The wall itself
Along the East Side Gallery there are few restaurants: a few kiosks and seasonal bars on the Spree side. Take a snack, not a meal. For a walking route, see our page on around the East Side Gallery.
Areas to try
| Craving | Where to go | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cake or coffee | Kuchenrausch, Simon-Dach-Straße 1 | Homemade-cake café; cash payment |
| A neighbourhood dinner | Schneeweiß, Simplonstraße 16 | Alpine-inspired cooking; hours vary, call ahead |
| A terrace break | Simon-Dach-Straße and nearby streets | Bars and low-priced restaurants, very busy in the evening |
| A late burger | Burgermeister, Oberbaumstraße 8 | Kreuzberg side, across the Oberbaumbrücke |
| Markets | Boxhagener Platz | Market on Saturday from 9:00 to 15:30, flea market on Sunday |
Hours vary by source: check the same day.
Around Warschauer Straße and RAW
Warschauer Straße has kiosks, bars and takeaway snacks. In the evening it is very busy. The RAW-Gelände, Revaler Straße 99, is a former railway workshop site with bars, graffiti and concert halls. Go there for a drink or to end the evening rather than for a sit-down meal.
Boxhagener Platz and Simon-Dach-Straße
Ten minutes on foot away, Boxhagener Platz is the residential heart of Friedrichshain. On Saturday the market offers farm produce and takeaway dishes; on Sunday, the flea market. Simon-Dach-Straße, west of the square, has many bars and restaurants with terraces. It is pleasant for the atmosphere but aimed at groups: read the menu and do not stop at the first waiter who greets you.
Crossing to Kreuzberg
The Oberbaumbrücke links Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg on foot. On the other side you are within reach of Burgermeister and, further on, of Mehringdamm and its döners. It helps after the gallery, when the late afternoon gets cool.
When to eat
Kitchen hours vary from one place to another; bars stay open later than restaurants. On Sundays in Berlin, restaurants are open but many shops are closed. For brunch, see brunch in Berlin.
Traps to avoid
- Riverside terraces facing the wall live off passing trade: read the menu and check drink prices before sitting.
- Keep an eye on your belongings around Warschauer Straße in the evening: see scams to avoid in Berlin.
- Carry cash: many small cafés do not take cards.
- Late in the evening, check the kitchen is still open before settling in.
For the area, see our guide to Friedrichshain.
