Berlin blog
Our most recent articles with recommendations and the most up-to-date happenings in this vibrant city!
Christmas Markets in Berlin
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Festive season has kicked off in the capital, which makes milling around Berlin’s huge selection of Christmas Markets an absolute must. With estimates ranging from 60 – 100 over the advent period, it’s best to hone your selection to avoid Glühwein fatigue. Thankfully, there are a couple of standout markets that manage to show the best of Berlin at Christmas time.
50th anniversary of Gropiusstadt
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius’s Berlin legacy stretches far across the city. For a wander through the principles governing his design aesthetic, head to the south of Berlin for Gropiusstadt, a housing estate in the city’s Neukölln area.
Literature Fest 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
For those of us who don’t head back to school anymore in the fall, the annual International Literature Festival is a welcome intellectual pick-me-up after summer’s lazy lounging. The feast of readings and events is celebrating its twelfth year, with the usual bounty of amazing authors from around the world.
Komische Oper
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Miniloft guests enjoy a 10% discount at the golden Komische Oper, the most beautiful of Berlin's three opera houses (especially not that the Staatsoper is undergoing years-long renovations). They have a new director this year, the Australia Barrie Kosky, formerly of the Schauspielhaus Wien.
Pantry
Monday, June 25, 2012
The newly-opened Pantry is tucked discreetly behind a wall of bamboo on busy Friedrichstrasse. It's easy to walk right by, but it deserves to be a destination! We're pleased that it fits in so nicely in our culinary neighborhood: we have delicious quick-eats options in Risotto and Dada Falafel, the high-end, Michelin-starred Rutz and Reinstoff, and now Pantry joins the always-delicious La Bonne Franquette as an appealing mid-range option. They specialize in “Iberian-Pacific” cuisine, with flavorful, distinctive fare and a selective, changing menu.
Creative Sustainability Tours
Monday, June 25, 2012
Looking for an insider's perspective into what makes Berlin such a unique place? The city has a fascinating history, of course, but now Creative Sustainability Tours also show you the people and places that are creating its future. The intelligent, interesting tours help you discover Berlin’s unique, local initiatives.
Rice Up Onigiri
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Everyone's excited that you can finally get some healthy food on the go around here - handy little Japanese rice packages called Onigiri, yummy fillings wrapped in rice and seaweed. Dada's döner and falafel are excellent, of course, but it's nice to have another option (that's not currywurst, bless its ketchupy soul). Rice Up Onigiri has two locations so far - their little shop on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Oranienburger Strasse is a delight
Re:Surgo
Friday, May 18, 2012
Re:Surgo, helmed by Anna Hellsgård & Christan Gfeller, creates beautiful and strange prints and limited edition books. Check out their screenprints, collages, gig posters, screenprinted zines and affordable works of art at their shop on Torstrasse. With most pieces priced between 20 and 70 euros, it really is art for all!
dOCUMENTA
Thursday, May 3, 2012
dOCUMENTA (13) is almost upon us! This gigantic, prestigious art event happens only once every five years, for a nice even 100 days. Get ready to dive in: In June 2012, over 160 artists and other participants from around the world present their works all over the city of Kassel, including sculpture, performance, installation, research and archiving, painting, photography, film, curatorial, text-based and audio works as well as other experiments in the fields of aesthetics, art, politics, literature, science, and ecology.
Yoli
Thursday, April 19, 2012
"What is this frozen yogurt stuff?" my East German mother-in-law asked me curiously. "Have you tried it?" I assured her that yes, it had been an inescapable part of my American childhood. Last summer, frozen yogurt became the latest food craze in Berlin, and an avalanche of shops serving the creamy fat-free frozen sweet overtook the city. Yoli was first on the scene, and is still the best and tastiest, as evidenced by their quick expansion to two other locations. Their minimalist white shops pop with colorful neon details, quirky drawings on the plate-glass windows, and a mouth-watering array of toppings and fruits on display behind the counter. It's pricier than your standard euro-a-scoop ice cream, but worth it.