Why not ditch your local supermarket that is only five minutes from your house and go on a shopping adventure to the Turkish market in Kreuzberg/Neukölln (even if not for your weekly grocery shopping, then at least for the experience). The Turkish market at Maybachufer is a mix of stalls selling a variety of different things, from household items to fabrics, to books, and of course, lots of, lots of food (including cooked lunch options). Most of the fruit and vegetable is unbelievably cheap in comparision to normal supermarkets. We remember times, where former roommates used to come home with 10 mangos for only 5€ (noone can eat this many mango though). It can get a little crowded, once local shoppers and curious tourists are all heading down the rather narrow path between the stalls. However, this just gives you the time to slow down your pace and immerse yourself into the numerous food options.
Summer in Berlin means many things. It is also the time for outdoor cinemas (in German ‚Freiluftkinos‘). The season is from May to September, which means all Fall FU-BESTers will defnitely be able to catch a movie under the starlit sky.
To make your life a little easier, we have put together a list of the best outdoor cinema opportunities in Berlin.
Berlin’s oldest open air cinema is tucked away behind the Kunstquatier Bethanien, which makes for a very special atmosphere. The pro tip is to buy tickets beforehand online and come early, so that you can grab one of the sun loungers available and safe yourself the perfect spot on the grass in front of the screen. If you snooze, you will lose. So don’t be late. Most movies that are shown are originals.
This one is located in Volkspark with bench-style seating options. If you prefer to spread out, you can bring a blanket and sit on the grass. They mostly show dubbed movies, so pay attention to their program.
Rehberge is a lovely park in Wedding, which provides a very peaceful location for watching a movie. Probablyt the only thing you will hear whilst watching the movie will be the whistling of the trees around you. They have seats available for up to 1500 people. Again, pay special attention to their program to see which films are in English or German.
This is by far the open-air cinema with the most urban feel setting in this list. It is not as intimate as some of the other suggestions, but for those who want an opulent city view to come with their movie experience it is perfect. From indie films to blockbusters, this cinema shows originals with German subtitles.
Going back to a more cosy cinema experience, Freiluftkino Hasenheide comes to mind. It’s a charming open-air space with a sizable screen. The bench style seats can be a little hard on the bum though, so you might wanna bring your own blankets or cushion.
Last but not least, here is a tip for a free cinema experience. The Kulturfabrik, which usually serves as a concert hall, music venue, art house theatre, to name but a few things that are happening here, hosts free open-air movies in the courtyard, on Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm. Most of the films shown are in German.
Lehrter Str. 35, 10557 Berlin
Gereral-open-air-cinema-advice: Do not make the rooky mistake and be fooled by the warm weather. After the sun goes down it still gets pretty chilly, especially when you are sitting. Bring layers!
As is the case for so many of Berlin’s bar establishments – when you enter Frollein Langner for the first time, you don’t quite know if you have just stepped into your Grandma’s living room or have found a cool bar in Berlin Neukölln. Here, the latter is the case. Fun fact: next to the many cosy sofas and sofa chairs, a bath tub also belongs to the bar’s interior. However, due to the numerous comfortable seating options, we think it should be neglected. They have a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and even small food options (which are cooked at the place next door).
They sometimes do special events, like pub quizzes and music events. For this keep up to date on their Instagram.
This little joint in Neukölln has not been named Burrito Baby for nothing. Upon ordering one of their burritos, be ready for being handed an almost toddler sized one. Seating is scarce, which makes it especially nice during the summer months, because you can sit outside. This being said, we still recommend coming here, no matter the season, simply for the following dishes: one of their well-filled burittos or their ‚House Nachos‘. Find their full menu here.
If you are like us and have discovered your love for whiskey pretty late in life, you hopefully have friends that quickly point you into the right direction when it comes to finding the perfect place for you new craving. If not. Listen up. Keith Bar is a rusty little bar in Neukölln, specilaizing in – and we quote „good whisky. And good music. And good food pop-ups. And good performances. And good art. And good cocktails. And good times with friends. And good beers…“. The bar is cozy and dark (the lighting mainly comes from candle light, as is common for so many bars in Berlin) with vintage wood furniture. Prices are quite reasonable and we never had to fight for a table – yet.
Lalibela is a cute little place in the heart of Neukölln that serves delicious Ethiopian food. This is the perfect place to come with a small group, not because of the place’s size (au contraire, it’s rather small, so you might want to reserve a seat, if you don’t want to wait -> reservations can be done online), but because of the fact that the typical Ethiopian dish, the injera, is the perfect meal to share. Injera is an Ethiopian flatbread (made out of teff flour) that is served flat on a big iron plate with a variety of toppings, like lentils, salads, vegetables, potatoes, stews, etc., with more injera served on the side. What might need a little getting used to at first is that you will not be served utensils, since this dish is traditionally eaten with your hands, using small pieces of injera to scoop up the toppings. This makes the injera simultaneously a food, an eating utensil and also a plate. We recommend to mix and match the combos to get the full hands on experience.
Where? Herrfurthstraße 32, 12049 Berlin
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 2PM – Open end.
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Alaska is a plant-based Spanish tapas bar that serves a number of delicious small plates of food that are perfect for sharing, as well as Spanish wine and beer. The Spanish/Catalan owners are incredibly welcoming, and make you feel like you’re visiting friends, which is underlined by the relaxed atmosphere, cozy couches and fun art on the walls. While the name does not immediately make one think of a Spanish tapas bar, the owners picked it to pay homage to Spanish singer and animal rights activist Alaska, combining two of Alaska’s central elements. The small size of the dishes makes is easy to try many different things, and our personal favorites are the Spanish tortilla and the croquetas, as well as the patatas bravas and of course, the Spanish beer. While some of the dishes are always available, you can be sure to find something new and exciting with every new visit, and prices are reasonable, starting at 3,50€ for a dish.
Every once in a while, Alaska hosts one of their legendary pintxos parades, were you can get one tapa for 1€ and eat yourself into a tapas induced food coma. While it’s their most popular event and always incredibly crowded (so wear comfy shoes because you might have to stand), it’s a great way to get into a conversation with people (and practice your terribly rusty Spanish with all the Spaniards who frequent the bar), plus having to stand at the bar just means easier access to all the food. Overall, Alaska is the perfect place to spend a nice evening with friends, share some delicious food, have a few drinks, and you’ll likely meet some incredibly friendly faces there as well.
We do not fall in love easily, but we did fall in love with Velvet, a small cocktail bar in the heart of Neukölln. This bar is located a little bit off the bar packed streets, but we would still suggest coming here early, as it gets crowded quickly. The menu changes on a regular basis, so we cannot recommend a specific drink, but are sure that whatever you will end up getting, will certainly challenge your taste buds in a very positive way (maybe you will never have a better cocktail in Berlin). Velvet believes in regionality, so instead of the standard pineapple, you’ll find local herbs, fruit and vegetables in your drink. Examples for some special ingredients are: mushrooms, black walnuts, plums, sorrel,… . Waiters are happy to help you with your choice and are eager to explain flavors and ingredients. The cocktails are quite pricy (around 10€+), but definitely worth it!
Where? Ganghoferstraße 1, 12043 Berlin Neukölln
Opening hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 8pm - Close
We do not fall in love easily, but we did fall in love with 