Germany is not normally considered a great food destination and for many years Berlin 's restaurant scene had little to recommend it. Today the multicultural, multinational capital of Germany boasts a myriad of culinary attractions. There has been a resurgence in popularity of classic German cuisine, which has simultaneously been accompanied by a sprinkling of trendy new "Modern German" restaurants. Add Turkish, French, Chinese, Thai and many more into the mix and Berlin 's restaurant scene has never looked healthier.

Local favourites are drawn from all over the nation and include Königsberger Klopse (veal and pork meatballs draped in a cream sauce) as well as the ubiquitous sausage which ranges from the Thuringer Bratwurst all the way from the south of Germany , through to Berlin 's own spicy curry-soaked Currywurst. The other ubiquitous snack is the Turkish Döner, kebabs which can be found at street stalls around the city.

For dessert, Berliner Pfannkuchen is the jam-filled doughnut often known simply as a "Berliner" in the US - and hence made famous by President Kennedy in his potentially ambiguous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Rote Gruetze is another favourite, being a kind of fruit compote, mainly consisting of raspberries, and served with thick cream.

Although Germany has a reputation for cheap, sweet wines, this is not wholly deserved, and there are several excellent wines of all varieties to try. You should look out for good quality Rieslings in particular. One of Germany 's universally enjoyed attractions is of course its high quality beer and you can try most of the major German brands in Berlin , the best of which usually come from Bavaria . The local brew is Berliner Pilsner, a light tasting lager.

 

Bars

Berlin has plenty of bars to choose from and even better they're all open extremely late - in fact there are no licensing restrictions at all. The average closing time is 03h00 with clubs often staying open until the following morning.

The Mitte district is the easiest area to find a watering hole in Berlin . The main drag is along Oranienburger Strasse, and around Hackescher Markt, where you'll find enough bars to keep you occupied whatever you're looking for. Slightly less touristy are the areas of Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg further east which have a good choice of places to go out and are popular with Berlin 's youth. Berlin has a thriving gay community centred around Nollendorfplatz.