Berlin is an overwhelming city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and plenty of landmarks, historical sites and cultural venues to visit. It is a city with many elegant restaurants, romantic cafes and lively bars. There are however some nice little places that have a lovely atmosphere and where one could feel as if at home and here I will try to present these few special spots, which are favoured by the locals and most probably will be overlooked by the traveller unless one has that special inside information.
Among the first places that grab the attention is the homely pub Schwarze Pumpe, where one could try some delicious meals and even if one is not hungry at all, one can end up ordering a few meals as the warm atmosphere and the pleasant interior just makes one keen to do so! The Schwarze Pumpe pub is favourite among the locals and is not well-known among the tourists. It has a welcoming atmosphere and old-fashioned appeal, which creates a homely feeling to which one could add the friendly attitude of the staff. Here one could order the daily specialties such as the Fenchel Tomaten Suppe, the cheese Spatzle or the meal Grunkohl in Krauter. The prices are just reasonable and thus the place is very popular for a Sunday brunch. Here is the café’s web address: http://www.schwarzepumpe-berlin.de/index.html
Another place that should not be missed in Berlin city is the Visual Café, which is a place where one can sit and contemplate life over a cup of hot coffee or tea. The customers are mainly locals, students or staff from the nearby School of Visual Hands for deaf people. There is no music here, but still the place is amazing if one wants to be able hear one’s own thoughts in this busy city. The address of the Visual Café is: Schulzestraße 1, Outer – North&East.
Those who love books will enjoy the Buchkantine café, which has a new venue now and later opening hours. The place is a street away from the river and offers a pleasant atmosphere surrounded by many new and old books. Most of the books are in German, but there are many English titles as well. Besides that, the music played is relaxed and there is also free wireless internet available. The place is great for a quiet afternoon. The address of Buchkantine café is here – http://www.buchkantine.de/
The last café to be featured here is Café Cinema, where one could find it difficult to find a table! The place is among the most sought after venues for the locals and features an interior of old movie posters, film-set lighting above, tasteful though simple furniture and candles on each of the tables. The atmosphere is very cosy and the music is just wonderful. The staff is very friendly and the prices are reasonable. Highly recommended are the fried eggs with salad, the stew with bread and the cocktails. The place is open until late and is always full of people, talking and enjoying themselves. The address of the café is on Rosenthaler Straße 39.