Offtopic: Web 2.0 - Things to do in Berlin
As a couple of my friends and colleagues keep asking what to do when they are in Berlin for Web 2.0, here are some of my favorite places. Feel free to add to this list in the comments.
- Have dinner & drinks at the Solar, you’ll enjoy one of the best views of the city, the food is good, the cocktails are to die for and the place rocks! It’s on top of a large block of flats, you’ll take a glass elevator to the top, it’s really, really cool. It’s located close to Potsdamer Platz and thus quite easy to get to. You MUST book in advance - do so now, they fill up early. You’ll find the number on their website. This is a total Berlin insider.
- Have breakfast or tea at Barcomi. It’s a bit hard to find (it’s in a courtyard - there is a sign outside and a small door opens into the courtyard - a lot of people don’t have the courage to walk through as it looks like it’s private property. So go ahead and just walk in there - it’s no problem at all). It’s close to Hackescher Markt (really cool and trendy area with lots of little shops and cafes) and they serve amazing sandwiches and cakes (all home-made) and roast their own coffee. I went there at least once a week for breakfast (I had an office around the corner - that helped).
- Go on top of the TV tower on Alexanderplatz in the night (they are open till 12 I think) - the tower has a great view and the interior looks like it’s from a 70s James Bond movie. A classic! Don’t go during the daytime - the nightview is much nicer.
- Obviously see the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. If the queue to the Reichstag rooftop is not too long, go up there. It’s cool.
- Next to the Brandenburg Gate there is the new Jewish holocaust monument. It’s dazzling - very, very good. Just walk through the area - it’s an interesting experience as it gives you a feeling of displacement.
- If you have a little bit of time go to Treptow Park and see the Soviet War Memorial - it’s a 15 min cab ride from Alexander Platz and well worth it. Really impressive area, great memorial - so out of this world. Don’t forget to bring a camera - this is perfect photo material.
- Walk through Tiergarten and enjoy the scenery - if the weather permits have a beer in the beer garden Cafe am Neuen See. This is a real hot spot for Berliners and one of the nicest beer gardens in Berlin.
- Breakfast at Cafe Einstein on Unter den Linden - easily one of the best breakfasts in town, Cafe Einstein is Vienna coffee house tradition. When you go there walk straight through the front part of the cafe to the back. In the front it’s noisy and you only have tourists, in the back it’s really civilized and you’ll find tons of Berliners (including a lot of politicians and actors who love the place).
- If you are up to a true Berlin experience have Currywurst at Ku’Damm 195 - Currywurst is a sausage with curry ketchup, normally you have it with fries. It’s THE Berlin specialty and the ones from Ku’Damm 195 are easily the best. The shop is open 24/7 and this is the place where Berliners have their Currywurst at 4am in the morning after a night out clubbing. The place is located on Kurfuersten Damm (Kudamm) No 195 - which is in the western part of town and not far from the famous Bahnhof Zoo, Ku’Damm is one of the main shopping streets in Berlin.
- Dinner at Gugelhof in Prenzlauer Berg. Amazing food (they specialize in food from the bordering region of Germany and France), super-nice service and a great selection of local wines. Bill Clinton went there when he was in Berlin. I love going there - it can be full so be prepared to wait a little bit at the bar or book ahead.
By the way - the whole Prenzlauer Berg area (it’s slightly north of Alexander Platz and easy to reach with a cab or the excellent public transport in Berlin) is an area well worth exploring. Great, old houses in the typical Berlin style of the beginning of the 20th century, tons of little places, shops and cafes. Nice. I lived there for a while.
And now - enjoy Berlin and see you there! 