Berlin Guide: Streets Archives

Streets

Zionskirchplatz

This platz around the crumbling Zionskirche is (in 2002) one of the most desirable places to live in Mitte. It’s a few blocks from Oderbergerstrasse and just off Kastanienalle, and right around the corner from the Arkonaplatz junk market on Saturdays. My favorite breakfasts are served at Kapelle (but avoid the run of the mill Kommode on the opposite corner). Wander around the streets to the northwest to find the path of the Wall preserved in the Mauerpark. The neighbourhood is a nice mix of lavishly restored streetfront houses and more normal hofs (back courtyards) for artists and students.

Written by Andrew on September 8, 2002

Oderbergerstrasse

Oderbergerstrasse, a left turn at the north end of Kastanienalle, just might escape the wholesale renovation of Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg that happened all around it. It’s a spectacular street, wide and with tall, gorgeous, and often crumbling old apartment buildings. Now that the restoration boom is clearly over, maybe they’ll leave some of these places intact. Some of the bars along here, like Nemo and Raizza in Budapest, can be too cool for school, but you’ll also find a decent Vietnamese place and several Indian restaurants. On summer nights the kids hang out all night.

Written by Andrew on September 8, 2002

Kastanienalle

This long street starts as Weinbergsweg where it runs from Rosenthalerstr. U-bahn up an actual hill (!) into Prenzlauer Berg at the Eberswalderstrasse U-bahn. Along the way, it manages to include painfully hip coffee shops (like Galao at the bottom, where the “galao” coffee and Portugese pastries are great), decent Mexican food (Speedy Gonzalez), and one of the biggest rip-off cafes around (Einen Sontag im August, sure the all-you-can-eat brunch is only three euros, but so’s a small coffee). Der Imbiss (its logo is the McDonald’s M upside down) serves cheap pizzas on fresh Indian naan bread. We’ve found nice wedding and thank-you presents at Peg’s, a good gift shop at the corner of Weinbergsweg and Fehrberlinerstrasse.

Written by Andrew on September 8, 2002

Schlesische Str.

Actually this street is kind of boring, but I’m including it because I worked here for about 6 months. Eisenwaren’s got good German food, the Hotel Fabrik looks like a cool place, and most of your Turkish food needs can be met here. In Summer 2002, there was a little gallery called Framework at the south-east end that had lovely catered lunch every day for 4 Euros. Continue down Schlesischestrasse to get to Freischwimmer and the massive Sunday junk market in the warehouses next to the Arena club. Eventually, you’ll come to Treptower Park. (which is better reached by U-bahn anyway).

Written by Andrew on September 8, 2002