Berlin is so much more than Berghain. That probably sounds obvious from a surface-level perspective, but upon telling friends, family, and coworkers that I would be spending four days in Berlin this summer, the first question everyone had was: “Are you going to try to get into Berghain?”
While I consider wearing all black and dancing the night away a permanent fixture of my personality like most 20-something New Yorkers, Berghain didn’t make my list of must-dos for the trip. Nightlife and techno are, of course, considerable facets of Berlin’s culture, but I was much more interested in exploring the city outside that lens. And, as it turns out, Berlin is exploding with a global food scene, new international museums, and some of the best vintage fashion I’ve ever stumbled upon in Europe—a true renaissance woman of a city, if you will.
Read on to uncover my top recommendations for what to do, see, and explore in the city bursting with art, culture, cuisine, and more.
Where to Stay in Berlin
Hotel Luc, Autograph Collection: Centrally located in Berlin’s Friedrichstadt neighborhood, Hotel Luc perfectly balances modern amenities and white-glove service. Bespoke design details encapsulate the city’s culture and serve as a thoughtful appreciation of its history (‘Prussian Blue’ can be spotted on the hotel’s walls, in its decorative throw pillows, the commissioned artworks in each room, and more.) In walking distance from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island and popular neighborhoods like Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Hotel Luc serves as the perfect home base for travelers that value a laid-back atmosphere, cozy rooms with a view, and a knowledgeable staff that offers personalized recommendations through the trusted lens of locals—from hole-in-the-wall restaurants to under-the-radar shops, and beyond.
What to Do in Berlin
Visit Fotografiska Berlin: Regardless of whether you’ve been to Berlin before or have yet to check it off your list, my top recommendation for your next trip is to visit the new Fotografiska Museum. Occupying one of Berlin’s major landmarks—a former 1908 department store that was abandoned and then occupied by a collective of local artists in the ‘90s to protect it from demolition—the building served as a physical canvas for artists from all over the world (including major artists like Banksy, himself.) As a quintessential part of Berlin culture, the museum has kept almost all of the original graffiti that covers the inside of the building’s walls and stairwells intact, offering guests a unique juxtaposition of art from past to present as you wander through the space.
Having just opened on September 14, I was lucky enough to have been a part of a small private tour of the museum while it was still under construction in honor of the new cultural project ‘Impressions,’ created and initiated by Autograph Collection Hotels. Previously on view at Fotografiska New York, Impressions invited four world-renowned photographers to capture global destinations through their unique lens (Berlin, San Pedro, Oklahoma City, and Tokyo) to showcase the power that photography has in establishing emotional and intimate perspectives on the world. Impressions will be on view at Fotografiska Berlin starting November 16 before moving onto the museum’s new Shanghai location.
Photo: Leandro Justen; Fotografiska
Photo: Leandro Justen; Fotografiska
Museum-Hop on Museum Island: Perhaps one of Berlin’s best features is that five of its world-renowned museums are located on one central island in the middle of the city’s Spree River. Rather than being spread across the city like many of its European counterparts, Museum Island makes museum-hopping so easy that there’s truly no excuse to skip out on a day dedicated to art, architecture, and design. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the island includes the Pergamon Museum, Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bode Museum, and the Alte Nationalgalerie.
Spend a Sunday at the Flea Markets: My favorite way to uncover a city’s culture is through the lens of local vendors at flea and farmers’ markets. RAW Flea Market is a Sunday staple for Berliners and tourists alike, featuring an outdoor Biergarten, a day club, and over 200 stalls of street food, vintage furniture, fashion, and art. Another can’t-miss market is Boxhagener Platz—a treasure trove of books, vinyl records, home decor on Sundays, and a green market on weekdays with endless baskets of farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more.
Explore the City by Bike: Far less populated than other major cities, Berlin is incredibly easy to get around by foot, bike, or scooter. With spacious streets, extensive bike lanes, and shockingly considerate drivers, I highly recommend booking a small guided bike tour. It’s not nearly as lame as it might seem—booking through your hotel’s concierge will allow you to strategically avoid those that are clear tourist traps—and this leisurely-paced, hop-on/hop-off experience allows you to see so much of the city, from East Side Gallery to The Berlin Wall to Alexanderplatz, the Jewish Quarter, and more, in just a few hours. Plus, Berlin’s temperate weather makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. (If you’re more of a solo adventurer, Lime electric scooters are all over the city and super easy to rent via the app, too.)
Where to Shop in Berlin
Das Neue Schwarz Vintage: This hole-in-the-wall store is tucked away on a quiet side street in Berlin’s Mitte neighborhood and was by far the best vintage shop I found in the city (and trust me, I spent an entire day hopping in and out of about 15+ of them.) With pieces from Loewe and Prada to Comme des Garçons, Acne, and Saint Laurent, it’s clear from your first step into the shop that they take pride in meticulously curating their selection through a Berlin-centric perspective. Every piece was chic, understated, and edgy in all the right ways. Considering how reasonable the prices were (most pieces were under €200, and some still displayed their original tags,) make sure to leave room in your luggage for a highly-anticipated haul. (And, honorable mention for Vintage Revivals—another great vintage spot for colorful and unexpected pieces from the 70s and beyond.)
Frau Tonis Parfums: What does Berlin smell like? The perfumers at Frau Tonis would tell you it’s vibrant and young like the city itself, consistently stimulating the senses through notes of bergamot, lemon, and cedarwood, balanced by cardamom and water lily. If you’re obsessed with customizing anything you can get your hands on, pop into this unassuming shop down the street from Checkpoint Charlie to discover the fragrance that ‘suits you best,’ design your own scent as a reminder of your trip, or spend a half hour exulting over the 50+ genderless perfumes they have out on display
VooStore: An aesthete’s dream, this modern concept store in Kreuzberg—Berlin’s equivalent of New York’s LES—features a curated collection of international fashion brands, home decor, novelty pieces, coffee table books, and more. With a small café (VooDeli) and art gallery (VooSpace) adjacent to the store in its shared courtyard, it’s easy to get lost in each space for hours on end.
Where to Eat & Drink in Berlin
St. Bart: No matter where you are in the world, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a local pub: familiar dark interiors, wooden tables and chairs from another decade, nostalgic photographs of the owner’s family adorned on the walls, and, of course, a simple menu of traditional favorites. But what if you kicked things up a notch? St. Bart’s is seemingly everything a pub is not—elevated farm-to-table dishes, craft cocktails with ingredients you wouldn’t find at most grocery stores, and servers who just so happen to be secret sommeliers. And yet, they’ve found a way to marry the quaint comfort of a classic British pub with a Michelin-star dining experience in the middle of Berlin—somehow keeping the best qualities of both experiences intact without trying to be anything it’s not. St. Bart is a true feat of culinary excellence and an absolute must-visit.
Katz Orange: If you appreciate the art of elevated dining as much as I do, make a reservation for Katz Orange. Considering the incredible service, intimate courtyard ambiance, and outrageously delicious menu, the prices are surprisingly affordable—and I can confidently say it was 100% worth every Euro. Perfect for both a date night or group dinner with friends, many of the small plates and dishes are ideal for sharing (the ultimate cheat code for sampling one of everything on the menu.)
Standard Serious Pizza: As a born-and-bred New Yorker, I never would have guessed that some of the best pizza I would ever come across would be in Berlin. But, low and behold, Standard Serious is a 10/10. Don’t sleep on the ‘Tartufo e Cardoncelli’ white pie, the ‘Sweet & Smoky,’ or (if you can even believe it) the ‘New York, New York.’ When in Berlin, do as the Berliners do and pair any pie with an Aperol Spritz or ice-cold pint of bier.
Zeit für Brot: Pretzel croissants. Enough said. (And outrageously delicious apple strudel, crumb cake, and cinnamon buns.) After hearing a friend describe how incredible the pastries were, I hopped in an Uber to grab a few treats for the day before my flight home, and I’m so glad I did—it was a life-changing experience.
Heritage: Heritage offers a quintessential Berlin dining experience: not quite the traditional German cuisine that one might expect, but rather, it draws inspiration from the city’s French and Prussian heritage with an unexpected modern flair. Boasting a leisurely champagne and oyster bar on the streetside terrace, a breakfast menu featuring intricate towers of dainty pastries, sandwiches, and spreads, and lunch and dinner menus with eccentric twists on seasonal favorites (revamped monthly with new additions). Heritage has something for everyone and promises an incredible experience every time.
