At a glance
| Need | Where to go | Walk from the crossing |
|---|---|---|
| A quick, cheap meal | The döner and currywurst stands on Mehringdamm, in Kreuzberg | about 15 minutes |
| A sit-down lunch without the traps | The cafés and restaurants around Gendarmenmarkt | 8 to 10 minutes |
| A coffee or a pastry break | The side streets near Friedrichstraße | 5 to 8 minutes |
| A market-hall meal | Markthalle Neun, in Kreuzberg | about 25 minutes, or a short metro ride |
The crossing itself
Around the guardhouse, on Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße, the terraces rely on passing visitors. Warning signs: a waiter calling to you from the street, a menu in five languages with photos of the dishes, a "dish of the day" with no price shown. You are free to read the menu, compare and walk on. Always check the price of drinks before ordering: water is not free at the table, and you will be asked whether you want it "mit" or "ohne Kohlensäure" (sparkling or still). Our guide to scams to avoid in Berlin covers the crossing's other traps, such as fake soldiers asking for money for a photo.
There are also established places on Zimmerstraße, such as tapas bars; if one appeals, check recent reviews and the online menu before sitting down.
The simplest option: walk to Gendarmenmarkt
Eight to ten minutes on foot to the north, Gendarmenmarkt is ringed by restaurants and cafés, with terraces on the square in summer. It costs more than a neighbourhood snack, but menus are displayed and the square is worth the detour in itself. For a more casual lunch, the nearby streets have bakery-cafés where you can have a sandwich or a slice of cake. From there, the Brandenburg Gate is about a 20-minute walk.
The cheapest: Kreuzberg
South of Checkpoint Charlie, Kreuzberg is the district for simple meals: döner, falafel, noodles, currywurst. Mehringdamm, about 15 minutes' walk away, is known for its stands; the vegetable kebab at Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap, Mehringdamm 32, draws queues, especially in the evening and at weekends. If the line puts you off, other stands nearby serve the same thing in a few minutes.
For a market-hall meal, Markthalle Neun has counters serving food from around the world, but its meal days and hours vary: check before you go.
Depending on the time
- Breakfast: bakery-cafés on the nearby streets open early; our brunch in Berlin guide lists places further into Mitte.
- Lunch: this is when tour groups fill the crossing's terraces. Go before 12 or after 2pm.
- Dinner: in the evening this office district empties; better to dine in Kreuzberg or elsewhere in Mitte. Our guide to Berlin at night lists the lively areas.
- Sunday: restaurants are open even though shops are closed; see Sunday in Berlin.
Combining with sights
The Mauermuseum, described on the Checkpoint Charlie page, stays open until 8pm: have lunch before the visit and dinner afterwards. The Topography of Terror is a 10-minute walk; there are few restaurants around it, so eat before you go. For the budget, see the cost of a trip to Berlin, and for tipping, paying in Berlin.
In short
- Don't eat at the crossing itself, except for a quick coffee.
- Walk five to ten minutes in any direction for better menus.
- Check the price of drinks before ordering.
- For a genuinely cheap meal, head south to Kreuzberg.
