The Traveling Man: Berlin

Renée S. Suen January 26, 2015

Twenty-five years after the fall of the Wall, Berlin steadfastly upholds the title of Germany’s hippest city, with more than its fair share of world-class cuisine, fashion and, of course, beer.

Larger View Collapse

(1/10)

Eat: Mogg & Melzer

Who doesn’t love pastrami on rye? At the hands of New York-bred owner Paul Mogg and chef Oskar Melzer (who house-smokes the pastrami with incredible results), Mogg & Melzer is bringing one of America’s great sandwiches back to its European roots.

moggandmelzer.com

Shop: 14 OZ

A denim lover’s dream, this massive space stocks jeans, boots and oxford shirts from every imaginable brand.

14oz-berlin.com

Drink: Brauhaus Georgbräu

Not only can you imbibe the house-brewed St. Georg Pilsner by Master brewer Oliver Kaßan, you can do so from your seat next to the Spree river. It can get busy but there’s ample space and individual booths should you want to escape the crowd.

georgbraeu.de

Sleep: Das Stue

Danish for the ‘living room,’ designer Patricia Urquiola has transformed the stately Royal Danish Embassy into a contemporary luxury boutique hotel decorated with works by Horvat and Benedetta Mori Ubaldin, as well as a Michelin-starred chef on-site serving up avant-garde, 25-course tasting menus.

das-stue.com

Facil

Tucked away within the fifth-floor garden courtyard of the Mandala Hotel two-Michelin-starred chef Michael Kempf and his team create some of Berlin’s best cuisine, which could feature Dover sole with oysters in a ginger miso sauce, or hanger steak smoked with Douglas fir. Proof that German cuisine has more to offer than sausages and strudel.

facil-berlin.de

Absinth Depot Berlin

If you’re an absinthe fan you should plan to spend some time here. With over a hundred varieties of the fabled green spirit, as well as fountains, spoons and other accoutrements, you’ll be sure to find something here that’s worthy of the trip home.

erstesabsinthdepotberlin.de

Firmament

The best place to stock up on all the avant-garde streetwear you’ll see populating Berlin’s sidewalks, with sleek parkas from labels like Acronym and Arc’teryx Veilance, as well as a huge range of flashy sneakers.

firmamentberlin.com

La Soupe Populaire

A “post-industrial” dining experience where double-Michelin-starred chef Tim Rauer serves a monthly changing 10-dish menu that’s inspired by contemporary art exhibited in the former Bötzow brewery. Expect high-end riffs on Berlin comfort foods like Königsberger Klopse, an elevated take on meatballs in cream sauce to one served with shredded pickled beets and buttery potato puree.

lasoupepopulaire.de

Schlosshotel Grunewald

When Karl Lagerfeld adds his creative touch to Walther von Pannwitz’s (personal adviser to Kaiser Wilhelm) former estate, the result is first-rate luxury. Amenities include a private limousine service (free to guests), a gilded dining room and a cigar lounge stocked with a fine selection of Cubans.

schlosshotelberlin.com

SOTO Berlin

A one-stop shop for the best and brightest in contemporary menswear, with a well-edited selection from established fashion houses like Kenzo, Acne Studios and Dries Van Noten to younger upstarts like Soulland and Raised by Wolves.

sotostore.com