Berlin | Postcards From Here and There

Review of 2019

Entering the new year we had no plans to go anywhere until a trip to Portugal in early March but you know what they say about plans. A great deal with Iceland Air saw us heading to Iceland for a short four day break at the end of January. What a trip it was, a huge fall of snow the day before we arrived made a true winter wonderland. Cold with clear blue sky by day and the right atmospheric conditions to see the northern lights at night. Iceland is a magical place and re have tentative plans to return in the summer months and drive a circuit of the country.

We had two trips to Portugal in 2019, the first in March saw some pleasantly warm days which we used to good effect to explore parts of the Algarve by train. The result of dipping out toes into the region in spring was that we booked a much longer trip for November, renting an apartment through Airbnb for a very favourable out of season rate. The short November days were sunny and pleasantly warm and this time, with the help of a hire care, were able to really explore the region. At the end of our stay we took the train from Faro to Lisbon for a few days and had a great time exploring the city but the weather was rather changeable.

A return to Berlin in the late spring had been much anticipated and the city did not disappoint. Having done the main touristy the previous autumn this trip allowed us time to explore the neighbourhoods of Friedrichshain and Kreutzberg. We are real fans of walking tours and an excellent tour of the street art of Berlin was one of the highlights of the trip.

The wedding of friends in Provence in early July gave us the opportunity for a slow meander across southern France on our way there. Flying into Toulouse we enjoyed the medieval city of Carcassonne and the wine growing regions of the Languedoc. A visit and tasting at Mas de Daumas Gassac was probably the highlight here. Provence itself was very hot but a very enjoyable weekend of celebrations was had by all. As with the Algarve a trip to the sights of Provence is probably best enjoyed out of season and we plan to return as soon as we can.

Finally a trip to Krakow in early September and what an amazing city it was and so cheap compared to many cities in Europe. There is so much to do in the area but visits to the salt mines at Wieliczka and the former concentration camp at Auschwitz should be at the top of any must do list for visitors.

As we begin 2020 we’re finalising plans for a return trip to Australia so there is lots more to come.

Eating and Drinking in Mitte Berlin

Mitte is the district which makes up most of central Berlin. It is a large area and includes many of Berlin’s top sights and museums. Bearing its size in mind this post does not attempt to give a comprehensive view of the dining and drinking options available, it is simply an overview of the places I have enjoyed on recent visits to the city.

The Barn. Auguststaße 58.

The Barn not only brews the most delicious coffee it roasts its own beans and you can buy a bag to take home. This is a great place for breakfast with a good selection of pastries and sandwiches. It’s only small but turnover is reasonably fast.

Einstein. Unter den Linden 42.

Just a short walk from The Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate this is a café/restaurant in the more traditional style and an excellent place for breakfast after getting up early to see the sights before it gets too busy.

Rutz Weinbar. Chausseestraße 8.

Restaurant Rutz is one of Berlin’s seven two star Michelin restaurants with chef Marco Müller at the helm. Downstairs from the restaurant is a wine bar which itself holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The wine bar menu offers creative interpretations of traditional, regional dishes and as you would expect the cooking is first class. The wine list is excellent and naturally German wines feature heavily, there is a good choice of wines by the glass and the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Beereau. Claire Waldorf Straße 4.

A small but cosy bar located just off Friedrichstraße. It may only be small but it is wonderful place to stop off for an early evening beer. There are a small number of beers on tap and a good selection in the fridges. The place is quite relaxed with a good selection of beer related books.

Muret La Barba. Rosenthaler Straße 61.

This very popular Italian is part café, part wine bar and part restaurant and it works so well on all levels. The cooking here is authentic and very good and the wine choices are excellent and reasonably good value for money. It can get very busy in the evenings so prebooking is a good idea.

The Circus Hotel. Rosenthaler Straße 1.

The Circus Hotel is an excellent place to stay on a visit to the city and it has an excellent café/bar on the ground floor. I can never quite make out if it is part of the hotel or a separate enterprise but as with the hotel the reception is welcoming, the decor is superb and the food excellent. It is such a relaxing place you have to make a big effort to get back out and carry on with your day.

Katz Orange. Bergstraße 22.

Located in a former brewery and in a courtyard, the setting is fantastic. In warm weather there are tables arranged outside, covered by large parasols, which, if the weather permits, should be your choice of seating. The interior of the restaurant is arranged over two floors and is warm and inviting. So dining either inside or outside it’s a win win! The cooking here is fantastic and the wine list excellent.

BrewDog. Ackerstraße 29.

With somewhere in the region of 30 beers on tap including guest beers this is an ideal stopping place for beer lovers. They also do a good range of pizzas and salads.

Mikkeller. Torstraße 102

The Danish brewery Mikkeller is regarded as one of the best in the world and has bars in several major cities around the world. The bar in Mitte is small with seating arranged into three areas plus tables outside for when the weather permits. The decor has a very Scandinavian feel and creates a relaxed and calming environment, ideal for drinking a beer or two!

Three Places for Craft Beer in Berlin

Berlin is a big city. With a population of over 3.5 million there are plenty of bars serving a wide range of beers from all over the world. In that sense this post is only the tip of the iceberg, these are three places I have been and particularly enjoyed and would heartily recommend to anyone who has an interest in great beer.

Muted Horn.

This is a great little bar in the district of Neukölln which is well worth searching out. Serving 22 beers on tap, both local and international, and an even larger selection of bottles there is something for everyone here and its easy to see why it is so popular with craft beer enthusiasts.

There is plenty of seating and even a small area outside. There’s a nice relaxed atmosphere here and you can easily while away an hour or so without much effort. Although they don’t serve food they don’t mind if you bring your own and you can even send out for a delivery.

Muted Horn, Flughafen straße 49.

U8 Boddinstraße is the nearest U-Bahn station a mere couple of minutes walk away.

Monday-Thursday 17.00-0200. Friday 17.00-03.00. Saturday 15.00-03.00. Sunday 15.00-02.00

Beereau.

A small but cosy bar located just off Friedrichstraße in Mitte. It may only be small but it is wonderful place to stop off for an early evening beer. There are a small number of beers on tap and a good selection in the fridges. The place is quite relaxed with a good selection of beer related books.

Beereau, Claire Waldorf Straße 4.

U6 Oranienburger Tor is the nearest U-Bahn station.

Tuesday-Thursday 14.00-22.00, Friday 14.00-00.00, Saturday 14.00-19.00

Mikkelller

There are twenty four beers available on tap. Most are Mikkeller’s own brews but there are also a number of guest beers. Staff are approachable, helpful and knowledgable so navigating the menu if you are unsure is not a problem. Servings are available in two sizes, 40cl and 80cl.

Mikkeller,Torstraße 102.

U8 Rosenthaler Platz is the nearest U-Bahn station.

Sunday-Thursday 15.00-00.00, Friday-Saturday 15.00=02.00