Fancy a winter weekend abroad? Give Berlin a try – next to its array of history and culture, not to mention its insane night life, Germany’s capital offers warm, cosy and comfortable “Gemütlichkeit” – the German take on that much-hyped Scandinavian feeling of “hygge”. To really make the most of it, sleeping in is a must, so here are five brunch spots that are perfect for late risers.
Spindler is located in a tastefully converted industrial building alongside Kreuzberg’s canal and offers an extensive brunch menu with plenty of vegetarian options in a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. One of Germany’s biggest newspapers, Tagesspiegel, noted that ‘all the cool boys and girls eat out at Spindler’ – and we agree. If you are interested in observing Berlin’s hip crowd, then head to this Kreuzberg joint. Tip: try and get a table with a view of the canal – it makes for a picturesque start to the day.
A brunch in fabrics really is something special. Every Sunday, fabrics restaurant puts on their ‘Sunday Music Brunch’ from 11am until 2pm. Situated within the nhow Hotel near Berlin’s famous Oberbaumbrücke, fabrics offers an extensive brunch buffet, a free glass of Prosecco, live DJ, and child care options which are useful if you’re travelling with little ones who’d rather play than eat. What’s more, you can enjoy fab views across Berlin’s river Spree.
The restaurant Schneeweiß is located in a quiet corner of Berlin’s hip district Friedrichshain and is a stone’s throw from Warschauerstraße, where you’ll find lots of night clubs and bars. So if your idea of ‘hygge’ is to dance the night away and then stumble out of one of those clubs, then we’d highly recommend you treat your tired body to some Alpine cuisine in Schneeweiß. The restaurant’s brunch menu is a fusion of traditional Bavarian, Austrian and Northern Italian cooking with innovative, contemporary German culinary art. The restaurant is mainly decorated in white hues (hence its name ‘snow white’, but for added cosiness, we recommend choosing a table near the fireplace in the rear of the restaurant and treat yourself to a generous portion of ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ – a light, caramelised pancake made from a sweet batter, baked in butter and garnished with raisins.
Any hardcore brunch fans will fall in love with Benedict, where breakfast and brunch is favoured all day long – morning, mid-day, afternoon, evening or night. At Benedict, the day begins at any hour. The restaurant was named after the famous ‘Eggs Benedict’ – a dish invented in the 19th century by Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stockbroker. Of course, eggs Benedict are a must-try at this restaurant, but lovers of buttery croissants, freshly baked bread, fruit salads or red velvet pancakes won’t be disappointed either. Benedict is inspired by the travels of its four founders, originally from Tel Aviv, and it is a mix of urban New York chic, European bohemian charm and Berlin cool. The founders imagined their restaurant as a dreamy place like the Mad Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland – and we think they have succeeded.
If you are looking for French flair and some of the most delicious local food to start your day, then look no further than the ‘Champagne Brunch’ at Brasserie Desbrosses at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Berlin Mitte. The brasserie sources its vegetables and herbs from its own organic field, while fish and cheese products are purchased from local farmers in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. A fine dining brunch that will leave you tingling with delight.
Visit OpenTable to discover more great restaurants in Berlin and dine like a local on your next trip.
Photo Credit: Images supplied by the venues.
This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.
