At a glance
| Need | Where to go | Walk from the square |
|---|---|---|
| Eat fast and under cover | The Alexa mall and the arcades around the square | 0 to 3 minutes |
| A traditional Berlin meal | The Nikolaiviertel | about 10 minutes |
| A coffee or brunch | Hackescher Markt and the Hackesche Höfe | 10 to 12 minutes |
| A neighbourhood table | Prenzlauer Berg, to the north | 15 to 20 minutes |
| A meal with a view | The TV tower restaurant | on site |
On the square itself
The square is ringed by shopping arcades where fast food, bakeries and cafés cluster. The Alexa mall, the red building near the station, has many counters: handy in the rain or when you're in a hurry, but without surprises. A few restaurants have terraces on the square, with an international menu (bowls, pasta, brunch). They mostly serve passing visitors: compare with the options further out before sitting down.
The restaurant of the TV Tower is an experience of its own: you need to book, and you pay for the view as much as the cooking. See its page for the conditions.
The Nikolaiviertel: Berlin cooking
About ten minutes' walk from the square, the Nikolaiviertel is Berlin's oldest quarter, rebuilt in the 1980s. Its lanes hold taverns serving local food: Eisbein (pork knuckle), currywurst, Königsberger Klopse (meatballs in caper sauce), draught beer. Zur letzten Instanz, Waisenstraße 14-16, presents itself as one of the city's oldest taverns; book, especially at weekends, and check the menu online. Be wary of the terraces closest to the tour coaches. To understand the dishes, see our guide to what to eat in Berlin.
Hackescher Markt and the Hackesche Höfe
Ten minutes' walk to the north-west, around the Hackesche Höfe, cafés, restaurants and bars fill the courtyards and nearby streets. It is a good spot for a sit-down lunch, a coffee or brunch. The area is touristy: prices are higher than in the quiet streets next door. Our brunch in Berlin guide lists places in Mitte.
Prenzlauer Berg: eating like a Berliner
To the north, Prenzlauer Berg lines up neighbourhood restaurants around Kollwitzplatz and Kastanienallee. Allow 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the square, or a few tram stops. It suits a quieter dinner; for afternoon breaks, see our cafés and pastries in Berlin.
Karl-Marx-Allee
To the east, Karl-Marx-Allee is lined with East German-era buildings where cafés and restaurants are opening. It is an alternative to the square's arcades for lunch in the setting of former East Berlin. Places change quickly: check recent reviews.
Traps and habits
- Menus with photos and waiters calling out to you: signs of a passing-trade restaurant. See also scams to avoid in Berlin.
- Water and drinks: water is not free at the table; check the price before ordering.
- Tipping: round up by stating the amount to the server; see paying in Berlin.
- Sunday: restaurants are open, but many shops are closed; see Sunday in Berlin.
- Budget: for a sense of what a meal costs, see the cost of a trip to Berlin.
Combining with sights
From the TV tower, the Berlin Cathedral and the DDR Museum are under ten minutes' walk, and the Alexanderplatz page describes the square and its landmarks. For lunch between visits, the Nikolaiviertel is the most logical choice.
