If you want to see something different than Mitte, we suggest you to go for a walk to Kreuzkölln, name that describes the streets around the border between the areas of Kreuzberg and Neukölln.
There you will not find any H&M, Zara, McDonalds or Burger King, but you will find the Turkish Market, small cafes and restaurant and local and vintage shops. Called now for many as "Hipsterland", it is really worth a visit to see another face of Berlin surrounded by a mix of beautiful and old buildings and the Landwehr Canal.
The district is a multi-culti place, where a lot of expats a young Berliners live, all about Turkish, who lead the Turkish Market since years now on Tuesdays and Fridays at Maybachufer.
Aslo in Maybachufer, every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month (April-October), you can do some shopping along the canal at NowKoelln Flowmarkt, where you can also enjoy some street food and live music.
We recommend you to walk or cycle following the canal, feel like a berliner bying an ice cream or a beer from the "späti" and have it on the "Admiralbrücke" or on a bench looking at the swans and ducks (obviously better in spring or summer).
Here there are some local recommendations...
For foodies:
- Chicha: delicious Peruvian food at the Friedelstraße. Ideal for evenings with friends.
- Cafe Jacques:more romantic place, also nice to bring your partner for dinner, but also with a nice menu for breakfast.
- Eiscafé Isabel: is located in a very pleasant part of Kreuzberg, across the Landwehrkanal. Get a take-away delicious ice cream for a bit more than 1 euro.
- The Bread Station: probably the best bread you can find in Berlin. Have a "brötchen" or a croissant with a coffee to sit in or to take away in Maybachufer.
- Gotcilla: great Japanese BBQ tapas in Wesserstraße.
- Galatea: amazing wine and Spanish products such as chorizo, olives, cheese... with different live music most of the nights. Also charming to enjoy with a special one.
- Jockel Biergarten: it should be a Biergarten next to the water... Get a bratwurst and a bier and enjoy an open-air space.
- Lager Lager: if you are a craft beer lover, here is your shop. Maybe Berlin craft beers to take away or drink inside.
- Burrito Baby: let's move to Mexican food, one of the best burritos in Berlin.
- Berlinburger International: in the top list of Burger places in Berlin. Small place and always crowded... but for a good reason
- The Bird: another burger place, but more as a proper restaurant than a fast-food place. The portions are huge, and also the price is not that small.
- Jimmy Woo: another Asian touch that worth to be mentioned.
Another interesting places are Il Kino, where to eat an Italian "aperitivo" and go for a movie or Hepcats Corner, where to dance swing, salsa cubana or watch asilent movieon Thursdays.
For shopping...
- Sing Blackbird: A little and cosy boutique and cafe at Sanderstraße.
- Bohei: Get some special "souvenirs" here, you can find special designs for bags, wallets, magnets, postcards...
- Bass Cadet Record Store / DBR: For music lovers.
- Chrome Store: modern vintage and current collections by Berlin designers.
- LeMagass: A beautiful and friendly vintage shop in Reuterkiez
- Let them Eat Cake and Oh Mini I am: both are located at the same address in Wesserstraße. Ideal if you like 90s style.
- Obst und Gemüse: shop and atelier with high quality handmade fashion from five designers
- Shio: focus on handcraft and up-cycling. Australian fashion designer and Shio’s owner Kate Pinkstone breaths new life into second hand garments.
After reading all this, you can understand why Kreuzkölln attracts hipsters, but also many other kinds of people, including tourist! Do not miss it!
