One of the things I enjoy about We Roam is that we stay in apartments, which means our housing is outside the main tourist area. Not only does this give you a sense of what it’s really like to live as a local, it lets you explore a completely different area of the city–especially key in an enormous place like Berlin.
If you find yourself traveling to Berlin for more than a couple days (which you definitely should!), I’d recommend skipping the hotels in Mitte and grabbing an Airbnb in Neukölln instead. I fell in love with my neighborhood, and here are a few of my favorite spots:
Where to Eat Breakfast or Brunch
Cabslam is open every day except Wednesday from 10 am until 4 (5 on the weekends), and they serve breakfast all day. Strawberry mint pancakes, fried goat cheese and bacon biscuit (real American-style bacon, no less), insane home fries…come here if you need to fuel up for an adventure or recover from the one you had the night before.
Where to Eat Dinner with Friends
Txokoa: difficult to pronounce but delicious to eat. It’s a Basque-style tapas bar–perfect for a group because the more dishes you can order, the better. If you’re interested in the special, order it right away because they do run out. I’m still dreaming of the wild garlic and potato croquettes with a delightful orange sauce.
Where to Eat a Fancy Dinner
Eins44 doesn’t have a Michelin star (yet?), but it’s definitely one-star Michelin quality and perfect for a nice evening out. There are two menus set up as suggested six-course dinners, but what you actually eat is up to you–between three and six courses, mixed and matched among the menus. The listings only give you a sense of what you’re about to eat; “spinach, chicken, and horseradish,” for instance, turned out to be a sort of spinach puree on one plate and a bowl of gorgeously rich chicken broth. I found the surprise to be part of the fun. And the wine pairings, NB, were the best I had all month.
Where to Drink
Any of the bars on Weserstraße will do. I adored the slighty decrepit, La Vie Boheme feel of the back rooms lit entirely by tall candles. The server would replace the candles as they burned down, just as she would refill your empty glasses. If you need a starting point, try Tier with its array of seating options.
Where to Relax
Whether your idea of relaxation involves lying in the grass or kite surfing, check out Tempelhofer Feld, an airport-turned-park. As you can imagine given the park’s first life, it’s expansive and flat. The runways make perfect tracks for sports, and the grass is thick and luxurious. I’d go on a cloudy day, though; there’s not much shade.
Where to Get a Tattoo
I considered it as I walked by Unikat each day, but I didn’t quite pull the trigger on my second tattoo. One of my fellow travelers did, though, and can vouch for the skills of their artists. And if you aren’t attached to a particular design, you can get cheaper ink on Flash Fridays, featuring a rotating selection of their own creations.
Where to Buy English-Language Books
With two locations, north (Pflügerstraße 63) and south (Braunschweigerstraße 66), The Berlin Book Nook has you covered. They have a good, wide-ranging selection of used, English-language books in an appropriately packed space. The staff is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. What’s not to love?
I hope to find myself back in Neukölln soon. Until then, go explore for me.
