Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

W-Imbiss, Katanienallee 49 Maybe it's Indian food, or maybe it's Mexican. We can't really tell, but one thing we do know: this food is good. W-Imbiss specializes in fusing ethnic food types to make something interestingly novel, and damn good. Their specialty is the naan pizza—freshly baked bread in a tandoori oven spread with anything from pesto to avocado to chipotle sauce and served piled high with arugula and feta or mozzarella. W-Imbiss also sells cold wraps and quesadillas to an international crowd. U8: Voltastr. Pizza €2-5.50. Wraps €4-5. Open May-Aug daily noon-midnight; Sept-Apr daily 12:30-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Hans Wurst, Dunckerstr. 2A This small cafe serves only organic, vegan foods with no flavor enhancers. Readings, DJs, and acoustic concerts spice up the evenings in this minimally decorated, laid-back venue. The menu changes daily, with seasonal and innovative offerings. Try the tofu burger on toast with original, spicy sauces. U2: Eberswalder Str. Or M10: Husemannstr. Entrees €3.70-8. Tofu burger €4. Open M-Th noon-midnight, F-Sa noon-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Das Film Cafe, Schliemannstr. 15 (www.dasfilmcafe.de), Das Film Cafe serves up homemade burgers to fans hungry for a good meal and even better movies. This cafe has two screenings a night in a small, high-resolution theater downstairs, usually around 8pm and 10pm, and prides itself on selecting films with an international, independent flair. Films are never dubbed over and are usually shown in English. U2: Eberswalder Str. Tickets €4.50, students €4. Burgers €7. Hummus plates €5.50. Cappuccino €2. Open M-F 2:30pm-late, Sa-Su 11:30am-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
The Bird, Am Falkpl. 5 With a bar made of old wood and exposed brick walls, this seemingly quintessential European restaurant is anything but. Opened by two New York transplants, The Bird makes some of the only honest-to-goodness, criminally huge burgers in Berlin. Everything is made from scratch daily, including the sauce for the aptly named “napalm wings.” Locals appreciate “Angry Hour,” 6-8pm, when all beer is buy one, get one free. U8: Voltastr. Burgers €9-12. Wings €6. Open M-Sa 6pm-late, Su noon-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cafe Restaurant Miró, Raumerstr. 29 (www.miro-restaurant.de), Cafe Miró captures the essence of the Mediterranean, whose food it proudly serves in a candlelit, pillow-laden room. Brick walls and cobalt blue details set the scene for your love affair with feta and oregano. The Greek omelettes (€5.20) are incredibly popular. U2: Eberswalder Str. Entrees €8.50-15.50. Appetizers and salads €4-9. Soups €3.20-3.70. Su brunch €8. Open M-F 3pm-late, Sa-Su 10am-late. Brunch Su 10am-4pm. Kitchen open until midnight. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Liebling, Raumer Str. 36A This corner cafe is all elegance, with a little edge. An alternative crowd chills out and sips on gin and coffee in the completely white-on-white interior plastered with mosaic tile. Enjoy a typically-Berlin milchkaffee on a bistro table on a quiet street or stick around 'til dark to watch the chairs fill with guests sipping aperitifs and liquor. U2: Eberswalder Str. Milchkaffee €2.50. Apertifs €2.50-4. Mixed drinks €2-3.50. Open M-F 9am-late, Sa-Su noon-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Babel, Kastanienalle 33 With the exception of Che Guevara's portrait, which hangs over the front door, Babel is a perfect Middle Eastern eatery. Locals obsessed with the falafel keep this neighborhood joint busy at all hours, eating at outside packed tables or inside under dangling garlic. Scarf down some döner to the beat of Middle Eastern tunes. U8: Bernauer Str. Falafel €3-6. Open daily 11am-2am. Does not take credit cards. Has outdoor seating.
Soupanova, Stargader Str. 24 (www.soupanova.de), Creative soups here begin with a broth base from a variety of choices, including Thai coconut milk and miso. Then add tofu, wonton, or chicken to make it a meal. Full of vegetarian options and zany floral patterns. U2: Eberswalder Str. Soup €4-5. Open daily 6pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cafe ImNu, Lychener Str. 41 Located just across from one of Prenzlauer Berg's best-known parks, Cafe ImNu is a serene place to enjoy an early breakfast or midday meal. Juices are squeezed fresh to order, including the sweet strawberry-kiwi-banana blend (€3.80). The vegetarian breakfast comes with pasta, mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto, yogurt, honey, and a garden salad. U2: Eberswalder Str. Breakfast €5.10-8. Baguette sandwiches €3.20-4.10. Open daily 8am-7pm. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.