Berlin Chefs' Top Restaurant Picks: Where Locals Love to Eat

For many years, Berlin’s food scene was often described as unadventurous. In recent times, however, the city has experienced a culinary renaissance: talented local chefs, acclaimed international restaurants and inventive dining concepts have transformed Berlin into a destination for food lovers who value excellent cuisine, distinctive restaurant design and welcoming service. Here, nine of the city’s leading chefs and restaurateurs share their favorite places to eat in Berlin.

“Berlin has the most interesting restaurant scene in Germany,” says Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin. “Together with some of the city’s most innovative chefs, managers and restaurant owners, we act as guides for our guests. After all, dining well is one of our visitors’ favorite activities.”

The chefs’ recommendations span trendy cafés and lively street-food markets to international specialties and Michelin-starred fine dining. Sustainability is a recurring theme: many recommended venues emphasize regional ingredients, seasonal menus and efficient production practices. These curated tips appear on the visitBerlin.de website and are also showcased on Instagram, where food influencers test and highlight the selections.

According to visitBerlin’s guest survey, gastronomy is a major draw for visitors: eating out ranks as the second-most popular activity during a stay in the capital, just after visiting attractions and cultural sites. Below are the chef-recommended venues and the restaurants they suggest for exceptional meals across Berlin:

Marco Müller (Rutz) recommends Goldies, Trio and Bandol sur Mer in Mitte.
Tim Raue (Restaurant Tim Raue) recommends Do De Li, Madame Ngo and Papaya in Charlottenburg.
Micha Schäfer and Billy Wagner (Nobelhart & Schmutzig) recommend Annelies in Kreuzberg, Michelberger Restaurant in Friedrichshain, Café Akkurat in Kreuzberg and Pars in Charlottenburg.
Michael Kempf (Facil) recommends Frühstück 3000 in Schöneberg and Kreuzberg, Otsuka and tigertörtchen in Mitte.
Sarah Hallmann (Hallmann & Klee) recommends La Maison in Kreuzberg, Mausi in Neukölln and Schwarzes Café in Charlottenburg.
Fabian Fischer (Bricole) recommends Allan’s Breakfast Club & Wine Bar and Zum Schusterjungen in Prenzlauer Berg, Canal Berlin in Mitte, and Osteria Ribaltone in Schöneberg.
Nicholas Hahn (Cookies Cream) recommends Ugur kebab shop in Wedding; Shaniu’s House of Noodles in Wilmersdorf; Due Forni in Prenzlauer Berg; and Coda in Neukölln.
Sophia Hoffmann and Nina Petersen (HAPPA) recommend the She Said bookstore café and Love Deluxe in Neukölln, Häppies in Prenzlauer Berg, and doen doen.
Ralf Zacherl and Marcel Woest (Schmidt Z&KO) recommend The Lunch Club in Mitte, as well as Markthalle Neun and Tante Fichte in Kreuzberg.