Germany’s Most Celebrated Chef, Tim Raue, Favorite Spots in Berlin
Meet the chef behind the 40th-best restaurant in the world
The Relisher is the place where the world’s top chefs reveal their favorite spots in their home cities. This week, we spoke with Chef Tim Raue, of two-Michelin-starred Restaurant TIM RAUE widely regarded as the best Asian-inspired restaurant in Berlin.
The Berlin born-and-raised chef is not only Germany’s most prominent chef but also celebrated worldwide. Chef Tim has been consistently on the world’s 50 best restaurants list for years (currently ranked at 40th place) and has been awarded five black Gault&Millau hoods (a nearly perfect score). Tim is also the only German chef to be featured on Nextflix’s Chef’s Table.
Below, Chef Tim reveals his favorite spots in the city, from unique restaurants you can't experience elsewhere in the world to award-winning German wines to try, and where to grab German local delicacies and Berlin street food.
*At the end of the interview, there is a Google Map link and a summary with links and price ranges for all the mentioned places.
The Epitome of Breakfast for Champions
“Frühstück 3000 (Frühstück translates to breakfast in German) is the place I always recommend when I’m asked where to get breakfast in Berlin. The owners come from Michelin-starred restaurants and exclusively focus on breakfast, available daily until 3 - 4 pm.
“Frühstück was the first place to open a dedicated breakfast restaurant, sparking a trend that gained popularity throughout Berlin. You can find traditional breakfast options, plus unique dishes like Asian-style beef tartare or eggs benedict with caviar.”
Casual Restaurants: From Traditional Italian and Southern Chinese Cuisine to Innovative Japanese
“The first casual restaurant that comes to mind is Osteria Centrale, which is ‘the’ Italian restaurant for me in Berlin. It’s a pure Tuscan kitchen with simple wooden chairs and no white tablecloth. It’s a very warm place (not a show-off place — I personally don’t like show-off places). The menu doesn't offer a wide selection, and I always order the same dishes.
“Their Osso Buco, braised veal cooked between five to six hours, is to die for. They also have an outstanding wine list with over 600 labels of wines dating back from the 1980s. Osteria Centrale embodies simple, raw cooking on a Michelin level.
“DoDeLi, situated in Little Asia, a street with over 100 Asian restaurants, is my most beloved Southern Chinese cuisine restaurant. From the outside, you would never enter —I go there to eat and leave. The food is truly amazing and their eggplant and pork belly dishes are the best in town. Waiting time can be up to 45 mins, but it’s worth it. I either come for a late lunch or early dinner between 3 to 5 pm.
“For sushi, you must visit 893 Ryotei — this is ‘the’ sushi restaurant in Berlin. It features graffiti on the restaurant’s exterior, and it’s a lively, hip place inside where you can really feel the Berlin vibe. I like to go out here on Friday or Saturday nights.
“The restaurant offers a variety of options, including traditional Japanese dishes like sushi and sashimi, as well as more creative creations that incorporate truffles and other non-traditional Japanese ingredients. The tables are intentionally placed close to each other, so that diners can actually talk to one another, and this isn’t something normal in Berlin.”
The Fine Dining Restaurants You Won’t Find Elsewhere in The World
“My favorite fine dining restaurants in Berlin, in the following order, are:
Tulus Lotrek, sporting one Michelin star (although, in my opinion, it deserves much more than one star), is my favorite fine dining restaurant in town. It captures the essence of a typical Berlin restaurant with stunning interior design, having actually been an apartment on the ground floor. You must order the scallop dish with sea urchin puree — it’s a burst of flavors sweet, spicy, salty, all perfectly executed. It’s one of the best dishes in the world. Note that they have only one sitting, which is between 3.5 - 4 hours.
Horváth, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant offering Austrian cuisine, is situated in a beautifully designed and cozy space, adorned with art-filled walls. Horváth is like an avant-garde culinary museum, offering a tasting menu that is 90% plant-based and 10% animal-based. The dishes are presented in a minimalist style. For example, during my recent visit with friends, one of the dishes consisted of just a mushroom stem with tomato stock—simple, pure, and without any decoration. It was absolutely delicious.
Rutz specializes in contemporary German and European cuisine and is Berlin's only three Michelin-starred restaurant (and the most expensive in town). If you’re a big foodie, then I recommend visiting, as this is ‘the’ culinary destination in Germany. Also, make sure to order the seasonal menu.
Each of these three restaurants offer very special dining experiences and you cannot find anything like it in the entire world.”
The Best Wine Bar in Berlin
“Freundschaft is the best wine bar in Berlin boasting a wine list of 1,200 - 1,300 bottles. It’s a lively place owned by two sommeliers with Michelin-starred backgrounds. Apart from the incredible selection, I also love that you can select the type of glass for your wine.
“For example, you can try a burgundy wine in two to three different glasses to find the perfect glass. It’s a mixed crowd kind of place — you’ll find here 30-year-olds and seasoned wine connoisseurs. Just note that they don’t take reservations.”
Where to Indulge Your Sweet Tooth
“The best eclairs and ice cream in town can be found at the artisanal bakery, Canal. The owner is Latin American, yet she operates the shop like a German engineer. Each of the eclairs has a phenomenal taste and is unbelievably detailed.
“For the best selection, I recommend an early visit, as after 12:00pm, there are only about three to four eclairs types available. Personally, I prefer going early in the morning and typically buy a box of 20 or so; I don't have a specific favorite flavor. Keep in mind, it's a small shop with only one two-seat table.”
Must Try German Local Dishes & Restaurants
“If you’re visiting Germany for the first time, I recommend sampling the following local dishes:
Currywurst, dubbed as Berlin’s street food, is a pork sausage that’s pan-fried and served with a tomato ketchup-like sauce. The best Currywurst can be found at Curry 36, Konnopke, and Curry-Baude, (a hidden gem with no tourists, though it's quite far from East and West Berlin). I recommend going on a Currywurst tour and visiting all three of these locations, each with a unique heritage in making Currywurst.
Döner Kebap, originating in Turkey, has become a popular street food in Germany and is today one of the most loved dishes in the country. It’s filled with beef, meat, various salads (similar to shawarma in Middle Eastern cuisine), and in Berlin, it’s served with garlic and hot sauce. You can find the best Döner Kebap at Super Hahn and Pamfilya.
“A special restaurant serving delicious German heritage cuisine, with a contemporary touch, in a beautiful 100-year-old villa is Villa Kellermann (about 35 minutes outside Berlin’s city center). This is the place where Germany’s chancellor brings diplomats from all over the world when visiting Berlin.
“I recommend ordering the Falls Rabbit, a meatloaf dish served with creamy mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes, carrots, and peas — it’s finger-licking good. You’ll never forget this experience. It’s the only restaurant in Berlin that looks like a fairytale in the summer (make sure to request to sit on the terrace).”
Where to Shop: ‘The’ Wine Store and A High-End Concept Store
“Germany is home to incredible wines, and if you'd like to bring a bottle home, you absolutely must visit Wein & Glas Compagnie. The owners of this wine shop are also wine dealers for the best restaurants and hotels in Berlin.
“I appreciate that they are fairly priced — in other stores in Berlin, you can find the same wines for double the cost. I recommend buying J.J. Prüm, an award-winning Riesling (a slightly sweet wine), considered one of the two best wines in Germany.”
“For designer goods and clothing, Andreas Murkudis is a stunning concept store worth visiting. The store itself is beautifully designed, showcasing exclusive designers and pieces that you can’t find anywhere in Berlin.”
The Art Gallery Not to Miss
“The owner of KÖNIG GALERIE is a wizard of Germany’s art scene. The gallery is in a beautiful, spacious former chapel where you can discover works from both German and international artists. I highly recommend a visit; personally, I go twice a year.”
Where to Sleep
Soho House Berlin (four stars)
Orania (four stars): You stay in the middle of Kreuzberg (Berlin’s coolest neighborhood), it’s absolutely vibrant
Waldorf Astoria (five stars): The suites offer a stunning view of Berlin’s City West to City East
Favorite Restaurants in the World
Thanks for reading — Gabrielle
HERE is the Google Maps link.
SUMMARY
GERMAN LOCAL FOOD EATERIES
CASUAL RESTAURANTS
FINE DINING RESTAURANTS
Tulus Lotrek $$$
Horváth $$$
BREAKFAST & PASTRIES
Canal $
BAR
Freundschaft $$
STORES
ART GALLERY
HOTELS
Orania $$$
Waldorf Astoria $$$