Berlin is a city with a history which is as deep and rich as it is often dark and disturbing and the scars of its embattled past are everywhere to be seen. But the city does nothing to mask or cover up the ugliness of these scars, instead laying them open as a reminder of what has gone before. It’s a tribute to the German people that they so boldly leave exposed the hard facts of their history as a warning to future generations of Germans and the millions of people who visit the city every year.
No first visit to Berlin would be complete without spending time exploring the darker side of the city’s past and a visit to the “Topography of Terror” museum (on the site of the former SS headquarters) is an unflinching examination of the Nazi’s party’s rise to power, their worst atrocities and their eventual demise. It’s brutal and at times disturbing but will give you an incredible sense of how a city, a nation and a people can recover from the utter brutality of their past – which will make you love this city all the more.
Eat like a Lokal
An unassuming corner site on Linienstraße (Linienstraße 160, 10115 - in the central Mitte district) houses Lokal, a fantastic example of the city’s sustainable ‘farm to fork’ restaurant scene. With a small menu of seasonal, locally sourced German dishes, the cuisine is simple and hearty but always inventive.
Drink like a star
Odessa (Torstraße 89, D-10119 - also in Mitte) channels old school Hollywood glamour with new found hipster-adjacent details for a dark, luxurious and seriously cool cocktail bar. Try a Rusty Nail – a mix of Scotch and Drumbuie with bitters and orange zest for something smoky, sharp and sweet all at the same time.
Brunch like a Berliner
Berlin is undoubtedly a party city, with everything from hipster speakeasies to the world’s most exclusive nightclub on offer – whatever you get up to on your night out, you’ll need a lie in the next day and something substantial to eat when you finally get up. Thankfully, Berlin offers a panoply of potential brunch spots with our favourite being Geist im Glas (Lenaustrasse 27, Kreuzberg, 12047) in the trendy Kreuzberg area (think Hoxton circa 2004). If you’re staying in the central Mitte area, try Distrikt (Bergstraße 68, 10115) but be prepared to wait for a table if visiting on a weekend morning or during a public holiday.
Play like a geek
Computerspielemuseum is a fascinating, fun and interactive museum which charts the development of computer gaming from its most rudimentary beginnings to the current fully immersive VR worlds. With playable demos at every stage it is a worthwhile diversion for a couple of hours for anyone wanting to geek out on some retro game platforms.
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