts make for authentic Italian cooking -- perhaps even Berlin's finest. The three-course prix-fixe lunch is EUR 19.50."

Clooney's Cookie Crumbs show pictures of George Clooney in the restaurant

The Basics:
Friedrichstraße 167/168, 10117 Berlin, Germany (S/U Französische Strasse)
+49 (0)30 20 67 28 28

URL: Bocca di Bacco

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
Mitte, near the Unter den Linden avenue, the Gendarmenmarkt
Could be integrated with "Berlin's Top Sites Tour", with a Cold War Tour and Berlin Wall Tour, or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Adlon Kempinski (5 *****)
Hilton Berlin (5 *****)
The Regent Berlin (5 *****)
Sofitel Berlin Gendarmenmarkt (5 *****)
Westin Grand Berlin (5 *****)

CityHotel am Gendarmenmarkt (City Partner), (4 ****)
Clipper City Home (suite hotel/ serviced apartments) (4 ****)
The Mandala Suites (suites/serviced apartments) (4 ****)
Maritim ProArte Berlin (4 ****)

Apartments am Brandenburger Tor/Apartments at Brandenburg Gate (apartments/holiday rental)

More hotels and accommodation in Mitte near Bocca di Bacco restaurant

Clärchens Ballhaus Mitte

Style:
Happy, 1920s style ballroom with live-music and German-Italian simple food

More:

Reviews:
On Been There, Emi writes: "Berlin in a nutshell. [....] Good food and delicious home-made cakes. Music changes depending on the day (cha cha, swing, waltz and tango). In the summer, the garden is an additional attraction."

A review on the New York Times focuses mostly on the fun ballroom and not on the food, but also mentions some celebrity factor ("Willem Defoe, Bjork, the artist Matthew Barney, Charlotte Rampling and other names Mr. Schulz is too tired to tick off, have come to Clärchen’s").

The Basics:
Auguststraße 24, 10117 Berlin-Mitte (S Oranienburger Str.)
+49-(0)30-282 92 95

URL: Clärchens Ballhaus Mitte

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
The "Jewish Quarter" (Scheunenviertel)
Could be integrated with the Jewish Berlin Tour, or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

HSH Hotel Apartments Mitte (4 ****) (apartment hotel)
Ramada Hotel Berlin Mitte (4 ****)

Hotel Augustinenhof (3 ***)
Mercure Hotel Berlin an der Charité (3 ***)
Hotel & Apartments Zarenhof Berlin Mitte (3 ***) (apartment hotel)

Am Scheunenviertel Hotel garni (2 ** )

Hotel Novalis (1 *)

Hostel:
Flower´s Boardinghouse Mitte

Café Bilderbuch

The Basics:

Akazienstraße 28 , 10823 Berlin
+49 (0)30-787-06057

URL: Cafe Bilderbuch

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Cafe

Related Tours/Sites:
Schoeneberg
Could be integrated with the Weimar Berlin, Jewish Tour in West Berlin or with customised Berlin tours

More:
Stylish cafe, touted once as the most beautiful cafe in Berlin.

Reviews:
Rachel Nolan writes in the Boston Globe's article on Berlin's best brunches: "Its back room is styled as a fin-de-siècle salon, with shelves of leather-bound books, working candelabras, and wide circles of upholstered sofas. Brunch is drawn from the cafe's fairy-tale-themed breakfast menu, with "The Little Mermaid" assuring a spread of fresh lox and eggs with caviar. Classical music is normally piped in, but a pianist plays the baby grand live each Saturday."Nolan is a bit inaccurate regarding geographic location, though. It is easier to go to the KaDeWe department store than to Jagdschloss Gruenewald from there.

Babel

The Basics:
Two branches:

Gabriel-Max-Str. 16, 10245 Berlin
+49 (0)30-293 687 84

Kastanienallee 33, 10435 Berlin
+49 (0)30-440 31 31 8

URL: babel-berlin.com


Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Lebanese/Arab

Related Tours/Sites:
Prenzlauer Berg (branch II); Friedrichshain (branch I)
Branch I (Friedrichshain) could be integrated with the Communist Berlin Tour; Branch II (Prenzlauer Berg) with the Jews and Booze tour and both with customised Berlin tours

More:
Lebanese imbiss (fast food): Felafel, Schwarma, etc.


Reviews:
Matt Robinson writes in DirtCheapBerlin: "[...] Opened in 1999, Babel has been serving its legendary bites to the local community with gusto, and was recently voted one of local Berlin guide TIP's best places to eat, and also featured in American guidebook Let's Go. [...]"

Brecht Keller

The Basics:

Chausseestrasse 125, 10115 Berlin
+49 (0)30-2823843

URL: brechtkeller.de/

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
German; Austrian/Central European

Related Tours/Sites:

Could be integrated with the Cold War tour, Classic Jewish Berlin tour or with customised Berlin tours

More:
This German restaurant is located in Brechthaus, Bertold Brecht's house in Berlin; and serves recipes allegedly originally by his wife, Helene Weigel

Reviews:
Not exactly a review. Matt Ruff writes in his Blog: "We press on, and eventually arrive at Brecht-Haus-Berlin, a cellar restaurant across the street from the cemetery where Bertolt Brecht is buried. According to the menu, all dishes are prepared using Mrs. Brecht's recipes. Mrs. Brecht clearly knew what she was about -- I have a great wienerschnitzel, frittatasuppen (bouillon with vegetables and slivers of herb pancake), and, for desert, a gigantic hollowed-out lemon stuffed with lemon ice cream (the other ice cream flavors on offer are coconut and chocolate, which raises the question of what the chocolate ice cream would come stuffed in)." A word about those ice-creams (I don't have the heart to break it to Ruff myself, but these are so-commercialised machine ice-cream and could be obtained at - almost - any mediocre restaurant; I would have taken something else as dessert at a German restaurant).

The Bird

The Basics:

Am Falkplatz 5, 10435 Prenzlauer Berg (S+U Schoenhauser Allee)

Tel.: +49 (0)30 51053283

URL: thebirdinberlin.com

Accessible? no (restaurant is very crowded, no place for a wheelchair; and the toilets are in the bottom floor, with many stairs to go)

Child-Friendliness? very little if any: no high chairs, no play corner; but one would imagine that they are willing to tolerate kids in the Victorian fashion (it is Prenzlauer Berg, after all, so even the least child friendly places can expect having the PBerg parents coming off for a lunch)

Style:
American burger and steak house

Related Tours/Sites:
Prenzlauer Berg
Could be integrated with a Jews and Booze tour and with customised Berlin tours

More:
The Bird is currently considered one of the best steak/burger bars in Berlin; however, see our own review for some critique

Reviews:
Simon Kingsley, Variety, Jan 25 2008

Our review:
The Bird is a "New York style steak bar" hidden on a side street of Prenzlauer Berg, not far from the Schoenhauser Allee train station. It has, as it says itself, very little "variety" on its menu: steaks (with prices from 12.5) and all types of burgers with creative names, including "The Dumb Texan. with a fried egg" (I think that this dumb Texan has gotten a good deal here, given the nice burgers). There are also wings, fries, clubs sandwich and Caesar's salads. The latter also comes as a "big Caesar's salad", which is a great thing: a big Caesar's salad (optional: with anchovies) with 200 grams of steaks next to it.

The Bird has excellent meat, although IMHO a bit over-touted in the sense that there are several fine meat restaurants in Berlin that are not American (but "Argentinian"), and that there is this general feeling that (some) Americans would not try the Argentinian (or any other non-American) steak house for that matter. The "Argentinians" are notably cheaper than The Bird, and although - as mentioned before - the quality at the Bird is higher, one must ask themselves if the difference between a 32 EUR steak and an 8 EUR one is not a little too much.

But this is really afterthought, because we actually enjoyed our meal. Or maybe I should say: would have enjoyed our meal hadn't it been for the fact that towards the end of it, we see from the corner of our eye that the table next to us has just ordered an ashtray. This has just ruined our lovely meal, which was in fact for a specific ocassion, of someone who was waiting to go there, to have "real medium rare hamburgers in Berlin". The hamburgers are indeed good and also made medium rare, but it is just not fun to sit and eat when you're being smoked at, especially if you have expected a non-smoking restaurant.

There is a law against smoking in public places (restaurants) in Berlin. A restaurant can, if it chooses to, designate a separate room for smokers; but it cannot use the main hall for smokers. Well, guess what? Despite the fact that the restaurant has more than enough in its share of customers and certainly doesn't need to suck up to their whims, it just would not obey that law. I will leave it for the reader to decide whether or not this is possible in a "real" American restaurant, say in San Francisco or NYC, where smokers obediently wait outside the restaurant to satisfy their addiction, would do something like that (and ruin the evening for most other customers: it is not only militant non-smokers who hate their food being smoked at; it is also people who care about their taste buds, even smokers, who'd rather have the smoke outdoors and be considerate of others).

Brandol Sur Mer

The Basics:

Torstrasse 157, 10115 Berlin
+49 30 673 02051

URL:

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Chef styled, exquisite, high-class French restaurant

Related Tours/Sites:
City East, Friedrichstrasse, the New Synagogue
Could be integrated with a general (introductory) Berlin tour ; Jewish Berlin, and to customised Berlin tours
Reservation essential

More:
Brandol Sur Mer is a high quality chef French restaurant; which has become famous (partially) because Brad Pitt dined (and apparently liked it) there

Reviews:
Simon Kingsley, Variety, Jan 25 2008.