Besides such popular destinations such as the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and the remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall, the bus trip also includes the must-see and amazing KaDeWe department store. A Mecca for any discerning shopper with a passion for what's it in retail, this triumph also boasts the most incredible food department I have ever seen (YES! Even better than Harvey Nics), a feast for the senses and another must-see of your trip.
We hopped off the bus just before doing the Brandenberg Gate to take a boat trip along the river; an incredibly relaxing way of seeing different parts of Berlin - provided that the weather permits of course.
As we were very lucky with the weather, rounding of the first day in Berlin exploring the gay district was a refreshing experience. Weather it was because it was early Saturday afternoon and every gay man in Berlin was getting ready to go out, but the ***** district was blessedly quiet indeed and just perfect to sip a cold beer in bar Mavie and watch the world go by. Mavie appeared to have great food but the well positioned outdoor seating and the gorgeous staff was a welcome treat for any tired feet.
In the evening we headed to the Prenzlauerberg district. Luckily, or unluckily for some, it happened to be Eurovision night, as I had been warned, Germans love their Eurovision and this was on full display in the few bars that we dropped into. Pumping with life and really good fun, the crowd was really friendly and super non-pretentious. The Prenzlauerberg district is in East Berlin and there are many signs of new apartment blocks going up but thankfully this is done in such a sympathetic way and only serves to add charm to the dimly lit, atmospheric and bohemian area.
Day two had more sightseeing install. A closer look at the cathedral, Reichstag, the Brandenburg gate and Tiergarten park delivered on every level. We were apprenhensive about heading to the Alexanderplatz square as I had been told that this was a not so attractive part of Berlin, but as testament to the new movement that is evident everywhere in Berlin this square is being transformed into a very fashionable shopping area.
On the second night again we headed back to the Prenzlauerberg area. Bar November seemed a hip and trendy joint with really friendly staff and the blankets provided in the outdoor terrace of Bar Gargarin were really welcome but again the staff were fantastic. If you happen into Bar Gargarin look out for the strange array of toiletries for public use in, you guessed it, the loos. It seems to be a 'take something, leave something' sort of thing - but a friend of ours pilfered a couple of toothbrushes so the evening went from strength to strength.
Food in Berlin, like everywhere, seems to depend on what you wan to pay. For lunch we ate at hotdog stands (well, when in Rome.) which was more than fantastic. On the first evening we ate in Michelin star restaurant in the Brandenberger Hotel (just happened to be where we were staying). This famous restaurant is for a very special occasion and being my partner's birthday, I was 'encouraged' to push the boat out. An amazing stylish restaurant with an atmosphere to match, this magical place is in the perfect setting; situated in the courtyard of this old European palace style town house, the evening became an amazing experience of elegance and theatre as our four course meal became a nine course extravaganza owing to many palate cleansers, appetizers and a selection of 'amuse bouche'. It's not cheap, but it is most definitely worth the little extra for that special occasion, because most importantly, the food was absolutely spectacular.
All in all I honestly cannot think of one down point about our weekend in Berlin. It's a spectacular place, a work in progress and I definitely will be going back.
