BERLIN
This is a list from 2010 and requires updates.
Arkona Platz/Mitte — Sundays from 10am to 5pm. I like this one best because there are plenty of little cafes around the market and a good mix of professional sellers and people just clearing out their basements. If you want to sell, you need to book a table a week in advance. Contact Herr Mueller 0171/7101662.
Mauerpark/Mitte Bernauer — Str. 63–64, right next to the park. This felamarket is walking distance from Arkona Platz. Its less cozy and a bit more “junk.” But it’s cheaper and you can walk around Mauerpark afterwards. For bookings contact: Herr Lüdicke, Herr Herting, Tel.: 0176/29 25 00 21, Sunday 7am to 5pm.
Rathaus Schoeneberg/Schoeneberg — This one is a classic West-Berlin fleamarket. Right outside the famous Rathaus, Rathaus Schoeneberg is where John F. Kennedy gave his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in 1963. It’s not a “hip” one, but well worth it. Mostly if you are into housewares, porcelain, etc.
Staßes des 17. Juni/Charlottenburg — This felamarket is huge. It’s also incredibly crowded. Most sellers are professionals and you can get anything from art deco vases and furniture to chandeliers. You can see a lot of “old Berlin.” Furniture, collectables etc. Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
Every “kiez” (neighbourhood) has their own fresh food market. Usually they are located on the little church squares. You can get very cheap fresh products here and the winterfeldmarkt is great for flowers and meats.
Organic Food Market/Prenzlauerberg — Kollwitzplatz. Thursday 12 to 7pm.
Winterfeldmarkt/Schoeneberg — Winterfeldplatz. Wednesday 8 to 2pm. Saturday 8 to 4pm.
Hamburger Bahnhof/Mitte — Great modern art collection. They have everything fom Warhol to Beuys and some years ago the collection flick was added. They have a wonderful bookshop a great bargain section. Invalidenstr. 50/51, 10557 Berlin; T: +49 (0)30 39 78 34 11; Tue–Fri: 10am–6pm, Sat: 11am–8pm, Sun: 11am–6pm
KV/Mitte — This institution is one of the “first hour.” Located in a charming backyard in the heart of Berlin Mitte, this cutting-edge institution is well known for its controversial shows as well as the basement after-parties. Auguststr. 69, 10117 Berlin; T: +49 (0)30 243 45 90; Tue-Sat: 12am–7pm, Thu: 12am–9pm
Sammlung Boros/Mitte — Also known as “kunstbunker.” This place is amazing. In a former actual bunker from World War II, Christian Boros and his wife Karen show their collection of contemporary art. You will not only see a fascinating space but also beautiful works by Olafur Eliass among many others. YOU MUST book your visit way in advance. They only do guided tours and only on Saturday and Sunday. Bunker, Reinhardtstr. 20, 10117 Berlin; T: Tel. +49 (0)30 27 59 40 65
Sammlung Hoffmann/Mitte — A very special collection in the private home of Erika and Rolf Hoffman. This visit must also be booked in advance and the collection is open to the public on Saturdays between 11 am and 4pm. Sammlung Hoffmann Sophie-Gips-Höfe, Aufgang C Sophienstraße 21 10178 Berlin-Mitte; Telefon: 030 28 49 91 20 Email: info@sammlung-hoffmann.de
Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien/Kreuzberg — This institution is a project workshop that hosts events and exhibits. You can apply for residencies and more. A thriving, energetic community slightly outside the commercial artmarket. Kottbusser Straße 10/Kohlfurter Str. 41–43
Neue National Galerie/Tiergarten — Located in a magnificent Mies van der Rohe building, this museum hosts many changing exhibits. The permanent collection is put together with works from Expressionism, Dada, Bauhaus and Surrealismus. Much of the collection was lost during the Third Reich. Potsdamer Str. 50, 10785 Berlin; T: +49 (0)30 266 26 51, Website, Map; Tue, Wed, Fri: 10am–6pm, Thu: 10am–10pm, Sat, Sun: 11am–6pm
Museumsinsel/Mitte — Here you find some of Berlin’s finest treasures. TheBode-Museum with a wonderful sculpture collection, the famous Pergamon Museum, home of the renowned Pergamon alter and many more. The Museumsinsel is quite literally an island in the Spree river. You can spend a day exploring the different museums and be sure to step across the river to Walter Koenig Buchhandlung (burgstr.27) to browse their extensive range of artbooks.
C. Adolph/Charlottenburg — A hardware store. So simple. Here you find delicious white enameled hooks, enameled oldschool buckets, nails, screws and all hidden away in neat little drawers filling the entire wall. Savignyplatz 3; 10623 Berlin (Charlottenburg); Telefon: (030) 313 80 45
Manufaktum/Charlottenburg — This store is not a real Berliner but has wonderful old-world products. My favorite is the Savon Rotatif. Hardenbergstraße 4-5; Tel.: (0 30) 24 03 38 44; Mon-Fri., 10:00 bis 20:00 Uhr, Saturday 10:00 bis 18:00 Uhr
Knopfpaul/Kreuzberg — Buttons buttons buttons. You will love this quirky original shop! Tue & Fri. 9°°- 18°°/Wed & Thur. 14°°- 18°° Uhr; Zossener Str. 10; Fax.: 030 694 15 00 Tel.: 030 692 1212
Frau Tulpe/Mitte — Fabrics for any project you might envision. Also this lovely store offers sewing classes at very reasonable prices. Veteranenstr. 19 Tel: 030 – 44 32 78 65; Monday – Friday, 10 – 20 Uhr; Saturday 12 – 18 Uhr.
Mädchenitaliener/mitte — Alte schönhauserstr. 12; Tel.030 – 40041787; Open mo – sat 12 – open end; Sun 5pm – open end.
Great and cheap Italian place. 10€-15€ for main course. Good house wines, outside seating. You need to make reservations unless you come early and sit outside. Great atmosphere, run by the wonderful couple Silke and Michael who’s wedding picture adorns the main room.
Bandol/Mitte — Torstr. 167; 030 / 67302051; Open 6pm – 11pm.
Very good tiny French restaurant. They have six tables or so. The food is delicious. Be sure to make a reservation.
Beth Café/Mitte — Tucholskystraße 40; 49302813135; Sun-Thu, 12:00-21:00; Fri-Sat, closed.
Set in a quiet backyard in the Jewish Community Center. Good food and a very special place within the hustle and bustle of trendy Mitte.
Bixel/Mitte — This cute place just opened. A great spot to take a breath, have a hot potato with all kinds of yummy add-ons to choose from. Then throw yourself into the boutiques on Mulackstr. Mulackstrasse 3; Mon-Sat, 11:30-22:00
Barcellos Salon Sucre/Kreuzberg — To-DIE-for pastries. And while you wait you can get a haircut from the patisserieurs wife. They are such a cool couple and the tarts and little yum yums are all delicious. Görlitzerstrasse 32a; +49306122713; Bakery: Thu-Sun, 10:00-18:00 Hair Salon: Wed-Sat: 10:00-18:00
Nolas/Mitte — This place is in the middle of Weinbergspark. A small park at the bottom of Kastanienallee. If you feel like sitting in the sun and pretending you are out in the country and tiergarten feels too far away, then this is where you want to go. Veteranenstraße 9; +4903044040766; Daily, 10:00-1:00
Chi Sing/Mitte — Carefully decorated with superb Vietnamese food. Very original recipes and delicious drink. Rosenthaler Str. 62; +49 30 2008 9284; Mo – Sun 12am – 12pm
Kuchi/Mitte — Japanese place on gipsstr.3; 030-28386622
Very good sushi place. Next door is a nice Japanese soup place for colder days — the perfect comfort food. They have a lovely little courtyard. You can walk in during the week, on weekends reservations recommended.
Clärchens Ballhaus/Mitte — Auguststr. 24.
This is FUN. They have dance classes and dancing every night (10pm–open end). There is great pizza and traditional German food. The interior is very retro style. They also have a charming garden that’s open until 11pm in the summer. It gets crowded on nice evenings but if you get there before 8pm you should be okay.
Weinerei/Mitte — Zionskirchstr.40
This is a unique place where there is a menu (vegetarian or not) and you pay as much as you want! The food is good and they have a great selection of wines.
Paris Bar/Charlottenburg — Kantstr. 152
A real West Berlin classic. Artists and filmpeople used to hang out here in the old days. The walls are tightly packed with artwork and pictures of former customers. Famously rude and hectic service with overpriced mediocre food. But people love it and it is always booked during the film festival and other events. Main courses around 25€-35€.
Freischwimmer/Kreuzberg — Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 2a
This is a very “Kreuzberg” place. It’s on a tiny canal that crosses Schlesische Str. You walk past a small gas station and then down some steps to your right. There are many different raffts with tables on them and on a nice summer evening you might have to fight for a seat. Also during the daytime on the weekend. They have deckchairs and you can spend hours there. Service is usually a bit overwhelmed so bring some time. Cheap and a true Berlin of the first hour place.
Badeschiff/Kreuzberg — Fun in the sun. A floating pool on the Spree. It’s good to get here early for some relaxing on the deck and a swim in the pool. Gets very crowded on warm days. Look out for their evening program. Open air movies and a fun mix of people.
Shops
The shops in this section are all in the same little area of Berlin Mitte. You could probably do them all in a day or two. Don’t forget that most don’t open until noon, close early on Saturdays and are CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, as are all shops in Germany!
Stue/Mitte — Torstr.70
Specialized in Scandinavian design and furnitures. They have beautiful things; lovely ceramics as well as lamps, sofas and more. Occasionally they carry London-based Vonsonos fashion as well as acessoires by Hamburg design team Fluo. This is a shop I couldn’t live without. Mo-sat 2pm-7pm
Wolfen/Mitte— August str 41; Mo-Fri 12 – 7pm; Sa 12 – 6pm
Small shop by local designer Jaqueline Huste. Exceptional knitwear. Very straight shapes, no frills, with a vintage feel. Autum color palette with the occasional petrol. Also, she carries a selection of well-tailored shirts and pants for men as well as women.
Konk/Mitte — Kleine Hamburger str.15; Mo-Fri 12-8pm; Sa 12-6pm
Also a shop with incredible details. The interior is beautiful and they carry amazing clothes mostly from Berlin-based designers.
Andreas Murkudis — Münzstr. 21
Go into the backyard and walk all the way through for the men’s section or make a right after being halfway through for the women’s clothing. High-end design mixed with a collection of furnitures, home assessoires and jewelry by international designers with a focus on German designers.
Lamu/Mitte — Mulackstr. 38; Mo-Sat 12-6pm
WONDERFUL. Eclectic collection brought home from travels, vintage pieces, books and art. This is a fantastic store and I must warn you — you will want to have it all!
Blau/Mitte — Mulackstr.23; Tue–Sat 2pm-6pm, Second season. Isabel Marant, Tsumori Chisato, Wolfen, Eley Kishimoto and others.
SchwarzHogerzeil/Mitte — Mulackstr.28; Mo-Fr 12-7pm; Sa 12-6pm, Labels like Isabel Marant, Zucca, Cacharel, etc. Great brands and inspiring selection. They have nice shoes too!
Lalaberlin/Mitte — Mulackstr. 7, Berlin-based label. Lala started out doing knitwear and has added more and more to her collection. Great colors, fun scarves and modern take on knitwear.
NOTES
NOTE: DIRECTIONS, some streets in former East Berlin are numbered continuously, like a wrap-around. So f.e. nr. 8 will be opposite nr. 325.
NOTE: CLOSED FOR BUSINESS, ALL shops are closed on Sundays and most museums are closed on Mondays.
NOTE: GET, MIFI ONLINE, Reserve a MiFi device or opt for a local SIM, internet/wifi access is necessary when traveling in Japan. If you have an opportunity to reserve the equipment in advance, choose for TEP Wireless.