Shisha pipes, mint tea, and backgammon are the staples of Horus, the local Egyptian cafe on Hasenheide. The neighborhood’s Arab community spends afternoons and evenings here, toting waterpipes and gossiping. The cuisine is authentic and reasonably priced. You might feel a little awkward if you walk in alone, but the crowd is welcoming and provides an important glimpse into a major Berlin subculture.
Horus. Hasenheide, Kreuzberg.
Smack in Görlitzer Park with all its ruins (old trainstation, former playground derelict fountain…) you’ll find little cafe Edelweiss. The indoors feature two small party rooms for rent, but outside in the sun is where it’s happening.
Görli, as the park is affectionably called by its inhabitants, is not for the landscapingly inclined. Rather, it looks a bit like a shabby, somewhat neglected mess. That said, it’s probably one of the favorite hangout places for students, Kreuzbergers and tourists alike who congregate here to read in the sun or play sports (soccer, baseball, juggling, frisbee and Scandinavian import Kubb are most popular).
And Edelweiss puts you right in the middle of all that. They serve some pretty good full grain guacamole & dried tomato bagels, too. (No photo since I ate it too quickly.)
Cafe Edelweiss is inside Görlitzer Park, near the entrance towards U Görlitzer Bahnhof, Kreuzberg
This Schöneberg Cafe has all you need if you’re stranded in this part of town: wireless (ask for the password), a clean, sleek interior, an open front towards the street. (So it’s nice for a rainy day, too.) Most importantly, though: The cakes are a true treat. And even though it’s not on the menu, the iced moccha is perfect to wash down your piece of cake.
Goltzstr. 17, Schöneberg, Berlin
Image: Carrot Cake