Hey there, here are some cool things to do in berlin that are not too touristy :)
Activities
~ Herzberg Golf (really pretty minigolf place in Neukölln, if you go in the evening the lights are amazing)
~ Prachtwerk Neukölln (small venue where local artists perform)
~ Berlinische Galerie (museum for modern art in a nice neighborhood)
~ Tempelhofer Feld (used to be an airport, now its just a giant field where you can skate, picknick or just walk around - i think you can rent skates or bikes there, not sure tho)
~ Humboldt Forum (art museum in an old castle, very impressive structure and they have changing exhibitions - this one is not very unknown but worth a visit)
Food
~ La Maison (french bakery in Kreuzberg, a little hipstery but they have amazing pastries!)
~ La Bolognina (handmade pasta, very delicious :))
~ La femme (turkish cuisine, they have multiple restaurants in berlin - the food is heavenly, especially the pide)
~ Sahara Imbiss (for a quick snack, sahara has amazing falafel/halloumi etc. for 4-5€)
Bars
~ Villa Neukölln (cocktails and sometimes livemusic, can get pretty crowded tho so come early)
~ Zum starken August (amazing interior, they have good cocktails and sometimes burlesque performances)
I think thats it for now, hope you have a nice time in berlin :)
Sep 16, 2024
Related Recs
Food and Drink
Xaver’s for slightly dressed up Bavarian food that is locally sourced (they list their bakers & butchers on the menu)
KANSO serves gorgeous pour over coffee, you select your bean based on flavor profile (your mood and taste, really) and they expertly prepare it, serving in a ceramic cup
Haufbräuhaus München is a 16th century beer hall that serves massive pretzels, giant steins of beer, pork shanks, and schnitzel. It IS touristy but the food is quite good and they have a traditional Bavarian band playing live music while you eat.
Café Cosmos is a bar/cafe that has one of the best patios I’ve ever seen. Everyone at the bar is cool.
Museums
Pinakothek der Moderne for their permanent collection, especially the design exhibitions on the lower level
Museum Brandhorst for the stellar Cy Twombly site-specific painting installation and their amazing selection of Warhol’s
Lenbachhaus for cool conceptual art exhibitions, Blau Reuter collection, and old house museum in the middle.
Glyptothek for Egyptian art in a highly contemporary building.
Shopping
SODA has an incredible selection of zines, art, design, and architecture books, as well as limited print edition magazines.
Alois Dallmayr is a gorgeous splurge-worthy upscale food market with a number of sections. Might be a nice place to grab edible souvenirs like tinned fish, rillettes, and candy. We had a very good pretzel and a raspberry jelly donut.
Docks LP & CD is a solid used record store.
Viktualienmarkt is a giant central food market with stalls that carry produce, olives & pickled delicacies, cheese, bread, etc. Since it’s summer, you could totally shop for a picnic then bring it to the river to dine outside.
Misc. Tips
Go to a movie! We saw a movie at the City-Atelier Kinos which had the coolest interior design! Double check that the movie you’re seeing is in the language you speak if you don’t speak German.
If you are there on a Sunday, everything is closed aside from museums, coffeeshops, and restaurants.
A lot of the museums are 1 Euro on Sunday. And you might want to check your bag, carry change for the lockers.
Stock up on Weleda skincare products while you’re there.
There aren’t a ton of free public bathrooms. Carry change for getting into bathrooms.
Mar 21, 2025
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super cozy and cheapish. I used to come there all the time! some other good stops:
- Space Meduza (funky vibes)
- Sameheads (even funkier and has cool events in the daytime)
- Wohnzimmerbar (cozy + in a nice location)
- Mein Haus am See (classic!)
- Am einen Sonntag in August (quintessential Berlin)
- Kapitalist (cute)
Apr 28, 2024
Top Recs from @gay_lime_lobster
is a japanese magazine about art, design and travel. i mostly read the photography articles and haven't had time to check out their other stuff, but those alone are really cool :) definitely worth a read if you're into japanese culture
Sep 30, 2024
try to visit as many onsens as possible, it was one of the best experiences i had in japan! there is nothing like soaking in hot water after walking around in the city all day - and it only costs 3-5€. if you've never been to an onsen you should look up a tutorial beforehand, because there are some rules that are important to know. i also suggest visiting an onsen in the city center for your first time, because they are used to tourists and are more likely to have english signs. i linked an article with some onsens in tokyo, i hope you try one and have an amazing time in japan!
Oct 2, 2024
sitting on my balcony in the autumn sun while listening to this song - perfection
Oct 18, 2024