Addresses to keep
| Address | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Markthalle Neun | Eisenbahnstraße 42-43 | Market hall; Street Food Thursday on Thursday from 17:00 to 22:00 |
| Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap | Mehringdamm 32-33 | Grilled-chicken döner with roasted vegetables and feta; the queue is long |
| Curry 36 | Mehringdamm 36 | Currywurst, open late |
| Doyum | Admiralstraße 36 | Turkish charcoal grill (ocakbaşı), grilled minced lamb dishes |
| Burgermeister | Oberbaumstraße 8 | Burgers, open late, near Schlesisches Tor station |
| Marheineke Markthalle | Marheinekeplatz 15 | Hall opened in 1892, for lunch or fresh produce |
Hours vary by source, especially for Doyum and hall stalls. Check the same day.
Markthalle Neun
The Markthalle Neun is open Monday to Saturday, with hours that depend on the stalls. On Thursday from 17:00 to 22:00 it fills with world-cuisine stalls. Come before 18:00 to find space. A brewery, Heidenpeters, sits in the hall: it is a place to sit away from the crowd. For a quieter alternative, the Marheineke Markthalle is in the Bergmannkiez.
Döner and currywurst on Mehringdamm
Mustafa's and Curry 36 face each other on Mehringdamm: you can do both. Avoid Mustafa's peak hours; on a weekday, early in the afternoon, the queue is shorter. Our guide to currywurst and döner in Berlin details orders and sauces.
A Turkish grill rather than a döner
Döner is only one side of Kreuzberg's Turkish food. For a seated meal, an ocakbaşı such as Doyum grills meat over embers: order dishes to share and take the bread separately. The Kottbusser Tor and Oranienstraße area has more Turkish, Kurdish and Arab restaurants. For coffee and cake, see cafés and pastries in Berlin.
The Maybachufer Turkish market
The Maybachufer Turkish market runs on Tuesday and Friday from 11:00 to 18:30, along the canal. You can eat Turkish specialities on the go and buy fresh produce. It is a good open-air lunch, with a short meal. For other markets, see our Berlin markets.
Choosing by moment
- Weekday lunch: Mehringdamm, Marheineke Markthalle or the Turkish market (Tuesday, Friday).
- Thursday evening: Street Food Thursday at Markthalle Neun.
- Seated dinner: a Turkish grill near Kottbusser Tor or Admiralstraße; book at weekends if the place allows it.
- After midnight: Curry 36 and Burgermeister are known for closing late.
On Sundays in Berlin, shops are closed but restaurants are open.
Traps and tips
- Many small places take cash only: keep some on you.
- In the evening, stay alert around Görlitzer Park and Kottbusser Tor, especially alone.
- One shared grill dish is enough for two people in most cases: ask for advice.
- Tipping is done by rounding up: see paying in Berlin.
For the area, read our guide to Kreuzberg.
