It's best to grab a quick bite to eat - in the hustle and bustle of city life, there is often little time for an extensive lunch break. In addition to currywurst and kebabs, Berlin also has many upscale restaurants for an extensive lunch break. Here you can dine in an exquisite ambience with a view of the Spree, immerse yourself in French and Italian cuisine and let TV star chefs take you on culinary journeys around the world. Here are our top 11 restaurants for a delicious lunch.
Tip 1: Follow Tim Raue on his culinary journeys around the world
We don't need to introduce you to the owner of this restaurant. Tim Raue is a household name in German gastronomy. And rightly so! With his restaurant in the heart of Berlin, the top chef brings international flair to the capital. Here he brings his culinary discoveries from travelling around the world to your plate and enchants you with multi-course menus. Of course, this also applies to vegans, for whom Tim Raue creates a special menu without any animal products.
Where: Rudi-Dutschke-Straße 26, Kreuzberg
When: Saturday 12 - 15:30
Tip 2: Feast like God in France at Louis Laurent
French savoir vivre in the capital. This of course means the Louis Laurent in Charlottenburg. For many, the smart restaurant has long since become a second home. If you are also looking for French savoir vivre with authentic cuisine and exquisite wines, this is the place for you. During the week, the Louis Laurent invites you to a two-course business lunch or à la carte. At the weekend, classics such as steak frites or fried salmon fillet are served.
Where: Giesebrechtstraße 16, Charlottenburg
When: Monday to Friday from 12, Saturday and Sunday from 10am
Tip 3: Sharpen your chopsticks at Sticks'n'Sushi
Japanese tradition meets Danish anarchism. What sounds like a somewhat wild mixture harmonises beautifully on the palate. The idea came from three Danish brothers, who opened Copenhagen's first sushi restaurant in 1994. There are now also three branches in Berlin, where you can enjoy the sushi and yakitori creations. The best way to do this is with the afternoon menus. From 12 to 5 pm, you can enjoy specially created menus that are perfect for an extensive lunch or an afternoon snack.
Where: Potsdamer Straße 85, Tiergarten, Torstraße 171, Mitte, and Kantstraße 152, Charlottenburg
When: Monday to Friday 12 - 5 pm
Tip 4: Dine relaxed at Carl & Sophie
Relaxed lunches for people with little time - that's how the Quicklunch concept at Carl & Sophie can be summarised. The four courses of the menu are served together. This saves time and creates very special synergies between the dishes. The location itself also contributes to the relaxed experience. The atmosphere of the bright restaurant on the grounds of the Old Meierei in Moabit will have you in balance in no time at all. You'll be happy to stay a little longer for a quick lunch.
Where: Alt-Moabit 99, Moabit
When: Daily 11:30 - 3 pm
Tip 5: Slow down for lunch at Happa
The Happa has one of those stories that only Berlin can tell. The two founders Nina and Sophie had each been dreaming of their own restaurant for a long time, but the perfect partner was still missing. They finally met in 2017 and realised their dream of an analogue place where delicious food is combined with social and ecological appreciation. At Happa, you can enjoy vegan creations made from regional and seasonal products. You can eat on site or take the dishes with you in environmentally friendly packaging in the rebowl/recup deposit system.
Where: Schlesische Straße 35A, Kreuzberg
When: Monday to Thursday 12 - 3 pm
Tip 6: Enjoy regional Italian cuisine at Il Calice
At Il Calice, you can expect timeless Italian classics with a contemporary twist. The kitchen team led by Bruno Palmieri, Alessandro Porcu and Louis Bragato has set out in search of authentic, regional Italian cuisine. They present the result to you with the weekly changing lunch menu in two courses. With each course, you are spoilt for choice between fresh salads, gazpachos, the pasta of the day or the finest meat and fish from sustainable sources.
Where: Walter-Benjamin-Platz 4, Charlottenburg
When: Tuesday to Friday from 12 am, Saturday from 1 pm
Tip 7: Celebrate Italian lunch at Bocca di Bacco
For more than 20 years, Bocca di Bacco has been celebrating, preserving and constantly reinventing Italian cuisine. A little insider tip is the business lunch during the week. You can come to Bocca di Bacco for a two or three-course menu until 3 pm. Here you will be shown why Italian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world. Because dishes such as Gnocchi with monkfish or Saltimbocca alla Romana are the highlight of every day. And the team at Bocca di Bacco celebrates this every day
Where: Friedrichstraße 167/168, Mitte
When: Monday to Saturday 12 - 4 pm
Tip 8: Taste your way through delicious sushi creations at Dudu31
At Dudu31, you can expect delicious fish creations in all variations. The smart restaurant on Bleibtreustraße in Wilmersdorf has been serving sushi since 2016. And obviously meets the taste of Berliners exactly: The restaurant is always busy. But you're sure to find a free seat at the long table. Incidentally, this also applies to vegetarians and vegans. You can also enjoy the sushi at Dudu31 without animal products if you wish.
Where: Bleibtreustraße 31, Wilmersdorf
When: Daily from 12 noon
Tip 9: Discover Parisian culinary delights at Grand Café Saint Germain
The Grand Café Saint Germain is an institution in Berlin's restaurant landscape. As a typical Parisian brasserie, it bridges the gap between hungry capital city stomachs and exquisite French cuisine. You can enjoy the business lunch à la carte during the week from 12 noon to 3 pm. The four-course menu is really celebrated here and gets you ready for the second half of the day. If you don't have any more plans, you can also sit here and pass the time until the cocktail bar at Grand Café Saint Germain opens in the evening.
Where: Savignyplatz 13, Charlottenburg
When: Monday to Friday 12 - 3 pm
Tip 10: Dine your way around the Mediterranean at Mina
Where the east of the city used to be separated from the west, Italian cuisine and oriental flavours are now combined. Mina is located directly on the waterfront at the East Side Gallery. Here you can enjoy Mediterranean dishes with a marvellous view over the gently flowing Spree. The menu ranges from baba ghanoush and hummus to Iberian ham, caviar, homemade pizza and steaks. More than enough choice for extended lunch breaks with friends and colleagues.
Where: Mühlenstraße 61-64, Friedrichshain
When: Daily from 12 am
International cuisine in Berlin
Tip 11: Spend the day having lunch at Ganymed
If you fancy fish and grilled food at lunchtime, there is really only one option: Ganymed am Fischbauerdamm. The French brasserie serves freshly caught delicacies and grilled classics at the highest culinary level. The lunch times are also in keeping with the French custom of extensive dining: It starts at 12 noon for those who have plans for the afternoon. If you prefer to let yourself drift, you can also have your lunch at 5 pm - and go straight from lunch to dinner.
Where: Schiffbauerdamm 5, Mitte
When: Daily 12 - 5 pm
