I love traditional Berlin pub names. They always begin with zu, like you’re taking a mental leap to somewhere: zum Nussbaum (to the nut tree), zur Glühlampe (to the lightbulb), zur fetten Ecke (to the … fat corner). Their names make it sound like you’re being transported to a very special place, just by stepping…
Test
I love traditional Berlin pub names. They always begin with zu, like you’re taking a mental leap to somewhere: zum Nussbaum (to the nut tree), zur Glühlampe (to the lightbulb), zur fetten Ecke (to the … fat corner). Their names make it sound like you’re being transported to a very special place, just by stepping over…
The Secret Beer Garden: Zur Laube
I love traditional Berlin pub names. They always begin with zu, like you’re taking a mental leap to somewhere: zum Nussbaum (to the nut tree), zur Glühlampe (to the lightbulb), zur fetten Ecke (to the … fat corner). Their names make it sound like you’re being transported to a very special place, just by stepping…
Yes Yes: Polish Food in Berlin
Pierogi please. I would like to pretend that this post about hearty pierogi and restorative beetroot soup is tied in with autumn sneaking in. But it’s not – I don’t give a damn what season it is, I always fiend after them. Have you ever had them before? Yes? Thank God. No?! I’m sorry. After a trip to…
Spoken Word in the Spotlight
Spoken, not said. If we’re honest with ourselves, open mic nights can be a bit of a mixed bag. And sure, that’s how they’re supposed to be – an evening that any old Jack or Jill can go to to get up on stage and get a few seconds of glory. You can’t always expect…
Play the Field: Berlin’s Best Board Game Cafe
Bad pun about a board game cafe? Never. It’s a… translation. “Spiel” is the German word for game. “Wiese” is the German word for meadow. And “Spielwiese” is my word for inexhaustible fun. Spielwiese is also the name of a board game cafe in Friedrichshain. This place has been a favourite of mine since 2012 – that’s commitment…
Leave Berlin: Day Trip to Poznan
Yes, we know. Berlin is hard to leave. Many have moved here from other continents with good intentions: “Ooo, no more than a couple of hours to Hamburg, Leipzig, Dresden? Hell yeah! Backpacking, here I-” and then they’re called out to the latest vernissage with free tea tastings followed by beer yoga (google it if you…
T is for Tajik Tearoom
Leave your shoes and sorrows at the door. There is only one place more relaxing than my own bed. And it’s one of Berlin’s best-kept secrets. Or, it used to be, until a couple of years ago when I became a regular and dragged carefully selected confidants along with me. I’m not too worried about…
Plastic is the New Poo: Berlin Theatre gets its Hands Dirty
When things start going down the toilet, a family hires a Jessica to clean up. Actors: Robert Beyer, Jenny König, Sebastian Schwarz, Marie Burchard; Photo: Arno Declair Stück Plastik (A Piece of Plastic) is the Schaubühne state theatre’s latest excuse to break the fourth wall with food. Nothing goes unmocked in this play. If you’re a character…
Two and Two = 10/10 Cafe in Berlin
Maths isn’t my forte. Drinking coffee in nice cafés is. Don’t ever big up a brunch place in Berlin. It’s as if they know you’re coming, and to prepare for your modest party of two they’ll hire hipsters & co. to strategically spread themselves across the five only tiny tables. This was my experience at Roamers,…
Piano for the people
An old piano workshop has become my new concert favourite. Hi, my name is [yeah, not so fast internet] and I like classical music; but I know squat all about it. It’s pretty, it’s soothing, it even makes me feel a bit clever until I’m asked what the name of the piece is I’m listening…
Yours for a euro
Paupers become book billionaires thanks to Tasso’s magic number. Are you a student? A read-a-holic? A polymath – of course you are. Now read this sentence; you’ll never be the same again: There is a cafe which sells books for one euro each.