Berlin Craft Beer Bar: Lemke
At first glance, Lemke seems like a standard German restaurant and pub. But they also brew their own craft beer. Lemke is a Berlin based brewery with three restaurant locations in the city, including one under the S-Bahn tracks near Hackesche Markt.
They offer a tasting flight and a full German menu of food along with non-beer options. It might feel more mainstream, but the beer is fresh and local.
Lemke is a great choice for Berlin craft beer in easy-to-reach locations when you’ve had a long day of sightseeing.
Lemke is a great choice for craft beer with locations convenient to tourist attractionsWhere to stay in Berlin
Berlin has lots of great neighborhoods for you to stay in and explore. If you’re visiting Berlin for the first time, it might be best for you stay somewhere central.
Many of the attractions are in Mitte or easily connected to Mitte by Berlin’s public transport, so you should stay somewhere in that region. Here are a few hotels we recommend.
For a more detailed look at the different neighborhoods and our hotel recommendations, check out our guide to where to stay in Berlin.
Or read my full review of the 25Hours Hotel in Charlottenburg with fantastic views of the Zoo and Tiergarten.
Lemke craft beer bar in Berlin
Here’s what you can expect from Lemke, including types of craft beer, food options, locations, and more.
Basic Details
Type of Place: Brewery, Restaurant
Allows Smoking?: No
Food options: Full menu of German cuisine
What kinds of craft beer does Lemke have?
The tasting flight is a good way to try a variety of Lemke’s beersIn Short:10 taps with their own beer and a menu of bottles.
Lemke brews and sells their own beer from their brewery in Berlin. The standard German beer types (Weizen, Pils, etc) share the menu with IPAs. They also offer a standard 6 x 0.1L tasting flight.
Judging by the stack of the wooden boards behind the bar, the flight is a popular option. A pre-printed card sits behind the beers to explain each one in English on one side and German on the other.
We tried the flight and then each picked one from the menu. The flight provides their 6 most popular beers, spread across IPA, Pils, and Weizen styles. It was good to get a selection of what they have on offer.
I found most of them too hoppy for my taste, but if you like hoppy beers, you’ll enjoy these. Then we tried the seasonal Christmas Bock and a Sour Beer. Both were more interesting than the standard set.
>>Read: Best Beer Gardens in Berlin
Non-Beer Options
The menu has a selection of wine of all colors as well as a full list of spirits for cocktails. They also offer a “meter of shots” with 12 shots on a board. Sounds crazy, but maybe with a large group of friends.
A few non-alcoholic beers are on the bottle list, and while I did see a gluten-free option in the restaurant, I can’t find it on their online menu, so ask if that is important to you.
This is a restaurant, so of course there is the standard list of soft drinks, coffee, and other non-alcoholic beverages, too.
Price?
Their own beer from the taps costs around 6 euros for a half-liter, with a few cheaper options. Some of the specialties are more expensive. Smaller meals are around 10 Euros, while an order of schnitzel that came with two cutlets on a pile of fries was 15 euros.
Overall, it isn’t Berlin-cheap, but for the area in town and the slightly more tourist focused audience, it isn’t horrible.
Food Choices at Lemke
Lemke serves traditional German foodLemke is a brewery restaurant and has a full menu of German style food. Meat and potatoes in various forms dominate the menu. Portions are large enough to split.
We tried the schnitzel and the goulash. It was fine, but nothing super amazing. Certainly standard hearty German food to accompany the beer, but the beer is still the star.
>>Read: 51 Tasty German Foods to Try: What to Eat in Germany
What is Lemke like?
Lemke has three establishments in Berlin. One right at Alexanderplatz which houses their brewery, another just a few blocks away under the rail tracks at Hackescher Markt, and one near the Charlottenburg Schloss in the west of Berlin.
We tried the Hackescher Markt location mostly to see the decor under the rails. Two full arches of the S-Bahn between Alexander Platz and Hackescher Markt have been combined for Lemke.
Vast sweeping expanses of exposed brickwork rumble slightly as the trains go overhead. This is a big place, but doesn’t feel either like a warehouse or crammed full of tables.
Lighting is dim, but not dark. This is a place to enjoy a beer, not read a book.
I quite enjoyed the sour beer at LemkeOne arch houses the entrance and main bar with a chalkboard showing their ten taps. There are plenty of tables here and the entrance out to a beer garden for nicer weather.
The other arch has long tables to seat many people. Menus are fairly large clipboards rather than folded paper, with beer and food on opposite sides.
If you’re visiting Berlin on vacation, this might be a good choice for traditional German fare along with some craft beer. All three locations are near tourist attractions, yet you probably wouldn’t just stumble on it while wandering around.
What makes it unique?
- Brewery Tours are offered in German and end with a beer tasting
- The Hackescher Markt location under the tracks feels different and fun
How to Find Lemke Brewery
Hackescher Markt Location
Open: Monday – Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Address: Dircksenstrasse, S-Bahnbogen 143, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
Nearest Transport: Hackescher Markt Sbahn and tram stop
Am Schloss Location in Charlottenburg
Open: Monday – Sunday: 11 AM – 12 AM
Address: LuisenPlatz 1, 10585 Berlin-Charlottenburg
Nearest Transport: Richard-Wagner-Platz on the U7
Alexanderplatz Location in Mitte
Open: Monday – Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 13, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
Nearest Transport: Alexanderplatz on the U2, U5, U8, and various Sbahn lines and trams
Berlin craft beer tour
Are you interested in learning more about Berlin’s craft beer scene? A beer tour like this one will help you experience more craft beer in Berlin at several locations.
Berlin Travel Resources
I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this review of Lemke craft beer bar in Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!
- 101 Best Things to do in Berlin
- 23 Impressive Castles in Berlin (And Nearby)
- 27 Best World War II & Cold War Sights in Berlin
- 29 Fun Day Trips From Berlin
- 75 Things to Know Before Visiting Berlin: Essential Berlin Travel Tips
- What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
- How to Get Around in Berlin: An Easy Guide to Berlin Public Transportation
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Ali is originally from the US, but she’s been living in Germany since 2011. In 2015, she and her husband moved to Berlin where they now live with their small dog. They even bought an apartment in Berlin in 2021 – Berlin is definitely home now! Ali’s goal is to show you everything you need to know for enjoying a trip to Berlin.
