Mitte

In the Kollhoff Tower at Potsdamer Platz, Europe's fastest elevator travels to the 24th floor in about 20 seconds, where a panoramic view over the city center begins at an altitude of over 100 meters. To the east are the Brandenburg Gate and the TV Tower, to the west the Victory Column and the Radio Tower. With an admission fee of 9 Euros, this is one of Berlin's most affordable viewpoints.

Located in Berlin-Mitte, not far from Monbijou Park, Wiener Brot Holzofenbäckerei stands for what good bread in this city rarely represents: Austrian baking artistry, honest craftsmanship, and sourdough that has truly been given time. Not a mass-produced loaf, but two kilos of baked conviction from the wood-fired oven.

High above the rooftops of Mitte, the Weekend Club sits on the 15th floor of the former Haus des Reisens building, directly on Alexanderplatz. Those who party here do so with an unobstructed view of the TV Tower, a 37-meter long bar, and a guest list that ranges from Karl Lagerfeld to George Clooney.

Those in Berlin who want smooth skin without long waits know Wax in the City. This waxing studio, with locations in Mitte and Charlottenburg, stands for professional warm wax hair removal that requires no appointment and consistently focuses on hygiene and precision.

Maximilians Berlin restaurant in Kontorhaus Mitte serves Hacker-Pschorr from wooden barrels: The barrels are stored under block ice in a glass cold room in the middle of the dining area and are tapped by hand after a bell rings. Bavarian since 2003, at the historic site of the former Pschorr Bräuhaus on Friedrichstraße.

Entrecôte is located on Schützenstraße in Mitte, just a few steps from Checkpoint Charlie. Since 1999, the establishment has been serving brasserie classics, from escargots and oysters to entrecôte with Pommes Allumettes. The steaks are pan-fried, not grilled, served with classic French sauces. A true classic among French restaurants in Berlin.

Eva Sichelschmidt has run a specialist shop on Sophienstrasse since 1997, with several hundred whisky bottlings, around a hundred rums and a computer-controlled cigar cabinet. Eugen Kasparek leads three-hour tastings as master of tasting. As a gift for men you give a whole evening here rather than just a bottle.

The FC Magnet Bar on Veteranenstraße was founded in 2000 as the clubhouse of FC Magnet Mitte and remains a pub with pennants on the wall and a foosball table in the basement. Five televisions and a projector screen are spread across the rooms; outside, tables are set near Weinbergspark. For Sunday crime dramas in Mitte, this means: come early, no reservations are taken.

The Maxim Gorki Theater in Mitte is Berlin's most important address for post-migrant contemporary theater. Behind the neoclassical facade on the grand boulevard Unter den Linden, contemporary theater is discussed, which doesn't just accompany social debates, but initiates them.

On Brunnenstraße at Rosenthaler Platz, s.wert has been translating Berlin architecture into graphics since 2002: prefabricated buildings, the TV Tower, and the World Clock appear on posters, tea towels, and socks. Designs are created in their own studio in Mitte, produced in small editions in Germany. The Berlin Souvenirs category includes around one hundred items.