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Spoiler it’s probably easier to eat vegan than eat meat in Berlin. This city is so edgy and cool and full of counterculture people who nosh on cashew “cheese” and seitan currywurst. No matter what your dietary preference, you’ll never go hungry in Berlin.
“I wish I could never get full.” – Anastasia
Since the last time I was in Berlin, I think the city has gotten cooler. First time in town I hit up much of the touristy spots (because you got to) and was a bit bogged down by the rain and the cold. While it was also rainy and cold again, the food and drink was a zillion times more vibrant and I’ve fallen in love with the city all over again. Here’s what we ate and where I’d recommend going again.
Interested in more? Check out highlights from my last trip to Berlin here and how to do Berlin on a budget here!
MEALS
- Sora. This adorable Vietnamese shop was absolutely life giving for our jet lagged souls after flying overseas. The Friedrichshain café has a rustic, tropical vibe and a menu that’s overflowing with vegetarian and vegan options. We started with Van Than Chien (crunchy wontons) (served in a tiny clay teapot) and Vietnamese coffee—like I said jet lagged. The Vietnamese coffee is different in Germany than the US. It’s hot in a French press and served over condensed milk. For mains, I got the Sora Curry with noodles (everything can be made vegan) and Natalie got the My Van Than which was a large soup topped with crunchy wontons.
- Silo Coffee. Another adorable find in the Friedrichshain neighborhood, this Melbourne owned café has a hipster approved menu with piled high avocado toast for the vegans and a subset of breakfast sandwich standards to satisfy the meat eaters. Try an iced latte with soy to kick start your day.
- Flying Monkey. Wandering through the streets of this glowing purple sign called out to us in the night and warm glow of the flying tucán wallpaper drew is inside to this edgy Asian eatery with a robust menu of steamed and fried dumplings and tapas style plates. I’m particularly enamored with the eggplant with spicy green beans and fried veggie dumplings.
- Revolver Burger . God bless any burger joint that has MULTIPLE vegetarian and vegan options. Piled high with grilled veggies and a basalmic sauce this “burger” is a tad messy to eat, but hits the spot after a full day of trapezing over cobblestone. Also, the beer is cheaper than the fries in this place.
DRINKS
- Kleines Sonntag. Jet lagged or not, a visit to any of the many coffee shops in Friedrichshain is a must. This neighborhood is bursting from the seams with Instagram worthy and eco-friendly spots. We enjoyed a chai tea and espresso and noted their reusable glass straw policy at Kleines Sonntag. It’s interesting going into Berlin coffee shops because soy (as opposed to milk) is practically the default add-on. People will question you if you actually want real milk to drink. How crazy is that?
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Berliner Prater Garten. This beer garden is LEGIT. With fairy lights, red and white stripped tents and hundreds of picnic table seating, it truly brings me back to my Oktoberfest days (read my tips here!). We caught a World Cup match in the garden and sipped on local beers and tried the Berliner Weisse which is a traditional summer beer drink with raspberry and wood ruff syrup.
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Kiosks. Before the bars, Berliners hang out at kiosks which seem to be the equivalent of a (cleaner) gas station convenience store. Grab a beer from the fridge and sip outside on the picnic tables. There’s no open container law in Berlin, so feel free to go for a walk with your beverage. We were particularly enamored with the Jack Daniels and cola mixed drink you can find in a can. Also, many of these fun Germany summer drinks can be found here.
- Café Cinema. Picture perfect courtyard makes grabbing a coffee almost absolutely essential. Inside reminds you of smoke-filled cafes in Paris.
- Klunkerkranich. Locals and tourists alike flock to the top of a shopping mall to sip on a beer or split a bottle of wine and watch the sunset over the Berlin city. It’s a tad hard to find (darn directions are all in German!) but once you make it to the top it’s absolutely incredible and totally worth the hike up parking garage ramps!
SNACKS
- Haferkater. Warm porridge? Yes please. As the 50 degree and rain weather we encountered in June indicated, porridge is perfect year round in Berlin (including summer!). Haferkater has a selection of vegan and regular porridges. Natalie had one topped with applesauce, and I had a wild berry with chocolate and coconut. More soy cappuccinos and tea here!
- Little Italy. While they only have one (mildly average) vegan gelato option, the real attraction is the adorable picture perfect courtyard and the €25/serving gelato with rose Moët Chandon and 14K gold. Decadent af for you milk eaters!
- Kauf Dich Glücklich Café & Mehr. I didn’t even realize vegan waffles were a thing until we stumbled upon on this place near Mauer Park. It’s incredible how flexible nearly every restaurant is with vegan options! Order at the counter in this spacious restaurant and relax to the bumping club beats.
- RAW-Gelände. This area of town is quite the destination and embodies the edgy, counterculture spirit of Berlin. After touring some of the repurposed warehouses and learning about squatters rights on our Alternative Berlin tour, we snacked on some Indian vegan vegetable roll and samosas out of a food truck. One of the few “spicy” things we had in Berlin, it hit the spot! Note: most places were cash only so def bring enough euros and small bills for spontaneous snacking!
- Voner. Mecca for vegans. This legendary spot was referred to us by multiple people—and for good reason! The vegan currywurst and vegan kebab (with vegan mayo and vegan tzaziki) shows that LITERALLY any street food can be transformed into vegan goodness. The seitian kebab they have on a huge turntable spit (like your classic kebab stand) which really makes for a whole immersive experience! This was an excellent spot to visit because it enabled me to check currywurst— the Berlin classic street food—off my bucket list!
STAY
- Almodóvar Hotel. I didn’t realize vegan hotels were a thing. But after staying at this boutique hotel in Friedrichshain my standards have skyrocketed and I never want to leave. Come for the impeccable interior decor that channels a very earthy feel with pops of turquoise, red ochre and light grey and stay for the rooftop sauna (you heard that correct) and wait for it… VEGAN CROISSANTS. The complimentary breakfast is overflowing with vegan options from homemade vegan cheese and pastries to fresh fruit and breads. Incredible!
