Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Top 3 Restaurants in Berlin's Schöneberg

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Die Feinbackerei features a pub in the front of the building and a restaurant in the back. This establishment,located in Schöneberg, is a fantastic local find with authentic German food, drinks and fantastic Berliner Weisse (in either red or green), the un-official drink of Berlin. Try the lentil soup and weinerschnitzel for a meal to dream about long after the fact (sooo good!!). The food portions are huge so come hungry! Remember to bring euro/cash because Die Feinbackerei does not accept credit cards. Dinner and drinks and the tip for 3 people set us back about $50 USD.

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Located just inside the division between Kreuzberg and Schöneberg lies Tomasa, a very popular dining option for Sunday and holiday brunch. The second floor event dining room is a converted hall of an older building sitting on the northern edge of lovely Viktoria Park. The brunch menu selections range from various pates, cheeses and smoked salmon starters to breakfast items such as pancakes, bacon and eggs benedict to numerous hot and cold entree items and finally desserts, all equally delicious! Afterwards, walk off some of those calories over to the highest point at Viktoria Park and enjoy a panoramic view of the city for free. Credit cards are accepted and weekend brunch reservations are advised. Tomasa is located at Berlinerstrasse 8a, Berlin, 14169, phone: 030.859.66.397 or you can view online @ www.tomasa.de.

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For the best breakfast expereince any time of the day in Schöneberg make reservations in advance for Cafe BilderBuch, located at Akazienstrasse 28 Berlin. The Cafe's extensive weekend brunch is held in a large, beautifully decorated second floor dining area, complete with a baby grand and pianist. Choose from four juices, tea, coffee, mimosas to start your dining experience. Then decide which of the buffet areas to start with -- will it be the hot breakfast eggs, bacon, benedicts or the cold buffet area with a yogurt bar --fresh plain and flavored yogurts with your choice of toppings? Or perhaps the cold appetizer buffet area with smoked salmon, various olives, marinated veggies and various cheese selections is the proper place to start? Wherever you choose to start make sure to save room for more -- eat as much as you want! The service is unhurried and friendly but unobtrusive. So sit back, relax and enjoy a lovely brunch while listening to the expert sounds of the jazz pianist. FYI -- during the week the downstairs breakfast options, although not in as opulent surroundings, were equally as amazing in a more cosy atmosphere. Credit cars are accepted. A party of four,the weekend brunch is $145USD and $30 USD,two people, for a weekday breakfast.Cafe BilderBuch phone: 030.7870.6057

Feel the Buzz About Berlin

Have you ever just been somewhere, not doing anything of note, and instantly felt an unexpected burst of energy zipping through your body? For most, it's a rare and unanticipated happening. But it happened to me, creeping up and enveloping me while waiting at a Berlin S-Bahn stop after returning from 4 days in Munich. And "No", I wasn't in danger of being electrocuted nor had I been drinking (too early in the day)! What I did catch was the Berlin Buzz!

That energy carried though the air is exactly what makes Berlin so very distinctly and uniquely Berlin. Is this almost tangible energy a by-product of the neverending process of reinvention currently sweeping over this entire city? OR is it due to the influx of millennials yearning to flex their creativity to add to the re-invigoration of this European capital city that doesn't really feel like a typical "big capital city" like London or Rome? Maybe the "buzz" is merely a result of Berlin's integration of the city's preserved pieces of history standing along side its more recently created modern areas. Possibly all of the above mentioned ideas are working in unison to create this buzz of energy that currently exists as Berlin.

To experience the Berlin Buzz firsthand travel by U-Bahn (the Berlin underground subway) or overground by S-Bahn to Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln districts for the current, most hip places to visit. The southern district of Berlin, Kreuzberg, is historically known for its large Turkish population, and Schöneberg, synonymous with the homosexual community, are both slowly changing their population demographics due to re-gentrification and have lower housing costs when compared to other areas of Berlin.

For a change of pace enjoy a quiet walk in the western areas of Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf which are more suburban in feel with residential streets lined with tall stately trees. Or enjoy the city center sights and activities in the Old Town districts of Mitte and Friedrichshain. And last, but not least, are the outer districts that comprise Berlin's hinterland (outskirts) -- Lichtenberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Pankow to the north and east, Treptow-Köpenick and Steglitz-Zehlendorf to the southeast and south west, respectively and Spandau and Reinickendorf to the west and northwest of city center. Each region has it's own delights and surprises alike for visitors to discover. So come with me, the TallyHo Traveller, and together we will visit the best of Berlin!