Coffee culture is a big thing in the bustlin’ city of Berlin, so it’s no wonder why you can find a nice hot brew on just about every corner.
As a coffee-lover, I like to get my daily dose of joe, but since I don’t have a proper coffeemaker at home – I’m no stranger to the local cafés. And if you’ve read any of my other Berlin-related posts on this website, you know I’m constantly moving, so I’m no stranger to the Berlin neighborhoods either. (Click here to find other Berlin-related posts.)
And with just as funky and unique as Berlin is, there are a lot really special cafés worth checking out – but they don’t all serve great coffee. That’s why I’m complied this detailed list for you, so you can easily find the best café in Berlin.
Cafés are separated according to neighborhood - in no particular order. *'s indicate favorite locations from */***** Rating is based on location, quality of food, consistency, and environment.
ALT-TREPTOW
Alt-Treptow is home to some of the best cafés in Berlin.
Prices are reasonable (average price in Berlin), food is delicious, location is prime, and you don’t have to fight over crowds to find a seat.
Recommendations: Be sure to walk around the canal before or after your daily dose of caffeine.
• Elsken Café ***** (THE BEST CAFé IN Berlin… for food)
This café is seriously such a gem, that I’ve really considered not sharing it on my website.
The owner opened up the café during the Corona Lockdown (about a year and a half ago) in the city and it has been growing by word-of-mouth ever since.
I dread the day this little pearl becomes mainstream.
What to have there:
- Coffee – flat whites and cappuccinos are delicious, plus they offer a small/large size for cappuccino
- Shakshuka***** – this is by far the greatest thing at this café. The best shakshuka I’ve ever had. Don’t be surprised if you come and everyone has this on their table. It’s the one thing that is served all year round.
- Sandwiches – usually always open-faced, large portions, and oh so yum
- Bowels – the bowels are always changing, especially by season, but I’ve never been disappointed
TIP: This café is not open Mondays. Check the hours for changes in summer/winter.
• Nam Am Wasser*** (THE BEST CAFé IN BERLIN… FOR LOCATION)
This café is just around the corner from Elsken.
It deserves ***** stars for location, as the tables are prime. Allowing you to sit in the sun (or shade) along the canal, by a tree. Stunning.
The prices and taste deserve *** stars. This place is definitely a little overpriced for the neighborhood. The menu is quite extensive, so you have plenty of options, but not everything is as tasty as the price you pay.
What to have here:
- Coffee – flat whites and cappuccinos are nice (slightly pricier than it’s not-so-well-known neighbor Elsken)
- Juices / Smoothies – one of the only locations in the area that offer so many combinations and options
- Quiche – the quiche here is huge, and it’s super tasty. I was definitely satisfied with portion size to price ratio.
- Cakes – the cakes here are really quite nice
TIP: Arrive early or out of peak hours. This place has a lot of space, but it fills up fast! Especially if you want to sit outside.
• Café Bread****
One of the best Turkish style cafés in Berlin with plenty of menu options including daily rotating soups and they even sell ice cream!
What to have here:
- Turkish salads and sides – excellent options. (Each portion chosen is weighed and you pay per weight.)
- Bakery sandwiches – try the roasted veg on triangle bread!
- Ice cream
The only reason I give this place ****s is because the coffee isn’t consistent. I’ve had really amazing flat whites here when prepared by one staff member and really shitty flat whites when prepared by another.
TIP: Even though it is a Turkish café/bakery and even though they do sell menemen, I strongly advise against it. The menemen here isn’t prepared authenticately. Real menemen should take about 20-25 minutes. This one comes out in 5. The portion size is small, the bread coming with it isn’t sufficient (and you have to pay for extra) and really, the taste just isn’t that great.
*****For an amazing recipe on the best scrambled eggs ever (aka menemen), check out Menemen: The Best Scrambled Eggs Ever*****
• Passenger Coffee***** (THE BEST CAFé IN BERLIN… FOR coffee)
This café near Elsken and Nam am Wasser, but closer to Treptower Park.
It’s location gives it a very neighborhood consumer vibe. Small, quaint with not much more than 2 small benches to share outside the front door. The, though, prices are some of the cheapest around for coffee.
And you can expect to have an excellent coffee here every time. No breakfast is offered… yet, but they do offer a small selection of nicely prepared sweets.
Neukoelln
• Le Brot***
A micro-sized bakery/café located a few blocks away from Rathaus Neukoelln.
Seating exists only outdoors, but tables are small and few, and an open spot is hard to come by.
What to have here:
- Croq Veg (Le Brot’s take on the Parisian croque monsieur – but vegetarian!)
TIP: If you’re going specifically for the croq veg, arrive early! These tasty sandwiches sell out fast! (Also, the location isn’t the easiest to find as the signage is quite modest. Keep your eyes peeled.)
Kreuzberg
• Ins Morgen*** (THE BEST CAFé IN BERLIN… FOR GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS)
A fairly new establishment located right next to Mortizplatz UBahn.
Seating is plentiful. Outdoors and in. The place itself is beautifully crafted, but not so conveniently setup for those sitting outside since it’s self-service here. And they have gluten-free sandwich options.
What to have here:
- Croissants! They have unique flavors, like charcoal, but lemon is my go-to.
- Gluten-free sandwiches
• Café FreiRaum***** (The best newly opened café)
This little rustically dressed café has such a homey countryside feel to it with it’s wooden furniture and small (working) fireplaces.
Seating is available inside or out, prices are reasonable, food is scrumptious, and the flat white is on point.
What more can you ask for?
What to have here:
- Flat white
- Quiche
- Carrot cake
- Loaf of bread
Friedrichshain
The neighborhood of Friedrichshain is known as being the place to be.
But when it comes to cafés, maybe not so much. I lived in this neighborhood for 4 months and I found it really difficult to find a nice coffee. But with a heavy search, there are still a few gems to mention.
Here are the best cafés in this Berlin neighborhood.
• all about***
This spot isn’t just a great spot for coffee and juice, it’s also an excellent place to plop down for a daily brunch.
Portion sizes are on the bigger side, presentation is spectacular, and a wide variety Asian fused-menu is offered.
Downside, I found the food lacked flavor, compared to the punch it packs elsewhere.
What to have here:
- Taro coffee – such a delightful surprise of a coffee and the accompanying cookie is perfect
- Flat white
- French toast
TIP: Hours here are also kind of strange, check before you go.
• KleinMein Coffee & Food***** (THE BEST CORNER CAFé)
Located a couple blocks from the SBahn station at Frankfurter Allee, this small hole-in-the-wall café is by far the best café in Berlin’s Fschain neighborhood.
If you have time, try the food – it’s amazing.
What to have here:
- Flat white/cappuccino
- Juice
- Any of the items on the prepared food menu
TIP: The owner of the place is always working there and he’s such a pleasure to converse with. Strike up a conversation with him.
• Die KaffeeFreunde***** (The best café in Berlin… FOR ALL THE GOODS WITHOUT THE CROWD)
Located near the Samariter Quarter, you’ll find this lovely café.
Flat whites are made to perfection and they have some really nice vegetarian food options that will keep you coming back for more!
Highly recommended!
What to have here:
- Flat white/cappuccino
- Bagel with turkey and BBQ sauce (it’s like a pulled pork sandwich without the pork!)
- Borscht (to try a tasty borscht recipe click here.)
Charlottenberg
Here’s another neighborhood that surprisingly lacks in the way of cafés.
I say surprisingly because this place is geared towards families, so I honestly expected more in the way of coffee, but if you know where to look, you can still find a nice flat white.
• Café Ballet***** (The best café in Berlin… for consistent flat whites)
This little café is owned by a sweet, young Russian man who is always wearing a smile and loves to crack jokes. (I highly recommend a chat with him if you have the time.)
The café itself is on the smaller side, but you won’t find yourself a better flat white in all of Berlin. This guy knows his stuff. He doesn’t offer much in the way of pastries and don’t expect to find anything savory here, but what small sweets he does offer are delicious! He also always has books around for free reading.
Definitely try this place out if you ever find yourself in the neighborhood.
What to have here:
- Flat white
- Cookies
TIP: Closed on the weekends.
• blackfox***
This locale is located on a highly trafficked corner of the main shopping street of Wilmerdorfer Strasse.
The menu is a bit pricey, but that’s due to it’s location. They do serve a decent coffee if decent Café Ballet (which is just right around the corner) is closed. They have plenty of teas, juices, and pastries to choose from. Plus the make some really lovely bagels.
Seating is plentiful inside and out, but this place fills up on Saturdays, so expect to wait for seating.
What to have here:
- Bagels
- Sweets
- Juice
Schoeneberg
• Portier***** (The best café in Berlin… for cookies)
Portier is more of a walk-up coffee place.
You’d never guess by the size… or the seating, but this little treasure is by far one of the best cafés in Berlin. Customers come for the coffee.
Pure and simple.
What to have here:
- Flat white
- Cookies (try the peanut butter – OMG)
• Mana**** (The best café in Berlin… for vegan eats)
Mana is a vegan restaurant next door to Portier.
It’s a bit pricey, but if you don’t mind spending the extra euros, you can get some really good breakfast grub here. The coffee is good, but with Portier next door, it’s a tough competition. I’d more recommend the pastries here.
(But the cappuccino is still good.) Check out their menu here.
What to have here:
- Cappuccino
- Carrot cake
- Food
Mitte
• Five Elephant Café****
A lot of cafés in Berlin sell Five Elephant Coffee and/or make their coffee with their beans.
So why not try it from the source itself?
Delicious and creative coffee menu.
What to have here:
- Anything off their coffee menu
- A sweet from the window (if there are any left!)
• Spreegold**** (The best café… for menu selection)
Okay, so Spreegold is the biggest chain-type location on this list, but it’s too good to not be mentioned.
What to have here:
- Cappuccino
- Carrot cake
- Salad
Lichtenberg
• Nadia + Kosta***** (The best café… for cheesecake)
Lovely wee café in the corner of seemingly nowhere.
Great selection of coffee, teas, and bakery items. Genuinely a true treasure to find. And if you enjoy good old fashioned friendly service, you’re sure to find it here.
Make sure to check it out if you have the chance!
What to have here:
- Flat white
- Cheesecake (this place has one of the best bakery cheesecakes, definitely a must-try!)
TIP: People arrive here before opening hours and grab tables fast, so try coming outside of the rush hours if you hope to sit and enjoy yourself while you’re here.
• Coffea***** (THE SECOND BEST CAFé IN BERLIN)
You won’t find a better well-rounded coffeeshop than this one in the Lichtenberg neighborhood.
The coffee is consistently outstanding. The pastries and food so are mouthwateringly delicious that you’ll be craving to come back to this place over and over again no matter what side of Berlin you’re living on. And the prices here are lower than you’ll find in most other coffeeshops around the city.
Beautifully rounded and one of the best cafés in Berlin’s Lichtenberg neighborhood.
What to have here:
- Flat white/Iced latte
- Banh mi
- Any of the toasty sandwiches (but please, please leave me one with walnut and goat cheese!)
TIP: The sandwiches are super cheap here and they sell out quickly, so if you arrive later in the day, you may not get to experience the delicious goodness that exists between those slices of bread.
