With Love From Berlin
GROCERY
DM for the basic toiletries and cosmetics. They have groceries as well and an organic section. They are all over so you shouldn’t have any problem finding one.
KaDeWe for gourmet food items. There’s nothing quiet like it anywhere else. A whole floor with nothing but gourmet meats, cheeses, coffee, pastas, desserts, spices, chocolate, and of course fresh fruits and vegetables. There are also a dozen cafes and restaurants with sushi, an Italian pasta bar, hamburger grill, and of course French food. You’re guaranteed to find something for every foodie.
FASHION and HOME DECOR
Bikini Berlin is a shopping center right next door to the Berlin Zoo. There's a rooftop terrace that has cafes and nice public areas for people to eat their lunch in the sun. The shops here are artsy and hip. You will find one-of-a-kind home goods, leather bags and shoes, pop-up shops with posters and t-shirts. I ate at a cafe called FUNK YOU, which was a vegan establishment. Good for smoothies and salads.
& Other Stories on the Kurfürstendamm for elegant basics and excellent accessories.
Hallhuber Berlin on the Kurfürstendamm for funky patterned scarfs and a nice collection that reminded me of Banana Republic.
Zara Home on the Kurfürstendamm. Cool linens, dishes, and colorful home decor. Not sure why Zara Home hasn’t made it to the US yet. Much more funky than either West Elm or Pottery Barn for sure.
FOOD & DRINKS
KulturBrauerei on Schonhauser Allee 36 | Haus R, 10435. It’s an amazing old brewery that now has micro brewery stalls and food carts, public soccer match viewing on big TV screens, live music, andis a dog-friendly environment. It’s a hipster crowd and definitely has my vote for one of the coolest places to go on a date or just hang out with friends. Also, on an interesting side note it is owned by Lonestar Brewery from Texas.
Klunker Garten is a hidden gem on the top of a shopping center parking garage in the Neukölln Arcaden neighborhood on Karl-Marx-Straße 66. There’s a great view of Berlin, food, drinks, and music. It’s also a co-op so what’s not to love about this community garden, patron-owned establishment, right?
ART | DESIGN | MUSEUMS
Bauhaus Museum is a must while you are visiting Berlin for the ultimate design geek out session.
Post Up Store is a design collective with textiles, ceramics, posters, and jewelry. Located at Poststr. 7, 10178
The Story of Berlin is a 700+ year journey chronicling the history of the city. It's highly interactive displays integrate video, audio, light, and elegantly show horrific historical facts in a beautiful environmental design. You will visit a cold-war era bunker and one of the highlights for me was seeing the 4 remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall that remain in the city.