Kreuzberg

Homemade Georgian cuisine in the heart of Kreuzberg, just a few steps from Kottbusser Tor: Gio's stands for hearty, no-frills soul food, with Khinkali and Khachapuri that taste, and are meant to taste, like grandma's recipe.

In Kreuzberg, just a few minutes' walk from Anhalter Bahnhof, a second-hand bookstore with thousands of books hides on Stresemannstraße - which is the lobby of the Miraculum Premium Escape Room Theater. Behind it, four themed rooms await: Magistra Miraculorum, Frankenstein, The King of Dreams, and The Golden Phoenix. For those who want more, the outdoor adventure Aurora's Magic Cube offers a journey across Berlin.

At Nobelhart & Schmutzig on Friedrichstrasse nothing reaches the plate that does not grow in and around Berlin, and nobody eats at a table for two: guests sit at a counter around the open kitchen. Six courses start at 120 euros and eight at 200 euros, filtered water included, and every course names its producer on the card.

Anyone looking for a Turkish breakfast in Kreuzberg that feels like a Sunday morning in Istanbul will likely end up on Gneisenaustraße. Balkaymak Simit Evi serves freshly baked simit, hearty breakfast platters, and homemade kaymak.

In the Wedding neighborhood around Jülicher Straße, Zeytinim has made a name for itself: as a place for authentic Turkish breakfast that goes far beyond toast and coffee. People come here for the Serpme Kahvaltı and stay for the atmosphere.

At Dieffenbachstraße 52 in the Graefekiez, a sibling duo runs HARDT, a store for second-hand designer fashion with a focus on Helmut Lang, Yohji Yamamoto, and Prada. The selection remains deliberately small and understated, opting out of Y2K and party wear. Among Berlin's vintage stores, HARDT is the quiet and very well-curated one.

At the Landwehrkanal in Kreuzberg, the Rutz Zollhaus proves that upscale Berlin cuisine doesn't need a white tablecloth. The historic half-timbered house combines Michelin-star expertise with down-to-earth hospitality and a wine selection that is unparalleled in Berlin.

Not Too Sweet's second store on Oranienstraße focuses on selection over quantity: Nineties and early two-thousands secondhand, plus sportswear, individual designer pieces, and upcycling from Berlin workshops.

At Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg, where creativity and local charm meet genuine luxury, Orania.Berlin proves that an individual boutique hotel can be far more than just accommodation. The listed Art Deco building from 1912 combines hand-picked design, live music, and excellent cuisine for a stay with character.

On Skalitzer Straße, behind a brick door with a glowing 'P', a concert club is located in an old post office building. The program alternates between concerts and its own party series, ranging from indie rock and post-punk to darkwave and synth-pop, soul, and reggae. There is a separate ramp entrance for wheelchair users.