Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Germany : Berlin - April 2010

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As far as Berlin is concerned, April is the coolest month. The hipsters are breaking out their spring-season gear, the kids are coming out to play, and culture fans have the Long Night of Opera and Theatre (10 April) to enjoy. Ben Knight tries to keep up

Getting around

Tempelhof Airport is located in the southcentral borough of Tempelhof- Schöneberg.

Train: The airport is connected to the city centre by U-Bahn line 6, which can be picked up from Platz der Luftbrücke station. The journey takes 10 to 15 minutes and tickets cost €2,10.
Taxi: The trip into the city centre takes around 15 minutes and costs about €12.
Tourist information: There are offices at the Brandenburg Gate and the main railway station (0025, visitberlin.de).

KREUZBERG

Easily the best place to party in the city, Kreuzberg is a unique and exhilarating combination of hedonistic students, Turks and eccentric old Germans. You’ll never be far from a trendy late-night bar or some delicious fast food.

Sleep soundly – Deceptively romantic, the hotel Die Fabrik (18 Schlesische Strasse, tel. , diefabrik. com, rooms from €38) is built in an old telephone factory and boasts some real decorative idiosyncrasies. Each room is high ceilinged, airy and completely unique.

Must eat – As it’s just a chicken stand by the side of the road, you might be surprised by the length of the queue at the Hühnerhaus (1 Görlitzer Strasse, tel. ). Investigate further – you won’t regret it. Café V (12 Lausitzer Platz, tel. ) is a vegetarian restaurant that will seduce even the most red-blooded carnivore – try the spinach balls.

Must drink – If you want unpretentious, no-holds-barred fun, go to Franken (19a Oranienstrasse), a punk bar and live venue where the beer is cheap and good.

Dance the night away – The exciting Junction Bar (18 Gneisenaustrasse) is part live-music venue and part nightclub. When the music’s live, it’s mainly of the alternative rock variety, but the DJs usually spin some hip-hop, funk and soul, too.

MITTE

Mitte continues to be just what its name means – the ‘middle’ of the city. It’s the most populous and most popular district in Berlin, where trends are set for the rest of town, and where the fun is concentrated.

Sleep soundly – The Helter Skelter Hostel (4-5 Kalkscheunenstrasse, tel. , helterskelterhostel. com, beds from €11) prides itself on being a ‘back to the roots’ no-nonsense youth hostel with a punk spirit. At the opposite end of the market, the Hotel de Rome (37 Behrenstrasse, tel. , hotelderome.com, rooms from €395) is the most luxurious hotel in town. Located next to the State Opera House on Bebelplatz, it’s highly exclusive.

Culture vultures – On 10 April, the second annual Long Night of Opera and Theatre (berlin-buehnen.de/langenacht) takes place on some 68 stages all over the city, and offers an exhilarating way to experience Berlin’s famed theatrical scene.

Must eat – Delicious and hearty Russian cuisine can be found at Gorki Park (25 Weinbergsweg, tel. ), a place to chill with a tall, fine glass of tea, or indulge in some caviar.

Dance the night away – Make sure you catch some of the unique atmosphere of Schokoladen (169 Ackerstrasse): a performance space, artist collective, bar, club and music venue that is simply everything that Berlin is about.

CHARLOTTENBURG

The beating heart of Berlin in the 1920s, Charlottenberg maintains the refinement and prestige of the city’s golden era. And it’s where the best shopping’s to be done.

Sleep soundly – The new, jazz-themed Hotel Ellington (50-55 Nürnberger Strasse, 3150, ellingtonhotel. com, rooms from €118), with its modern art deco curves, perfectly blends modern amenities with smooth old-school charm. Pension Peters (146 Kantstrasse, tel. , pension-peters-berlin.de, rooms from €58) is an utterly endearing bed and breakfast in the heart of the city. It’s impossible not to make friends here.

Must eat – A sublime insider’s tip is the Marjellchen (9 Mommsenstrasse, tel. ), a small, homely restaurant that serves rare northern German cuisine, and does everything perfectly. Try the Königsberger meatballs with capers.

Must drink – Just next door there’s the legendary Schwarzes Café (148 Kantstrasse). Open 24/7, it’s the best place to go if you want to keep the night going, and hot food is also available into the early hours.

Shop til you drop – If it’s vintage second-hand clothes you’re after, there’s nowhere better to go than Garage (2 Ahornstrasse), where style is in the driving seat and ready to tear up the town.

Compiled by Ben Knight