The Berlin food scene is one of the best things that the city has to offer. With everything from weekly farmers’ markets to late-night cheap eats and street food, here’s a list of some of the can’t-miss spots for your next visit.
Markthalle Neun and Street Food Thursdays
Street Food Thursdays? More like street food heaven. Every Thursday evening, Markthalle Neun graces Berlin with cheap eats from all over the world. Options range from delicacies like Himalayan soup and filled chimney cakes, to traditional favorites like mac & cheese and currywurst, to everything in between: burrata grilled cheese, “beef balls”, and pastrami burgers are just a handful of the hundreds of available bites. The locals tend to start with a beer or glass of wine, then wander the market to choose their feast. Before leaving, make sure to satisfy that sweet tooth. Lemon vanilla-filled cream puffs or a freshly baked pastry will never disappoint. Or, try a crowd favorite like ice cream. Markthalle Neun takes the term “ice cream truck” to a new level: in the center of all the market’s action is an old yellow Mercedes van selling ice cream to young and old alike. The only thing missing is the truck’s telltale jingle.
Mauerpark Flea Market
Every Sunday, Mauerpark transforms from a rundown neighborhood park into a vibrant flea market, riddled with sunbathers, family barbecues, makeshift dance parties, and of course, delicious street food. Visitors are advised to come hungry so that they can take advantage of cheap eats like currywurst, pitas, roasted corn-on-the-cob, crepes, and ice-cream smothered waffles. Gorge yourself on kumpir and pretzels before wandering through the stalls, where you’re bound to come across the traditional apparel, jewelry, old record, and household goods common to other flea markets. Keep an eye out though for those stands that give Mauerpark its true flavor: vendors that offer sunglass tinting lessons, “edible wine,” and “Mr. Pink’s famous chocolate balls” are just a few. Finally, a trip is incomplete without grabbing a beer from the street food section and meandering over to the amphitheater to sing your heart out at one of Mauerpark’s finest attractions: karaoke. If you didn’t participate in the Sunday afternoon karaoke session at Mauerpark, did you even go to Berlin?
Brandenburg Market on Wittenburgplatz
Brandenburg Market is on the smaller side for Berlin standards. With roughly 50 stalls, visitors can get through in a quick trip – perfect if you show up famished but feel the need to survey all your options before dining! Located across the street from the famous Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) department store, the market stalls are a stark contrast from the expansive, high-end food court that you’ll find on KaDeWe’s 6th floor. While KaDeWe has entire sections of the floor dedicated to champagne counters, freshly caught seafood, and gold-dusted strawberries, you’ll find a local, low-key, and low-budget vibe at Brandenburg Market. Wursts start at €2, and that’s just the beginning. The market is riddled with stands selling quiche, pastries, pork and sauerkraut, pizza, sandwiches, and more. If you’re in the area, Brandenburg Market is the perfect pit stop for a lunch or snack that will be kind to your wallet.
Hole-in-the-wall stands: currywurst, burgers, falafel, schnitzel…
Fries & burgers & wursts, oh my! The Berlin food scene is dominated by cheap eats, especially at hole-in-the-wall food stands that sell all the greasy, late-night food you could ever desire. Visit almost any Berlin döner kebab stand, and you’ll find succulent, rich meat accentuated with crisp vegetables, melt-in-your-mouth feta salad, and delightfully tangy sauce, all enveloped in perfectly toasted bread like a warm hug. Looking for a tried and true classic? Try a burger and fries from Burgermeister: your mother’s worst nightmare. The former public toilet house was converted into a fast food burger joint in 2006 and has been attracting tourists and locals alike ever since. Like every other public (women’s) toilet in the world, there’s always a wait. Famished and searching for the nearest cheap eat you can find? Falafel, schnitzel, currywurst, and flammkuchen round out the group as Berliner favorites and can be found on nearly every block.