There are many approaches to experiencing a city – and no wrong ones!
Places are like people, they have many layers to them. The surface of the city doesn’t paint an accurate portrait of its persona. There are cities that I thought I’d enjoy immensely for their architecture or interesting history. However seeing them in person, they fell flat. Likewise there are also cities that are deemed ugly or boring but once you get to know the culture, the secret spots, the people, suddenly you’re in tune with the city’s newfound vibrancy.
One of the cities that keeps calling to me is definitively Berlin. Our affair started a year ago. I first visited Berlin in October, 2016. Like all first comers I ticked off all major touristy sights. I visited some of the finest museums Berlin had to offer (and they have a lot to offer – over 10 museums)! I got to hang out with Berliners in Kreuzberg, do beer yoga (it’s fun as it sounds), try tasty German brews and dance the night away in Berghain. Like most cities it was only scratching the surface.
The second time I visited was exactly a year later, October 2017. Through my conversations with the locals (their English is impeccable by the way) I found out what I was missing out on! Food!
Yes, I tried everything that street carts have to offer! Donner, currywurst and to be fair, ten other types of wurst. Much as I enjoy street food, I decided that I need to expand my menu.
One of the things that makes Berlin such a great city is that it’s so culturally diverse. So I wanted to experience that diversity through my favourite medium, food.
I’ve been told that Prenzlauer Berg has a serious food scene.
PB neighbourhood, I was told that it’s like Kreuzberg but for young families (also former residents of Kreuzberg). Due to being a much gentrified district and as such, a perfect scene for a cafés & eateries. It’s a big mix of scenery. From colourful boutiques, green oases, interesting shops, a JR mural (and other great examples of street art) to a wide range of eateries.
Hence I booked a food tour through an app called Bitemojo. I never did a tour through an app so I was curious how the whole process would look like.
The only thing you need for this tour is an empty stomach and a smartphone! The tour costs 25 euros, and for that price you get 6 delicious bites & 6 hidden gems of Prenzlauer Berg.
How Does Bitemojo Food Tour Work:
- Download the Bitemojo app
- Choose a Tour to Your Fitting
- See at what time the tour is available
- Get to the starting point and enjoy!
Prenzlauer delivered. The tour took me to six different restaurants all specializing in different types of cuisine.
Ataya
First one was a small restaurant offering some of the best vegetarian/vegan cuisine in Berlin. The owners are a lovely couple from different cultural background. She is from Cagliari, Italy and he is from Dakar, Senegal. As a result, the food they create is a harmonious fusion of influences from both continents.
My first bite was ravioli! A perfect example of the African-Italian fusion. The recipe was inspired by the cuisine of Sardinia (as their tomato sauce), but the couscous is Senegalese. From dough to the sauce – everything is homemade!
Pasticceria Mangiarte
Next stop was my favorite, Pasticceria Mangiarte. The owner Ivan hails from Taranto, Italy. He’s a baker and a painter – and I certainly agree, that his pastries are masterpieces. I had a bigne with Chantilly cream and an espresso to accompany it with. The Chantilly cream melted in my mouth.
I had to order some other delicacies and I tried some type of delectable pastry with passion fruit. It was divine, a truly religious experience. The prices are really reasonable (a piece was 1 euro!) and everything, and I mean everything is homemade. Every batter, filling, glaze and cream!
The Panini Shop
Another business owned by a married couple! A panini shop, the only store in Berlin that specializes in paninis only! Next to classic Italian paninis they offer their own recipes too.
I had their Sweet Chicken on sesame bread and some orange juice. The bread was evenly toasted, the salad was crunchy and not soggy from the sauce (which I hate when happens with paninis) and chicken was perfect. It was delicious. My friend had the Burger panini which was even better. Their menu offers a really nice selection, and for dessert you can get some cookies too.
Neue Liebe
I finished the tour at a cosy café. It offers freshly baked vegan cakes.
I had a slice of lemon bread with a great cappuccino. It was served with pomegranate. It was a great place to end the tour. The atmosphere is very chill and intimate. Perfect place to wind down.
Sightseeing in Prenzlauer Berg
When you’re navigating your way between these amazing eateries, you’re discovering the neighbourhood around you. The map that takes you to your next bite also informs you about the sights that you’re passing by. From Zeiss Planetarium, specialized Swedish candy shop ‘Herr Nilsson Godis’, Helmholtz Square and many other interesting gems off the beaten path.
The tour offers all in all 6 bites, but alas I didn’t have luck because two of the places that were on my map were closed that day. But Bitemojo food tour is very fair and offers you Bitecoin (very clever name) to exchange for a bite at another restaurant of your choosing in Berlin. They have a large list of venues where you can go for a bite! Bitemojo keeps your unused bites valid for 6 whole months!
Oh well, I guess I’ll have to drop by Berlin again in next 6 months! 🙂
There are a lot of advantages to doing a tour like this. You get to start at what time you want, you can take as much time you wish at a restaurant without feeling like you’re holding up the group.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re a solo traveller. When I travel alone, I like doing group tours because it usually leads to meeting interesting people that later on you can hang out with for a few hours or go for drinks!
If you’re wondering what to do next in Berlin, check out our guide here.