This summer, Berlin is going to be fun! With the Upside Cown a new selfie playground is opening in the capital, the BVG is launching a 50-metre super-long Urbanliner and sushi is now available as a burger. And the Literatur Café invites you to high tea in a former British officers' club! There's a lot to discover: The top 11 new openings in July.
Tip 1: Literatur Café moves to the Club International
You'll feel like you've been transported to a novel from the 1920s at the new location of the café at the Literaturhaus. It will be relocated to the Club International in the Westend for the redevelopment period of the Literaturhaus. This is where English officers used to meet for tennis and high tea. Today, people meet here for sport and informal socialising - in the fine English way, of course. The patron of the club is King Charles III, so get dressed up and enjoy a little aristocratic flair.
When: Monday to Sunday 9am - midnight
Where: Thüringer Allee 5 -11, Charlottenburg
Tip 2: New selfie playground invites you to Upside Down fun
With the Upside Down, Berlin now has another social media playground. In different rooms, the photo backdrop for your immersive selfie experience is turned upside down using optical illusions and interactive elements. You can meet the Berlin Bear, David Bowie or enter a pulsating techno hallway. Colourful snacks and drinks await you in the café. And there are also four karaoke boxes!
When: from 23. July - Book tickets now
Where: The Playce at Potdamer Platz, Alte Potsdamer Straße 7, Mitte
Tip 3: New queer collective Kottilesben founded
The new queer art collective Kottilesben aims to ensure more queer visibility with exhibitions, events and projects. Behind the idea of the collective is a group of creative and artistic people, who feel at home in the LGBTQ+ scene and want to explore together what exactly constitutes queer culture. "What customs, codes, symbols and perhaps even clichés define the LGBTQIA+ community?" says the press release. Kottilesben provides information about current topics and events on Instagram.
Tip 4: Kai Matcha House
Matcha fans take note! A new café has opened right next to Mauerpark just in time for the summer season. And, you've probably already guessed it: The speciality is matcha latte, freshly stirred, refined with fruit on request and, of course, on ice. Choose between mango or strawberry matcha - and your favourite vegan or non-vegan milk. There are also small delicacies.
When: Tuesday to Thursday 11am - 6pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am - 7pm
Where: Eberswalder Straße 2, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: Crunchy sushi burger in Charlottenburg
Fusion, the new hot spot for shushi lovers in Charlottenburg, is the place to get your fill of sushi. The sushi burgers themselves are available in three variations, vegetarian, with chicken or with salmon, wrapped in seaweed and breadcrumbs, the sushi balls are deep-fried for a few minutes and then served golden and crispy with the sauce of your choice. The Taki burgers with melted cheese are also brand new. Of course, you can also get classic sushi and healthy rice bowls. It's all a matter of taste. If you want traditional sushi, we have a few extra tips for you here:
When: daily 11 am - 11 pm
Where: Uhlandstraße 184, Charlottenburg
Tip 6: Om Mani serves fresh Asian cuisine
New in the Adlershof Technology Park, the restaurant Om Mani will spoil you with fresh East Asian cuisine. From pho soup to curries and poke bowls, you'll find something to suit every taste and budget. Om Mani is taking over the premises from Mr Wu. Tip: There is a 20 per cent new opening discount on all dishes until mid-July.
When: Monday to Friday 11.30 am - 10 pm, Saturday & Sunday 12.30 - 10 pm
Where: Am Studio 1, Adlershof
Tip 7: Pop-up Gallery Lichtenberg brings art to the Ring Center
Art in a shopping centre - this seems to be developing into quite a successful concept in Berlin. Examples include the Kommunale Galerie on the first floor of Boulevard Berlin in Steglitz and the CANK exhibition installations in the former C&A building as part of 48 Stunden Neukölln. From 16 July, Lichtenberg will now have a pop-up gallery in a vacant space on the ground floor of the Ring Center. The temporary art exhibition will feature 14 Lichtenberg artists and is freely accessible. The exhibition will change after the first three weeks. So you can always discover new local art here.
When: from 16 July. July
Where: Frankfurter Allee 111, Lichtenberg
More galleries & exhibition spaces
Tip 8: Berlin's longest ride comes with the new Urbanliner
The new tram generation of the BVG is extra long: With a length of 50 metres, a width of 2.40 metres and space for up to 312 passengers, the Urbanliner sets completely new dimensions in terms of local public transport. On 4 July, BVG presented the first new Urbanliner, which started its premiere journey through the city on the M4 line. In future, the Urbanliners will primarily be used on Berlin's busiest tram lines - probably from the 1st quarter of 2025.
When: from the 1st quarter of 2025
Where: Tram line M4
More about public transport in Berlin
Tip 9: Rails brings Californian fashion to Berlin
The fashion label from Los Angelesis bringing light and airy Californian fashion to the capital just in time for Berlin midsummer. From casual to sporty-chic, you'll find a wide selection of high-quality garments that will dress you perfectly for everything from beach holidays to weddings. The catalogue includes fashion for men and women, as well as an eco and denim collection.
When: Monday to Saturday 11am- 7pm
Where: Alte Schönhauser Straße 38, Mitte
Tip 10: New online portal shows "Collection items from colonial contexts"
Where do the artefacts, jewellery and tools in the museum display cases actually come from? The new online portal of the German Digital Library provides information about this. At the launch, you can find information on more than 100,000 objects from areas that were once under formal colonial rule or in which colonial structures had and continue to have an impact. Cultural assets that have already been restituted, i.e. returned to their countries of origin, are also listed on the portal. An exciting journey through history and an important step towards greater transparency, especially for the societies of origin. The portal is open and freely accessible to all interested parties and is constantly being expanded.
Where: https://ccc.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek
Museums in Berlin
Tip 11: Playground in Welfenallee in Frohnau
Sometimes it's the little things that bring great joy. One example is the children's playground in Welfenallee in Frohnau, which, thanks to its water elements, is a popular meeting place for children and families, especially in the hot summer weeks. Following the renovation and extension work, the fairytale playground is now inviting with new elements, such as a field mouse seesaw, a functioning play fountain and the Gretel climbing frame. The official opening is on 11 July at 10.15 am!
When: daily
Where: Welfenallee Frohnau
