Quick answers — eating in Berlin
- Best restaurant overall
- Rutz Restaurant
- Best value
- Standard (Pizza) (€20-€40 / $22-$45)
- Strongest cuisines
- German & Austrian, Modern European, Asian fusion, Japanese, Thai
- Dishes to try
- Currywurst, Döner Kebab, Berliner Weisse mit Schuss, Schnitzel
- Booking window
- For top-tier MICHELIN restaurants, reservations are essential and should be made 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend evenings. Use online booking platforms directly.
Booking several weeks, often months, in advance is crucial for starred restaurants. Dress codes typically range from smart casual to elegant, though rarely strictly formal. Tipping around 10% is customary, rounded up for excellent service. Dinner hours usually commence between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with kitchens often closing around 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
German & Austrian
Best German and Austrian restaurants in Berlin
German-speaking Europe hides a lot of quiet fine dining: precise, produce-led cooking in small rooms, alongside the beer halls everyone already knows.
Rutz Restaurant
Three MICHELIN StarsModern German · Mitte · €300-€350 / $325-$380
Marco Müller
Rutz stands as Berlin's culinary pinnacle, with Marco Müller orchestrating a profound exploration of German terroir. His dishes are intricate compositions of hyper-seasonal ingredients, often wild-foraged or sustainably sourced, presented with an intellectual curiosity and understated elegance. The experience in their sleek, minimalist dining room is one of thoughtful discovery and refined execution, firmly grounding Berlin's gastronomic identity.
Order: pike perch, horseradish and sorrel; deer, spruce and blackcurrant
Horváth
Two MICHELIN StarsAustrian · Kreuzberg · €200-€250 / $215-$270
Sebastian Frank
Sebastian Frank reinterprets Austrian cuisine through a highly personal and deeply philosophical lens. His dishes are meticulously crafted, focusing on vegetables and seemingly simple ingredients, transforming them into complex, thought-provoking compositions that evoke a sense of home and tradition while pushing boundaries. The intimate, understated dining room perfectly complements the profound culinary storytelling, offering a unique and memorable perspective on Austrian gastronomy.
Order: Carrots, dill, sour cream; Celery, parsley root, potato
Bieberbau
One MICHELIN StarModern German · Wilmersdorf · €130-€180 / $140-$195
Steffen Bieber
Bieberbau, housed in a charming Wilhelminian-era building, presents a refined take on classic German cuisine with contemporary flair. Chef Steffen Bieber creates dishes that are both comforting and sophisticated, utilizing high-quality seasonal ingredients in precise, flavorful compositions. The restaurant’s elegant, old-world ambiance, complete with dark wood and warm lighting, fosters an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, ideal for a traditional yet modern culinary journey.
Order: Brandenburg duck with red cabbage; Viennese Schnitzel with potato salad
Modern European
Best modern European restaurants in Berlin
Modern European is the catch-all for kitchens that borrow technique from France, produce from their own region and ideas from everywhere — usually tasting-menu only.
Facil
Two MICHELIN StarsModern European · Tiergarten · €250-€300 / $270-$325
Joachim Gerner
Nestled within The Mandala Hotel, Facil offers a serene, glass-enclosed oasis overlooking a bamboo garden, creating an atmosphere of tranquil luxury. Joachim Gerner’s cuisine is characterized by its meticulous precision, vibrant flavors, and artistic presentation, often blending French techniques with light, seasonal ingredients. It’s an elegant journey that prioritizes harmony and balance, delivering a consistently sophisticated dining experience in a refined setting.
Order: Atlantic turbot with artichoke, capers and olive; pigeon with truffle and celery
Tulus Lotrek
One MICHELIN StarCreative European · Kreuzberg · €150-€200 / $165-$220
Max Strohe
Tulus Lotrek is known for its playful and unapologetically unconventional approach to European fine dining. Chef Max Strohe crafts dishes that are bold in flavor, imaginative in concept, and often feature unexpected combinations, all presented without pretense. The atmosphere is deliberately casual and rock-and-roll, challenging traditional fine-dining norms while delivering serious culinary prowess. It’s an energetic, memorable experience celebrating gastronomic freedom.
Order: Pigeon, celery, pistachio; Beef short rib, kimchi, potato
Asian fusion
Best Asian fusion restaurants in Berlin
Fusion kitchens work across Asian traditions rather than inside one — best judged on whether the combinations actually taste deliberate.
Restaurant Tim Raue
Two MICHELIN StarsAsian-inspired · Kreuzberg · €230-€280 / $250-$300
Tim Raue
Tim Raue’s eponymous restaurant delivers an exhilarating blend of Asian flavors, specifically drawing inspiration from Japanese, Thai, and Chinese cuisines, executed with an intensely personal and precise approach. His dishes are characterized by bold, harmonious contrasts of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, presented without traditional accompaniments like rice or bread to maintain focus. The vibrant, modern space reflects his energetic culinary philosophy.
Order: Wasabi Langoustine; Peking Duck
Japanese
Best Japanese restaurants in Berlin
Japanese rooms range from counter omakase, where you eat whatever the chef cut that morning, to kaiseki menus built around the season. Counters are small — book early and arrive on time.
Ernst
One MICHELIN StarModern Japanese-inspired · Wedding · €200-€250 / $215-$270
Dylan Watson-Barez
Ernst offers an intensely minimalist and hyper-seasonal dining experience centered around exquisite Japanese-inspired produce and technique. Dylan Watson-Barez and his team curate an intimate, focused tasting menu prepared before a small counter, emphasizing purity of flavor and the highest quality ingredients, many sourced from local farms. It’s a quiet, contemplative culinary journey that celebrates simplicity and the natural beauty of each component.
Order: Freshly shucked oysters; seasonal vegetables cooked à la minute
Thai
Best Thai restaurants in Berlin
Thai cooking balances sour, salt, sweet and heat in every dish. Ask for the kitchen's own level of spice rather than the tourist setting if you want it as intended.
Kin Dee
One MICHELIN StarThai · Tiergarten · €100-€150 / $110-$165
Dalad Kambhu
Kin Dee, meaning 'eat well' in Thai, offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional Thai cuisine with a strong focus on organic, locally sourced ingredients. Chef Dalad Kambhu reimagines classic dishes, balancing authentic Thai flavors with a refined European sensibility and artistic presentation. The vibrant, yet elegant, dining room provides a chic backdrop for a menu that showcases Thai culinary depth beyond typical street food expectations, emphasizing freshness and ethical sourcing.
Order: Spicy mushroom salad with herbs; Green curry with seasonal vegetables
Budget
Where to eat cheaply in Berlin
Curry 36
An iconic spot for Berlin's quintessential street food, Currywurst. Expect perfectly grilled sausage slathered in spicy ketchup and curry powder, served with fries. A classic, quick, and satisfying bite for around €4-7.
Burgermeister
Located under U-Bahn tracks, this cult burger joint serves up seriously good, juicy burgers with fresh toppings and crispy fries. Expect queues, especially in the evenings, but it's worth it for a delicious meal around €8-15.
Mustafas Gemüsekebap
Often cited as serving Berlin's best Döner Kebab, Mustafas stands out with its fresh, crunchy vegetables, grilled chicken, and unique blend of sauces. It's a hugely popular street food experience, typically costing €5-8 per kebab.
House of Small Wonder
A charming, plant-filled cafe known for its Japanese-inspired brunch and lunch dishes. Enjoy beautifully presented, comforting food like Okinawan Taco Rice or Avocado Toast in a whimsical setting for €12-20 per person.
Mr. Susan
Offering authentic Korean fried chicken (KFC) in various flavor profiles, from spicy to soy garlic. It's a casual, lively spot perfect for sharing plates of crispy chicken and sides. Expect to spend around €15-25 per person.
Local dishes
What to eat in Berlin
Currywurst
A quintessential Berlin street food, consisting of steamed, then fried pork sausage, liberally doused in a curried ketchup sauce and often served with a side of fries or a bread roll. Its origin traces back to post-war Berlin. Try it at Curry 36, a beloved institution with multiple locations across the city for an authentic taste of local fast food culture.
Döner Kebab
While Turkish in origin, Berlin's version of the Döner Kebab has achieved legendary status. Thinly sliced, spiced meat (often chicken or veal) roasted on a vertical spit, served in a crisp flatbread with fresh vegetables and a choice of sauces. Mustafa's Gemüsekebap is famous for its exceptional, vegetable-rich döner, often drawing long queues.
Berliner Weisse mit Schuss
A cloudy, sour, and refreshing wheat beer, traditionally served in a wide bowl-shaped glass with a 'Schuss' (shot) of raspberry (himbeer) or woodruff (waldmeister) syrup, giving it a vibrant red or green hue. It's a low-alcohol drink, perfect for a sunny afternoon. Enjoy this unique beer at a traditional pub like Gasthaus Zur Letzten Instanz.
Schnitzel
Though often associated with Austria, Schnitzel is a popular dish across Germany. It typically features a thin, pounded cutlet of veal (Wiener Schnitzel) or pork (Schweineschnitzel), breaded and pan-fried until golden and crispy. It's usually served with lemon wedges, sometimes with potatoes or a simple salad. Schnitzelei offers modern interpretations in a cozy setting.
Königsberger Klopse
A classic Prussian dish consisting of boiled meatballs (traditionally veal or beef) in a creamy white sauce with capers. This hearty and flavorful dish hails from Königsberg, now Kaliningrad, and represents traditional German comfort food. Find it at Gasthaus Gallop in Charlottenburg, known for its traditional German cuisine.
Eisbein
A substantial German dish of pickled ham hock, typically boiled or grilled until tender. It often comes with sauerkraut, pea purée, and potatoes. This robust meal is a staple of hearty German cuisine, particularly popular in Berlin. Zur Nolle in Mitte offers a traditional, well-prepared version of this local specialty.
Flammkuchen
Originating from the Alsace region, Flammkuchen (or Tarte Flambée) is a thin-crusted, pizza-like dish, traditionally topped with crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions, and lardons (smoked bacon). It's baked quickly in a very hot oven, resulting in a delightfully crispy base. Schwarzwaldstuben is a great place to enjoy this delicious, lighter alternative to pizza.
Berliner Pfannkuchen (Berliner)
Known outside Berlin simply as 'Berliner,' this is a traditional German doughnut made from sweet yeast dough, deep-fried and typically filled with jam (often plum or apricot), then dusted with powdered sugar. It's a popular treat, especially during carnival season, but available year-round. Grab one from a local bakery like Zeit für Brot for a delightful snack.
How to book a table in Berlin
- · For top-tier MICHELIN restaurants, reservations are essential and should be made 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend evenings. Use online booking platforms directly.
- · Many fine-dining establishments require a credit card guarantee or a non-refundable deposit to secure your booking, especially for tasting menus. Be prepared for potential cancellation fees.
- · Consider booking lunch menus at starred restaurants; they often offer a more accessible price point to experience the chef's cuisine, sometimes for half the dinner cost.
- · No-show policies are strict. Always inform the restaurant if you need to cancel or modify your reservation, ideally 24-48 hours beforehand, to avoid charges and maintain good standing.
FAQ
Berlin restaurant questions travellers ask
What is the best restaurant in Berlin?
Rutz Restaurant in Mitte is the benchmark table — Modern German, led by Marco Müller, three michelin stars, around €300-€350 / $325-$380 per person. Order the pike perch, horseradish and sorrel; deer, spruce and blackcurrant
Where is the best German and Austrian restaurant in Berlin?
Rutz Restaurant in Mitte is the German and Austrian table to book in Berlin (€300-€350 / $325-$380 per person). Other strong options: Horváth, Bieberbau.
Where is the best modern European restaurant in Berlin?
Facil in Tiergarten is the modern European table to book in Berlin (€250-€300 / $270-$325 per person). Other strong options: Tulus Lotrek.
Where is the best Asian fusion restaurant in Berlin?
Restaurant Tim Raue in Kreuzberg is the Asian fusion table to book in Berlin (€230-€280 / $250-$300 per person).
Where is the best Japanese restaurant in Berlin?
Ernst in Wedding is the Japanese table to book in Berlin (€200-€250 / $215-$270 per person).
Where is the best Thai restaurant in Berlin?
Kin Dee in Tiergarten is the Thai table to book in Berlin (€100-€150 / $110-$165 per person).
Where can I eat well in Berlin without spending a fortune?
Standard (Pizza) is the best-value table on this list at roughly €20-€40 / $22-$45 per person. Beyond fine dining, locals point to Curry 36, Burgermeister, Mustafas Gemüsekebap.
How far in advance should I book restaurants in Berlin?
For top-tier MICHELIN restaurants, reservations are essential and should be made 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend evenings. Use online booking platforms directly. Many fine-dining establishments require a credit card guarantee or a non-refundable deposit to secure your booking, especially for tasting menus. Be prepared for potential cancellation fees.
What food is Berlin famous for?
Currywurst, Döner Kebab, Berliner Weisse mit Schuss, Schnitzel, Königsberger Klopse — the dishes most worth eating where they come from. A quintessential Berlin street food, consisting of steamed, then fried pork sausage, liberally doused in a curried ketchup sauce and often served with a side of fries or a bread roll. Its origin traces back to post-war Berlin. Try it at Curry 36, a beloved institution with multiple locations across the city for an authentic taste of local fast food culture.
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