It’s safe to say that Berlin (like me) runs on coffee. You will find a great cafe or roastery almost anywhere in the German capital, and most of it is rather good. Home to a large international community, cafes in Berlin is where the action is.
Whether you’re looking for a morning caffeine fix, or getting a few hours of work done, or catching up with friends, there’s no dearth of third-wave coffee shops and specialty coffee roasters in the city. Here’s where I went for my cuppa on my recent visit to Berlin.
Bonanza Coffee Roasters
The OG of Berlin’s specialty coffee scene, Bonanza Coffee Roasters is also my favourite (although it’s a tough call). The coffee is “unnecessarily good” (as their website says), but I particularly like them because their baristas are super knowledgeable and happy to recommend (without being snobby).
Their light- and foliage-filled roastery-cafe at Adalbertstrasse is rather special (as is their pain au chocolat).
Another Bonanza outlet I loved is on Jägerstrasse in Gendarmenmarkt where I paired my espresso with a moreish shortbread
The Barn Coffee Roasters
My second pick would be The Barn, which regularly wins “best specialty coffee roaster” awards. And I rather like their compact outlet on Auguststrasse in Mitte.
I was stoked to find out that The Barn was also available at Café Kranzler (which was just 5 minutes from my hotel). This landmark cafe (right) in Ku’damm was founded in 1825. I loved its distinct striped canopy and the panoramic view it gives over the busiest boulevard in Berlin. This is where I had my first coffee in Berlin last month, seated on the outdoor terrace and just soaking in the mid-morning sun
The Visit Coffee & Eatery
The Nürnbergerstrasse outlet of The Visit Coffee & Eatery was just a short walk from my hotel. Great coffee and their food menu looked fab too.
Refinery High End Coffee
I stumbled upon Refinery as I was walking to the Friedrichstrasse S-bahn station. Since it was a sweltering summer day, I popped in for an iced coffee.
Five Elephant
I didn’t make it to Five Elephant this time but I have tried their coffee in the past and would definitely recommend them. They are in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, and Kreuzberg (where they also have a deli).
Röststätte
I love the Art Nouveau maximalism of Hackesche Höfe (above) in Mitte so I went by a couple of times during my trip.
And the board outside Röststätte lured me in, obviously!
The art nouveau design continues inside, making this one of the prettiest cafes in Berlin. I had a very good espresso and a decadent brownie to go with it.
Deli & Cafe Alexander
Located inside Humboldt Forum, Alexander Deli is a gorgeous cafe inspired by the discoveries and stories of the explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. It serves global cuisine that has found its way to Berlin – from Europe via North and South America to Australia and Asia.
And their coffee is pretty darn good, even if I went decaf. That accompanying Käsekuchen (cheesecake) though!
If you plan your days around coffee (like I do), this list of cafes in Berlin will definitely come in handy on your visit! Or, have you already visited Berlin? Leave a comment with your favourite cafe that I can try on my next trip. For more recommendations on what to see and do in Berlin, read my guide for Zee Zest.
And if you visit the German capital, make sure to get the Berlin Welcome Card – it not only gives you free or discounted access to many attractions and museums but also lets you access all forms of public transport for free! Depending on the length of your visit, you can get it for two to six days. Remember that the museums on Museum Island are not included in this card, except in the specific 72-hour Museum Island card, so take your pick accordingly.
