Vegan In Berlin

Berlin is a city of dreamers and bohemian living. Here, alternative lifestyles are the norm so vegetarians and vegans are very easy to find. The city isn’t stereotypically German. It’s definitely not all bratwurst and beer. Although if you are after beer, it’s reassuring to know that most German beers are vegan by default.

People from all over the world flock here to enjoy the vibrant music, art and culture scenes. Berlin’s a very cosmopolitan, multicultural city with a big Turkish population. Unlike the UK and other parts of Europe, Turkish fast food is of good quality. And there’s lots of variety too. Every Tuesday and Friday between 11:00 and 18:30 there’s a Turkish market on Maybachufer (a street along the canal in Kreuzberg). There, you’ll find fresh fruit, fruit juices, vegetables, nuts and vegan wraps amid a sea of locals and tourists and street musicians.

For a Turkish take-away, you can find one on nearly every corner in Kreuzberg. My favourite place is Marousch on Adalbertstrasse. I usually go for the Makkali (a pita bread filled with roasted vegetables, chips, sesame sauce and salad), the Falafel (also in pita with salad) or a lighter option of hummous (served on a plate with salad, tabbouleh, pita bread and pickles). If you don’t make it to Marousch, there are plenty of others. Double check that the sauces are vegan when ordering as they often are not. Sticking with the Turkish theme, if you’re interested in trying a vegan version of the döner kebab, head to Vöner, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Friedrichshain on Boxhagenerplatz. On Saturdays you’ll find a farmer’s market on the platz and on Sunday’s there’s a fleamarket too. Try to combine a visit to the market with a hit of vegan fast food.

While in the area of Friedrichshain, make it a priority to visit Veganz. It’s the first full-vegan supermarket chain in Europe. A supermarket heaven, where you can find everything from fresh ingredients plus meat and milk substitutes to chocolates, sweets, snacks. As a vegan you’ll feel totally liberated by not having to read labels and just help yourself to whatever you like. There’s also a great cafe inside the shop that serves hot and cold meals along with delicious pastries and cakes.

   

On the topic of cakes and sweet things, for kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake in German), you should definitely try Cafe Vux in Neukölln. It might seem like a bit of a trek if you’re staying central but it’s worth it for their cupcakes and cakes. They also do tasty savoury dishes for meal times. No Milk Today (2 pictures above) in Kreuzberg is very good for a cake stop too. It’s charming with hand drawn signs like “Ve can do it” greeting you on arrival. Try their cheesecake. It does have a hint of tofu but otherwise is convincingly similar to non-vegan cheesecake. My all-time favourite though is a fairly new shop in Kreuzberg on Oranienstrasse called Charlie’s Asian Bakery (2 pictures below). They do a delicious Vietnamese drip coffee, coffee with non dairy milks, teas and a range of very beautiful innovative vegan cakes and sweets. Here, you eat with your eyes first.

   

While eating your way through Berlin, one other thing you need to do is brunch. Brunch is an institution in Berlin and Pêle-Mêle in Neukölln serves one of the best vegan brunches in the city. They do a buffet on Sundays for €10 from 10am-5pm, with breads, spreads, scrambled tofu and salads.

For reasonably priced meals for lunch/dinner, try the city’s Asian restaurants. Although a Vietnamese friend said that the Vietnamese food in Berlin is not “real” Vietnamese, a Korean friend said the same thing about Korean food, and similarly, Indian friends say the same thing about Indian restaurants here, the food still tastes good. It’s not necessarily authentic but you can almost always find a vegan option on the menu. My favourite restaurant for Vietnamese is Hamy Cafe on Hasenheide. I usually order the special with tofu for under €5. It comes with a rich spicy sauce, peanuts and lots of crunchy salad. The food is generally served quickly so you can expect to be fed within minutes of arriving. They also have one or two coconut milk cocktails on the menu.

For pizza and pasta in a beautiful, spacious setting with cosy nooks and wooden tables, try Cafe V on Lausitzer Platz. Their food is sensational and the staff is very friendly. They only serve vegetarian and vegan food, and many of their vegetarian options can be veganised on request. Expect to pay between €8-€12 for a main. They serve organic wine and beer too. Around the corner, at Eissalon Tanne B, try homemade vegan soya milk ice creams and sorbets. Both Cafe V and Eissalon Tanne B are located on the border of Lausitzer Platz, a green island in the heart of Kreuzberg.

I started eating vegan at the start of 2014 and one of the things I thought I’d miss was burgers. But that hasn’t been the case. There are many burger options in this city. If you’re after a burger, head straight to Yellow Sunshine on Weinerstrasse. It’s a 100% vegetarian burger restaurant. They do ten different kinds of vegan burgers, serve vegan shakes and fries. Their Lappland Cheeseburger is the winner. Schiller Burger, a regular meat burger joint, has two shops in Kreuzberg and Neukölln and also serves a vegan burger. It’s not a meaty-tasting burger at all but more a vegetable pattie with all the frills. And Lily Burger near Hermannplatz also do vegan burgers. They are a bit pricey but their list of vegan options is extensive to make up for that.

By walking around the city you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon other exciting places to eat. The variety and options are never-ending. Do your research about pop up restaurants and markets before you head over as those take place spontaneously although regularly around the city and often have vegan options.

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