Mal9's Qype profile

This is the prettiest tea-house going. Seated outside amidst a beautiful over-hanging garden you will sip from a wide selection of specialist teas, and indulge in the usual decadent French gateaux. Romantic and then some.

Pretentious and overpriced, dodge camera-happy tourists and head somewhere else. There are two superior second-hand English bookshops just a few minutes walk away near Odeon, and if you want new books a better selection at better prices can be found at WH Smith. Shakespeare & Co. trades off the famous name of a completely unrelated, long-defunct bookstore, and markets itself as a center for creativity while essentially milking romantically-inclined tourists who wish to call themselves ‘writers’ with the several writers’ workshops it hosts upstairs in the library.

If you’re a tourist, go ahead. If you’re a writer, or a reader, don’t bother.

Head downstairs in this tiny bar and you’ll find an even tinier jazz club set in a 12th century cave. The lack of cover charge is balanced by very Parisian-priced drinks, but selection is decent. Gigs usually start around 10pm and because it’s so small it fills up very fast, so arrive a little early on weekends or you won’t get in. Expect a lot of ex-pats - not a good place to meet locals. The jazz isn’t anything too special, but the atmosphere makes for a nice evening.

The newly renovated Bode is worth a visit only if you’re really, really into Byzantine or Renaissance art. It’s low on big names and jaw-dropping masterpieces, and at the time of writing most of the second floor was closed. If you’re only visiting Berlin your time is better spent at the Gemäldegalerie.

Spotless, good food and frequented by fine-looking women. Some of the men aren’t bad either.

So good I’m going back for more.

I got a cute cut for 10€, no hidden extras. You can’t argue with that.

This place is great value for money if you can get there before 5pm: a three-course meal for around 5€ isn’t to be sniffed at, although there seem to be plenty of these deals around Berlin. The tomato soup starter is fantastic and I think worth going for alone. I’m not impressed by the vegetarian dishes but I’m told the meat dishes are pretty decent.