Winter in Berlin – 21 Awesome Things to Do in 2020

We’re still mourning the fluffy pancakes at Distrikt Coffee in Mitte, although the rest of their breakfast is pretty damn tasty. But now there’s a new reason to be happy: the sister café Annelies has opened right on Görlitzer Park. They have breakfast, lunch, coffee and wines for an aperitivo at sundown here. The menu has fluffy pancakes, granola with beets and blueberries and various savory options – everything is regional and seasonal.

In the northern tower of the impressive Frankfurter Tor architecture is Galerie im Turm, which has been an exhibition space since 1965. It was founded by the Verband Bildener Künste (VBKD) in the GDR – these days its used as a community gallery for the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district. You can regularly visit changing modern art exhibitions here – most often from artists who live in Berlin themselves. For the last few years the curators have been putting an emphasis on themes around the relationship between humans and nature. Queerness, feminism or spirituality are also recurring themes in the gallery’s focus, to name a couple other keywords.

The southwest of Berlin’s Düppeler Forst offers 1300 hectars of local recreational area, including the “4-Seen-Wanderweg” (four lakes hike) from Griebnitz-Kanal via Stölpchensee and Griebnitzsee to Wannsee. The gem Pfaueninsel is also hidden in the forest. You can also find Schäferberg, Berlin’s second largest hill after the Müggelberge. Birdwatchers particularly will get their money’s worth in the forest.

If washing machines could think, it wouldn’t be absurd to believe that they would start dreaming at some point as well. That is the idea of Turkish artist Refik Anadol, who used complex tools and a lot of big data in the form of ca. 9 million images and sound bytes from unknown producers to feed an algorithm. The material is transformed into an interactive and immersive installation by the machine and describes the consciousness of the city (Berlin). The initiator of the installation is LAS Foundation, who have organised an installation in Berlin for the first time ever.

You’ve probably already heard of it. Fans of the popular Chinese – and above all, spicy – noodles from Ash don’t have to wait for the next pop-up in order to try them anymore. If you want you can now go and slurp as many noodles as you want in Kreuzberg. At least from Wednesday until Saturday. They work very passionately here and the noodles show it – which are homemade, of course. The menu is manageably short and yet there’s something for everyone. We’ve heard that you shouldn’t miss the Wednesday special “Chicken Gizzards”. If that’s too far out for you you can also choose between three other variations. We particularly like the new vegan version. If the spiciness takes you by surprise you can put out the fire with a homemade milky tea.

There are 80 000 new book releases every year. It’s nearly impossible to filter out the books that are worth reading yourself. At least for most of us. Lucky for us there are people like Julie and Philipp who opened their bookstore Stadtlichter in 2010: a place where, rather than feeling overwhelmed, you feel like you’re in front of your friend’s bookshelf. Everything is lovingly curated and organised, from exciting releases to old classics to absolute favorites of the two. And truly lovely employees who love recommending books.

The wall fell 30 years ago. The Gropius Bau has dedicated a multilayered exhibition to the historic milestone. Artworks from a total of 28 international artists tackle the wall as an architectonic means of separation, as well as the impacts of metaphorical and real separation and the what people endeavor in order to overcome walls. The exhibition is particularly striking considering the geographical location of the building: the wall squeezed itself along the Gropius Bau for nearly 20 years. The present-day entrance couldn’t be used back then.

In October 2019 a paradise for indecisive foodies opened right next to Görli: Element Five. In the pretty, vegan Cantonese restaurant you don’t have to decide on one dish. Instead you can order lots of different kinds of tapas. There’s a huge array: from classics such as spring rolls and summer rolls to curries with tofu to vegan sweet and sour shrimp or vegan duck. It’s best if you go with a big group of hungry friends because then you can just order the entire menu – otherwise roughly three dishes are enough per person. A little tip: definitely order the duck and the baked soy balls in tempura with seaweed strips and wasabi soy sauce.

Hop out of your winter clothes and into the spa if you don’t feel like any of this winter nonsense. There are a couple nice ones in Berlin, but there’s an even nicer one in Neuruppin where you can look out on the lake during your sauna session. You can go in their swimming sauna with its panoramic windows by crossing a little bridge. Besides that they have everything that you need for a relaxing day. During the week you can relax in the spa for four hours for 30 euros.

Prenzlauer Berg has become too quiet the last couple years? Then take a little trip to Tipsy Bear along Eberswalder Straße. The new, queer-friendly bar is a lot of fun and offers a full program: every Thursday there’s karaoke, on Sundays there are drag shows for 20 euros including bottomless (!) mimosas, bloody marys and bagel and salmon plates, as well as regular pub quizzes and bingo evenings with the drag queens Gieza Poke and Nana Schewitz.

If Duc Ngo is Kantraße then Dustin Render is slowly becoming the person for Torstraße, as the gastronomist has now opened his third bar in October 2019: Pawn Dot Com Bar. The special thing about this one is the drinks concept (besides the beautiful courtyard): for every signature drink that you order, you get a perfectly matched mini drink as well, which you can drink at the same time or even add to your main drink. A dry martini becomes a dirty martini. Besides that the drinks, just like in his other bars, are particularly special and drinkable, with exciting spirits like tonka gin or coffee vodka.

Versteckt in einem Hinterhof in Kreuzberg liegt der Boulderklub, der zu den zentralsten Kletterspots in Berlin gehört. Je nach Profi-Grad könnt ihr in der 1300 Quadratmeter  großen Halle künstliche Berge namens "Renate" oder "Death Star" erklimmen. Wischt euch danach das Magnesium von den Fingern und chillt noch eine Runde auf gemütlichen Sitzkissen vor den großen Fenstern. Solltet ihr noch nicht so erfahren sein, könnt ihr eure Skills mit Kursen auch aufs nächste Level bringen. Es gibt sogar spezielle FLINTA*-Kurse und -Abende, damit sich alle wohl und sicher fühlen.

The village Buchholz in Naturpark Stechlin-Ruppiner Land looks as if a watercolor painter had painted it. One gravelly, sandy road leads past forests and fields to a baroque church and 22 houses – one of them is the “Märkische Landhaus N°8“. The 6000 square meter property has accommodation for up to four people. The owner Anette Stolle, who also lives in Buchholz, has created a peaceful oasis here. Guests have a clear view of the surrounding landscape from every room. You can even look at the scenery through a huge panoramic window in the sauna. The surrounding area is full of forests and lakes: the most well-known and clearest body of water is the Große Stechlinsee in the north, which is surrounded by an old birch tree forest. The roughly 17km long hiking trail that goes right along the shorebank is perfect for bike tours and long walks.

The Stadtbad Charlottenburg isn’t only the oldest indoor swimming pool in Berlin, but also one of the most beautiful. With a pool that’s only 25m long it’s not exactly perfect for ambitious swimmers that want to do their laps, but for everyone who wants to enjoy a wonderful atmosphere and just paddle around it’s the best thing.

There’s a new highlight on the Havel that has conquered our winter-chilled hearts: the Saunafloß (sauna raft). The raft is made completely out of wood and is even heated with a wood oven – affecting the aroma while in the sauna and creating an enjoyable heat. Four people can fit in the sauna at a time, eight people can go on the raft together. As if a sauna raft wasn’t amazing enough already: you can look out onto the river from the sauna through two windows while the captain is stearing along or while anchored.

Wolf Kino is not only a place where you can watch great movies, they also have an adjacent café and bar where you can discuss the films or just hang out. There is also another room that offers space for video installations or workshops. It is the perfect place to flee midday rain, since the movies begin from 12pm.

Das Hotel is ridiculously small, always overfilled with people and so hot that the windows steam up and condensation runs down the unplastered walls. Loud music blasts from the loudspeakers as people dance closely, drink and sweat. If you want to drink a lot, dance a lot and maybe make out with someone a bit you’re going to be happy here. Hotel rooms for later, like the name implies, are not part of the deal though.

At Mikku you can book individual pottery courses. Especially when you are struck by the winter blues it can help to take a couple of hours for yourself and turn a bowl – or even your own creation in the form of a vase or mug. So if you want to give your hands a little break from the outside chill – a bit of handicraft and creativity is just the right thing.

At Yoga & More you can relax, meditate, take yoga classes or get a massage. The studio, along Wilmersdorfer Straße between Ku’damm and Kantstraße, is a place of peace and inner balance. It smells of incense, a little fountain bubbles in the middle of the studio and you can find anything a yogi needs. From Hatha Yoga, pilates and vinyasa flow to ballet barre and pranayam to hot yoga. You can get to know Yoga & More best with their starter offer: for 10 euros you can go try out as many classes as you want within 10 days.

Even when the weather is terrible, the slide is covered in snow and the swings are too wet – children always want to play outside and go on adventures. But you don’t want your child getting a cold. So for those moments there are indoor play places like Ritterland which offers kids a place to play, climb and enjoy life. The little ones can run riot here in peace and romp about without outdoor outfits and rain boots.

Herr Lindemann at Richardplatz uses all kinds of herbs that are said to have medicinal qualities – and go perfectly and harmoniously with gin, rum and co. with regards to their taste. The menu reminds you of an encyclopedia of plants: the pages are illustrated with herbal drawings and list the drinks’ healing effects. Since nearly all of the drinks were created by the team at Herr Lindemann you will get a tasty surprise, but without the risk. An evening here will definitely help your well-being.