Lunch. Berlin

There is nothing more comforting than to sit down and know that you will be served. With great food. In this case in Berlin. ORA opens at 10:00, instead of 7:00 or 8:00, and fills up quickly – the locals know where to enjoy one of the best breakfasts in town, with everything made of organic produce, locally sourced to the max. Both breakfast and lunch menus are available here all day long, up until 16:00, and then from 18:30 the place is transformed into a perfect evening spot – a stylish and insanely creative cocktail bar.

Brasserie ORA

ORA opens at 10:00, instead of 7:00 or 8:00, and fills up quickly – the locals know where to enjoy one of the best breakfasts in town, with everything made of organic produce, locally sourced to the max. Both breakfast and lunch menus are available here all day long, up until 16:00, and then from 18:30 the place is transformed into a perfect evening spot – a stylish and insanely creative cocktail bar.

ORA is located in a former pharmacy, with its original shelves, bottles and tubes still intact, as well as most of the ceiling and flooring, with more antique accessories added for character. Two friends, an architect and a photographer, have transformed it into a very special place, where everything is spot on – the location, the interior, the dishes and the cocktails. At 10:00 in the morning the place smells so tempting that it’s impossible not to treat yourself to a freshly baked brioche or a cinnamon bun, served with a good dollop of butter. Make sure you try the nut and seed granola they make here, served with yoghurt, pollen, canned apples and pears. Friends of bruschetta must try some of the homemade breads, served in so many ways – with kale, walnuts and poached egg, homemade pastrami, pickles, marmalade, butter and salt, cheese, egg or pickled gherkins. Trust me, the words you’re reading now don’t half reveal how gorgeous they all are. The lunch crowd loves the seasonal fresh and braised endive salad with homemade mustard, browned butter and nut crumble or the Jerusalem artichoke salad with salt-baked rutabaga and buttermilk. Cakes are simple, but so rich that you’ll want to try every one of them. In the evening, after the magical transformation, the menu is replaced by snack platters, composed of local organic sausages and meats (many of them made in-house), cheeses and all sorts of pickles, and coffee is replaced by cocktails that’ll steal your heart. Special recommendation: try the Truffle Sour, made of gin, truffles and a lot of other ingredients.

Address: Oranienplatz 14, Berlin
www.facebook.com/oraberlin

Salumeria Lamuri

You’ve travelled to Berlin but want to feel like you’re in Italy? Head to Salumeria Lamuri. Don’t want to feel like you’re in Italy? Fair enough, but head there nonetheless – what you’ll taste might be better than in Italy. Start off with some organic burrata with rocket and tomatoes. But if there’s one thing not to miss, it’s the all-time favourite, a dish that has never left the menu – fresh pasta with truffles. So, so good! It flawlessly embodies everything this cuisine is about. The rest of the menu changes according to the ideas of the Italian chef and what’s available in that particular season. Yoghurt, muesli, vitello tonnato, paninis, pastas, fishes and meats.

The menu is tiny, but not a single thing on it disappoints. A glass of wine, perfect Italian bread, one of the typical Italian desserts to finish your meal – and life is so much more beautiful. The staff here is 100% Italian, so it’s time to brush up on your Italian vocabulary and visit Salumeria Lamuri, although you won’t be talking much – you’ll be too busy blissfully munching away.

Address: Köpenicker Straße 183, Berlin
lasalumeria.wordpress.com

Roamers

A super-small and super-hipstery place in Kreuzberg – admittedly, you’ll need some crowd survival skills before you get a table, but it’s very much worth it. Silky smooth cappuccino, excellent coffee, the famous Stoned Traveler – hot chocolate with espresso and a bit of rum, but if you’re not in the mood for it, there’s a variety of teas to sip (rosemary, thyme, ginger, mint), or, in the summer, delicious lemonades, served in jars. The ginger, apple and mint lemonade has a great kick to it. And then there’s the food. Flavours, presentation, sensations – all perfect.

You’ll find salads, sandwiches and pancakes here, and be ready to feel full for quite some time after your meal. And don’t eat before your visit either – whatever you order will be just too good to leave anything on the plate. Try the marinated beef, pickle, sauerkraut, Cheddar and rocket salad, the famous French toast with caramelised pears, berries, jam and yoghurt, or the kale salad with black beans, Parmesan, avocado, egg and rosemary croutons.

Adrese: Pannierstraße 64, Berlin
www.facebook.com/RoamersBerlin

Cocolo Ramen X-berg

For fans of ramen Cocolo Ramen X-berg is a definite must. They serve seven versions of ramen, the Japanese noodle soup – from the simplest miso broth to more elaborate soups made with chicken, prawns or slow-cooked pork belly. Sides – kimchi, soybeans, gyoza dumplings with miso, cucumber sticks in marinade, spinach with sesame sauce and a few other things. That’s basically it, but here you won’t need much more anyway. Maybe a Japanese beer, or a glass of wine or another drink.

The servings are large enough to keep you full and your thoughts off food for quite some time.

Address: Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, Berlin
kuchi.de/restaurant/cocolo-x-berg

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Photo: Armands Meirans