There's no getting around it - Berlin's reputation for its raucous nightlife precedes itself. But who has the desire to head out to a club at midnight anymore? Thankfully the German capital is also a city of culture, history and excellent eateries that span cuisines from across the world, all crafted exceptionally well.

Here's where to make a reservation during your next visit.

Best For: Brunch

Left to Right: Annelies, House of Small Wonder & Benedict.

Annelies

An intimate neighborhood café in Berlin Kreuzberg known for its creative and quality-focused menus, Annelies is one of the stars of the city's brunch scene, perhaps mainly because it doesn't rely on avocado monotony to draw its punters in. Boasting a small yet mighty menu of just seven dishes, choose between the likes of a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich made with a sesame pancake bun or the scrambled eggs served on sourdough toast and topped with grated smoked egg yolk, or the fluffy buttermilk pancakes to name a few.

Sadly they don't take reservations so try to arrive early to avoid the queues, but if you've not been out too late the night before, you should have an advantage.

House of Small Wonder

Regularly name-checked as one of the best places to eat in Berlin, House of Small Wonder serves up a delightful Japanese-inspired brunch in an intimate setting.

Originally hailing from Brooklyn, the Berlin outpost relocated to the historical Jewish Girls School on Augustraße in Mitte, and you can find a seat among its many house plants as you peruse its all-day menu that features the likes of avocado smash with sesame oil on zucchini bread topped with sprouts, wakame, shichimi and poached eggs.

Benedict

As the name suggests, Benedict, in West Berlin, is a place you can't go wrong when it comes to eggs. Serving up morning staples 24 hours a day, highlights include the egg balls, knuckle sandwich and not surprisingly, the Eggs Benedict, which you can have in various ways.

Fun fact: Eggs Benedict was invented in the 19th century by Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stockbroker who ordered buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon and Hollandaise sauce at the Waldorf Hotel, hoping to cure his hangover. The restaurant’s maître d’hôtel was so impressed with the spontaneous dish that he put it on the breakfast and luncheon menus.

Best For: Lunch

Left to Right: Kannan, Café Pilz & Konnopke’s Imbiss

Kanaan

Looking for the best hummus in town? Look no further than Kanaan. Founded by a Palestinian and an Israeli, the restaurant was forced to shut its doors when the war broke out in October 2023, but having now reopened as an 'island of peace', owners Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit are back serving up a wide variety of small plates for lunch (you can get equally as good big portions of mezze and mains to share for dinner.)

From beetroot carpaccio in a date, pomegranate and balsamic dressing to babaganoush, pickles in a curry sauce and spicy pepper dip, we recommend ordering plenty of different dishes to share.

Café Pilz

When a restaurant is regularly frequented by locals, you know it's a real gem. Another Middle Eastern culinary institution, this casual vegan Levantine eatery is on a quieter street in the trendy Schillerkiez neighbourhood and is full of the fresh flavours that define the region’s cuisines without any fish or meat products.

Think crispy potatoes, tahini-coated cauliflower and labneh with homemade bread, it all comes washed down with some lovely Lebanese wine. Don't worry if there's a queue - it moves quickly and is most certainly worth the wait.

Konnopke’s Imbiss

You can't leave Berlin without trying its legendary currywurst, and Konnopke’s serves up some of the best in the business. Hidden away under a subway line in Prenzlauer Berg, it was here that East Berlin’s first currywurst was sold back in 1960, and this place has been an institution ever since. It's the only place we head for sausages (of numerous varieties) and curry sauce with a sliding spice scale.

Best For: Dinner

Left to Right: Tim Raue, Eins44 & Nobelhart & Schmutzig

Tim Raue

A proud member of the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and also recognised by the Michelin Guide, it's safe to say Tim Raue is one of Berlin's best fine dining establishments. Nestled in a working-class neighbourhood near Berlin's former border crossing Checkpoint Charlie, where Raue grew up, what it lacks for in looks it makes up for in ingredients, with chefs serving up a fusion of flavours inspired by Japan, Thailand and China.

Choose from a selection of set menus dubbed Kolibri x Berlin (a tribute to Berlin) and Koi, with Raue's signature dishes of Wasabi Langoustine and Duck 'Anne-Marie' available throughout. Throw in a vegan set menu and an excellent selection of wine and everybody should be happy.

Eins44

Based in an old distillery in Neukolln, Eins44 is all about fine dining and seasonal, contemporary cuisine courtesy of Daniel Achilles. Boasting aesthetically-pleasing interiors (think large metal ceiling lamps and tables set into cast iron frames, heavy utility, floor-to-ceiling windows and off-white ceramic tiles), it's a stunning place to enjoy a small, ever-changing menu which has included the likes of stuffed calamaretti in lobster stock and suckling pig with artichoke. It may set you back a pretty penny, but you can't put a price on food this good.

Nobelhart & Schmutzig

Dubbed 'Germany’s most political restaurant’, Nobelhart & Schmutzig has been committed to serving only ingredients from the greater Berlin region since it opened in 2015, and it must be doing something right - it has one Michelin star to show for it.

Headed up by owner Billy Wagner and chef Micha Schäfer, diners can expect a six-course dinner with exquisite wine pairing, with a set number of seats located at the counter by the open kitchen. It's worth keeping in mind that these are in particularly high demand, though.

Top tip: come Tuesday - Thursday for a more inexpensive meal.