Stay
North of Alexanderplatz, Soho House Berlin’s location at 1 Torstrasse is the perfect place from which to explore Mitte and Prenzlauerberg. It has easy access to transport; accommodation provided by 85 well-appointed rooms, with luxuriantly high ceilings and your own vintage record player; a cinema; and a rooftop bar that boasts fantastic views of the TV tower and city beyond. For those on a budget, Berlin Style Apartments offer a range of tastefully decorated flats in the city’s trendier neighbourhoods.
Eat
Those with a company Amex and a forgiving friend in expenses should head to Fischers Fritz, the city’s only restaurant with two Michelin stars. Inside the five-star Regent Hotel on Charlottenstrasse, it offers contemporary German cuisine. But Berlin is also home to many cheap and delicious options. Business Destinations’ favourite is Sudanese restaurant Sahara. The only seats are outside, but its falafel sandwich with peanut sauce might just be the best tasting meal in the city.
Drink
Good bars are to Berlin what sand is to the beach. They make up the fabric of the city and on a sunny afternoon it can seem like everyone is drinking at a leisurely pace. For great cocktails try Becketts Kopf in Prenzlauerberg. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a stroll along Weserstrasse in the artistic neighbourhood of Neukölln for a range of great drinking options. Berliners take their nightlife seriously at the weekends – be prepared to go out late on Friday and stay out until Sunday morning.
See
Berlin’s post-war story has led to a big nostalgia industry. For those with a passion for history, the East Side Gallery, Stasi museum and DDR museum piece together the tale of a divided Germany. The Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park, a monument to the soldiers who died taking Berlin, is as impressive as it is moving. In West Berlin, the Helmut Newton Museum has rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection of the photographer’s provocative work. For shopping, Mitte has the best boutiques.
