Hipsters Eat Too

Whether you're still doing your vegan thing, only eating raw organic products grown locally by midgets with one arm or you just want to fill that sensation of a gaping void of nothingness inside you Berlin has an ever growing range of eating options. Here are two that probably won't be in the other guide books.

The Bird
Falkplatz 5, Prenzlauer Berg
U2 Schonhauser Allee

Mon-Thurs 6-11pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 12-12am, Sun 12-11pm

www.thebirdberlin.com

In 2006, a couple from New York realised Berlin lacked an authentic American burger joint and decided to open their own in the trendy district of Prenzlauer Berg. The staff at this steakhouse are probably more hipster than the clientele, with a mixture of visiting hipsters and burger loving Germans regularly coming in the door. You may have to wait for a table at this very popular restaurant, even if you made a reservation, but the English speaking staff will be sure to take care of you. The exposed brick walls, dim lighting and loud American tunes from the 50's up to ironically played mainstream hip hop of today, makes The Bird a chaotic but cosy place to enjoy a meal. The bar is decorated with redneck bumper stickers such as “If it's called tourist season, why can't I shoot them?” and sorely missed PBR logos. The burger prices are a little steep at about 12€, but you easily get your money's worth. The gargantuan beef patties (imported from Iowa) are accompanied by a choice of blue cheese, orange American cheddar or bacon and are reminiscent of a true New York burger, served of course, with a mountain of fries and a pickle. However, the greasy hunk of the best burger mince in Berlin is sandwiched in between an inappropriately sized English muffin. Upon arrival of your beast of a burger you will be given a roll of paper towels and frowned upon if you don't use your hands; a worthy challenge for any burger enthusiast, but it is likely to leave you feeling like you need a shower once your plate is empty. American expats or those of you who have spent the obligatory exchange semester at Penn State or U-Dub are especially encouraged to go to this ironically redneck restaurant and have a nostalgic night about The States. You can even get a tap beer to go, and pretend you're back on Frenchmen St in New Orleans while you nurse your burger belly.

Mundvoll
Waldermarstraße 48, Kreuzberg

U1/U8 Kottbusser Tor

daily 10am-1am
On the corner of Waldermarstraße and Adalbertstraße lies the newly opened cafe whose exterior walls are adorned with worn pine crates and flowers. Unless you dine at Mundvoll you are unlikely to see the name of the establishment, and as such the restaurant is commonly referred to as The Cafe With No Name. The elusive title directly translates as “mouthful” which is something every foodie should sample from this restaurant. The main menu offers exquisite dishes such as beetroot crepes, barbecued chicken and a special that changes daily. While bare and minimalistic yet rustic on the inside, Mundvoll creates a pleasant dining experience at any time of the day. The attractive and trendy waiters will be sure to look after you, as they will treat you how you feel you should be treated, waiting for you to finish your wine glass before topping it up for you. During the day and night, the rickety tables outside are almost always occupied by classic hipsters enjoying a vegan salad and swapping poetry or reading Nietzsche.

Hangover Cafes

If you've woken up with the undeniable taste of death in your mouth and the embarrassing realisation that everyone knows you can recite Lady Gaga songs, you should head to one of these cafes to regain your sense of self. Take a friend, ease the swirling sensations of nausea and work out exactly where you went and what you did last night.

Cafe Vux
Wipperstraße 14, Neukölln
U7 Neukölln
Mon-Sat 12-7pm, 12-6pm
http://www.vux-berlin.com/
If you have the undeniable hangover munchies and think you can return to Neukölln without experiencing mortifying flashbacks of the previous night's shenanigans, Cafe Vux is a quiet and welcoming place to re-line your stomach. This Brazilian inspired joint offers an all-vegan menu of coffees, smoothies, bagels and cakes. In an unexpected location just off the main street that is filled with tacky Turkish imbisses and laundromats, the peaceful street of Wipperstraße will be gentle with your pounding head. Try their vegan “salami” or “cream cheese” to tickle your taste buds or an avocado smoothie if you're feeling adventurous. The cute boy behind the counter will be sure to help you decide if you're really on Struggle Street and bring your snack over with a smile.

Efa's Froyo
Weinbergsweg 24, Mitte
U8 Rosenthaler
Mon-Fri 9-9pm, Sat-Sun 10-9pm
http://efas.de/
Conveniently located opposite The Circus Hostel, Berlin's most popular hostel, this frozen yoghurt cafe is perpetually crowded with travellers or locals but all fans of tasty froyo. Efa's offers only two flavours of yoghurt; original and a seasonal flavour, both of which are organic and delicious. Efa's takes great care in making sure their products have minimal fat content and are as carbon neutral as possible. As usual there is an array of toppings to choose from, enough that with only two flavours of yoghurt you could still have different tasting froyo with every visit. The smallest size is only 3€ but gives you a satisfying serving so that a large would be too much. The back of the store has a homely feel with soft lighting, family pictures and cross stitched images hanging on the wall. Take a seat in one of the square, chip board chairs on wheels while you eat. Nestle into the oversized pillows and use the free wifi to blog about the importance of supporting independent companies and organically grown foods.  

Factory Girl
Simon-Dach-Straße 10, Friedrichshain
U1 Waschauer Straße
daily 10am-8pm
http://www.factorygirl-berlin.com/
This quiet and cutesy cafe sits among the busy tourist restaurants of Friedrichshain around Boxhagener Platz. You could easily imagine the décor of Factory Girl resembling the inside of Zooey Deschanel's mind. The brightly coloured, mismatched wall hangings, crocheted seat covers and small wooden spades in the sugar bowls will have you singing along to the indie tunes with whimsy while you wait for your coffee, meal, or maybe “Berlin's best lemonade” according to TIP magazine. In addition to a variety of home made breakfast and lunch options, The Factory Girl also offers Magnolia, a dessert which closely resembles flavoured Tira Misu. If you're having trouble deciding between Chai Latte, Apple and Walnut, Cookies and Cream and the five or so other flavours the staff encourage you to sample before you make a decision. Factory Girl is a gentle, comforting cafe to nurse a hangover from the night before. If you're having a particularly rough morning, get your Magnolia to go and laze on the grass in Boxhagener Platz with the other horrendously hungover hipsters.