Insider tips in Berlin

Even true original Berliners can still discover something new in our city every day – the choice of fascinating sights, charming neighborhoods or beautiful nature is simply too great. That’s why we reached out to our colleagues and present to you – Berlin’s best kept secrets!

Futurium:

Source: https://enorm-magazin.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Futurium-in-Berlin.jpg

The Futurium lables itself the „house of futures“. Here, everything revolves around the question: How do we want to live? Visitors can discover many possible futures in the exhibition, discuss them together in the forum and try out their own ideas in the Futurium Lab – all free of charge.

https://futurium.de/en?page=1

Berliner Unterwelten:

Source: https://www.berliner-unterwelten.de/fileadmin/user_upload/berlinerunterwelten/Slides/Fuehrungen_Tour_M_Bild_20-Holger_Happel_web_cr.jpg

The association „Berlin’s undergrounds“ explores, documents and maintains underground facilities in Berlin. They offer various guided tours to places normally out of sight, including bunkers and metro tunnels.

https://www.berliner-unterwelten.de/en/index.html

Britzer Garten:

Source: https://www.top10berlin.de/sites/top10berlin.de/files/styles/juicebox/public/location/slider/2015/04/27/britzer-seeterrassen_totale_foto_top10berlin_792x400_.jpg?itok=5I-zpZK3

Neukölln isn’t necessarily know for its well kept green spaces – but Britzer Garten doesn’t fit that image at all. This park is a true green treasure off the beaten track.

https://www.britzergarten.de/en/

Bergmannkiez:

Source: https://www.qiez.de/app/uploads/2018/05/caf-zigarrenladen-und-altbauten-in-der-bergmannstrasse-in-kreuzberg-der-bergmannkiez-in-kreuzberg.jpeg

The Bergmannstraße in Kreuzberg is one of Berlin’s most beloved streets for shopping, eating, drinking and really experiencing what Berlin is all about. It’s surrounding kiez (small neighbourhood) is home to endless restaurants, locally-owned shops and picturesque corners.

https://goo.gl/maps/2xhT8UkXzBicfmX26

Botanischer Garten:

Source: https://www.in-berlin-brandenburg.com/Freizeit/Ausflugstipps/Parkanlagen/Botanischer-Garten/Bilder/Botanischer-Garten-g.jpg

The Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum are home to more than 22,000 different plant species. You can go on a trip from Alpine vegetation to the tropics – all of that not too far from campus in Steglitz.

https://www.bo.berlin/en

Liepnitzsee:

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/19-09-28-Wandlitz-0865-0873.jpg/1200px-19-09-28-Wandlitz-0865-0873.jpg

The Liepnitzsee, just outside of Berlin’s border in Brandenburg, prides itself with being one of the cleanest in clearest lakes in the region. Not only in summer, this is an amazing getaway from the big city.

https://goo.gl/maps/JEb4o27nJoAtU3MTA

Pfaueninsel:

https://www.berlin.de/binaries/asset/image_assets/6285178/source/1646398788/624×468/

The Pfaueninsel „peacock island“ is located in the river Havel and is part of the UNESCO palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin. It’s a car free nature reserve, including many (you guessed it) trusting peacocks to feed.

https://www.spsg.de/en/palaces-gardens/object/peacock-island/

Zenner Biergarten und Weingarten:

Source: https://media04.berliner-woche.de/article/2021/06/10/4/364614_XXL.jpg?1623317875

Zenner offers a modern take on a classic German beer garden, all in a beautiful spot in Treptower Park. Combine having a drink outside in the sun with strolling along the river or visiting the Sovjet memorial a few minutes away.

https://goo.gl/maps/cZ8TU4ppYnFZBF9H9

Café am Neuen See:

Source: https://media.cntraveler.com/photos/5b96e0962f11297e77971dd6/16:9/w_2560%2Cc_limit/Cafe%2525CC%252581-am-Neuen-See_07.13_77.jpg

Do you sometimes dream about what it would be like to study abroad not in Berlin but in Munich? The Café am Neuen See in the Tiergarten is probably the closest thing to an authentic Bavarian Biergarten in very much not-Bavarian Berlin (they also have really solid pizza).

https://goo.gl/maps/MuR3CbTeovEKVJpu5

A little Japan in Best Friends Berlin

Grilled tuna with vegetables and rice.
Udon carbonara with mushrooms

If you want to add a little color to your dinner, we recommend to check out Best Friends Berlin (formerly called ‚Little Long‘, meaning Small Dragon) in Kreuzberg, a modern Japanese restaurant that combines traditional Japanese flavours with a western touch and a very colorful interior (all paintings you find in the restaurant are hand-painted by the owner). If you are only a small group, reservations are not necessary (provided that you come early; between 6pm and 7pm). We recommend to start your evening with different starters (Kimchi and Edamame are always a good idea), and proceed with one of their main dishes (the grilled tuna can be very much recommended. For the full menu see their website here). Finally, if you still have room for desert, we have to warn you: you need to be a fan of Matcha, because there is no way around it when it comes to their desert.

Where: Wiener Str. 60, 10999 Berlin
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday noon-midnight
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Tipping etiquette in Germany

A rumor persits under FU-BEST students that we usually don’t tip in Germany. Where this is coming from we don’t know. This being said, surprisingly, if you google ‚tipping etiquette in Germany‘, one of the first things you find is that the tip is included in the bill and that it will be enough to simply round up. This, however, is not the case! Tips are not included in your bill and you should definitely tip at least 10%. This is true for restaurants, cafés and bars alike.

FU-BEST organizes a weekly Stammtisch (regulars table) in different bars all over Berlin. This means there will be lots of opportunities for you to perfect your tipping game. The usual way to tip in Germany is to ask for the bill, check the amount you owe and then work out in your head what you’re going to tip. When you are ready to pay, tell the waiter/waitress out loud the amount in total, including the tip.

The Cake Guide to Germany

Bienenstich

This cake translates to “bee-sting” and ironically does not contain any honey. Classic yeast dough with a lot of vanilla cream and a caramelized almond flake crust on top.

Bienenstich ohne Hefe | Rezept - eat.de
Source: https://eat.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/bienenstich-ohne-hefe-3513.jpg

Käsekuchen

Made with the German dairy product “quark,” German cheesecake is significantly less sweet than its American counterpart. Please don’t leave Germany without trying it at least once.

Omas Käsekuchen: Seelenwärmer Rezept | EAT SMARTER
Source: https://images.eatsmarter.de/sites/default/files/styles/max_size/public/omas-kaesekuchen-58621.jpg

Frankfurter Kranz

To commemorate the city of Frankfurt am Main as the coronation site of the German Kaiser, this “Frankfurt Wreath” is supposed to depict a crown. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s favorite cake from his hometown is basically all buttercream and almond brittle.

Klassischer Frankfurter Kranz Rezept | Dr. Oetker
Source: https://www.oetker.de/Recipe/Recipes/oetker.de/de-de/baking/image-thumb__150576__RecipeDetail/klassischer-frankfurter-kranz.jpg

Donauwelle

The “Danube wave” gets its name from the wavy layer of vanilla and chocolate cake. Topped with buttercream and a chocolate glaze.

Donauwelle nach Omas Rezept Rezept | EAT SMARTER
Source: https://images.eatsmarter.de/sites/default/files/styles/max_size/public/donauwelle-nach-omas-rezept-65217.jpg

Berliner

The rest of Germany calls them “Berliner” and Berliners call them “Pfannkuchen”. Made from yeast dough and in its most classic form filled with red fruit marmalade. Traditionally eaten on NYE  or during the carnival season (though not in Berlin!).

Berliner von CookBakery | Chefkoch
Source: https://img.chefkoch-cdn.de/rezepte/3284331487844428/bilder/993659/crop-960×720/berliner.jpg

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

The “Black Forest Cherry” Cake is probably Germany’s most famous cake. Made with “cherry water” (very much not water, actually high percentage alcohol) and – you guessed it – a lot of buttercream.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte - das klassische Rezept
Source: https://images.lecker.de/,id=d14ce90c,b=lecker,w=610,cg=c.jpg