Don’t settle for the bread rolls, pretzels, quark and cold cuts that your hotel laid out for you this morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and Berlin has a myriad of tip-top spots where you can set yourself up for the day in style. Here’s our list of Berlin’s best breakfast and brunch spots:
Distrikt Coffee - Bergstraße 68, 10115 (Mitte)
With its all-day breakfast and lunch menu, Distrikt Coffee offers up hearty plates such as spicy merguez & chickpea ragu with parmesan, sourdough toast & poached egg and healthier options like the overnight oats with chia seeds, cocoa nibs, blueberry compote & nut butter. Known as much for its mighty food menu as it is for its outstanding coffee – using only locally-roasted blends – the flawless service at this Antipodean coffee shop will have you coming back for more.
We recommend: the ‘French Toast with blueberry compote, caramelised walnuts, creme fraiche & maple syrup’.
Roamers - Pannierstraße 64, 12043 (Neukölln)
This tiny neighborhood joint is the go-to for many Neuköllners. Beyond its Insta-friendly interior lies a brekkie big-hitter, serving up slow cooked spinach & herb stews and jalapeño cheese sandwiches. With an array of smoothies and boozy breakfast treats on offer, this place is so popular that it's not uncommon to find the queue meandering out the door and down the street. They’re also super accommodating for those with allergies or dietary requirements.
We recommend: the ‘Drunk’n Cowboy’ Sandwich.
Le Bon - Boppstraße 1, 10967 (Kreuzberg)
Finding a table at Le Bon can sometimes be a bit tricky, however, it’s worth the wait if only just to try their ‘60 Minute Egg Open Sandwich’. This powerful breakfast dish is described as “one egg, slowly cooked in its shell, coated in japanese breadcrumbs and flash fried”. Magnificent. They also serve a variety of delicious boozy breakfast drinks like Cold Fashioneds and Breakfast Martinis if breakfast is all you have planned for the day.
We recommend: the ‘60 Minute Egg Open Sandwich’.
Geist im Glas - Lenaustraße 27, 12047 (Neukölln)
Though it only serves brunch on weekends, Geist is enough of a powerhouse to oust more than a few 7-day-a-week joints from this list. Serving up hangover busting American classics like the ‘Chicken In Sweet & Spicy Waffles’ and the ‘Southern Half Fry’, you’ll have no problem powering through those day-after blues and sinking some of their sublime brunch cocktails. Worth checking out in the evening for a drink or several too.
We recommend: the ‘Huevos Rancheros’. It’s incredible.
Shakespeare & Sons/Fine Bagels - Warschauer Str. 74, 10243 (Friedrichshain)
One half English-language bookstore, one half Jewish-American bakery, this is the be-all and end-all as far as bagels in Berlin are concerned. There’s no smoke and mirrors stuff here, the menu is simple: authentic NY-style bagels – piled high with your choice of toppings – and sumptuous sweet baked goods. Fine Bagels has developed such a big reputation that The New York Times popped in to see what all the fuss was about.
We recommend: any bagel combo with a side of the Cheesecake Brownie.
Albatross Bakery - Graefestraße 66/67, 10967 (Kreuzberg)
Sometimes less is more at breakfast, and all you need is a pastry and a coffee. This wholesale bakery is open from 8am-7pm, 7 days a week, and serves up some of the best croissants, cinnamon rolls and chocolate babka that money can buy in Berlin. There’s a cosy little space where you can sit and drink in those heady bread baking aromas, have your coffee and cake and then leave with a loaf of their superb sourdough.
We recommend: the giant croissants.
Allan’s Breakfast Club (and Wine Bar) - Rykestraße 13, 10405 (Prenzlauer Berg)
The only Prenzlauer Berg spot on our list, Allan’s Breakfast Club was opened in 2015 by a Frenchman called… Go on, guess. Yup, he’s called Allan. Decorated with beach and surfing paraphernalia, this joint serves up reliable and affordable breakfast plates in a great location. For poached egg options, baked brioche, banana bread, Bloody Marys and a cosy vibe, Allan’s got you covered. C’est bon.
We recommend: the ‘Eggs Benedict’. You can’t go wrong.
Das Gift - Donaustraße 119, 12043 (Neukölln)
Started by one member of Glasgow’s post-rock pioneers, Mogwai, Das Gift is better known for its Monday night Pub quizzes and stellar jukebox. Every Sunday, though, this Neukölln dive bar puts on a Scottish-inspired feast drenched in filthy goodness. There’s breakfast rolls, scotch pancakes and a traditional Scottish fry-up on the greasy spoon-style menu.
We recommend: ‘The Works’ - Full blown Scottish breakfast complete with Haggis and tattie scone. There’s even a vegan interpretation.
The Future Breakfast - Böhmische Str. 46, 12055 (Neukölln)
Sitting pretty in the beautiful Rixdorf neighbourhood of Neukölln, this cute, easy-going establishment serves delicious coffee and great-quality breakfast food with super friendly service (not always guaranteed in Berlin). The menu is simple and delicious, with items such as ‘Cheesy Toast’, ‘Eggs Benedict’ and ‘Cocoa-Buckwheat Granola’. Extra points for locally-sourced produce and plenty of choice for vegans, veggies and those with allergies.
We recommend: the ‘Dukkah Roasted Cauliflower. It’s a must.
Silo Coffee - Gabriel-Max-Straße 4, 10245 (Friedrichshain)
Another Antipodean-entry on the list, Silo has been treating Berlin to a little lick of Australian and New Zealand brunch culture since 2013. Parked right next to Boxhagener Platz, a visit to this Friedrichshain mainstay can be coupled with a stroll around the large flea market that takes place here every Sunday. The menu serves up classic breakfast dishes with a twist – e.g. pancakes, oven-baked, with raspberry & orange coulis, pistachio, mascarpone, cardamom & cinnamon syrup – and there’s plenty of vegan options, super friendly service, and a cool atmosphere to boot.
We recommend: the ‘Marinara Toast’. Great for seafood lovers.
