25 Best Restaurants in Friedrichshain Berlin +Bars, Beer Gardens, Cafes & More

Friedrichshain is a hip, artsy, eclectic neighborhood in the former East Berlin. It’s also where I’ve lived since 2015, so when I go out to eat, I eat out in Friedrichshain more than anywhere else. Over the years, I’ve tried some of the best restaurants in Friedrichshain, and I’m going to share my local tips with you so you’ll know where to eat in Friedrichshain.

This district is where you’ll find the East Side Gallery, lots of great street art, several famous Berlin clubs, a few interesting flea markets, and quite a few other things to do. And luckily there’s some great food in Friedrichshain.

Let’s take a look at some of my favorite restaurants, cafes, and bars so you can find the best food in Friedrichshain.

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Hotels in Friedrichshain Berlin

If you’re interested in staying in this neighborhood, there are lots of great places to stay in Friedrichshain for any budget.

BUDGET

Industriepalast Hostel Berlin

MIDRANGE

Hotel Amano East Side

UPSCALE

Hotel Indigo Berlin East Side Gallery

Tours in Friedrichshain

If you’re interested in exploring this neighborhood a little more, there are a few tours that are worth booking. Especially if you like food and beer, consider taking the food tour or beer tour listed below.

• East Berlin Food & History Tour: One of our favorite food tours companies has a tour that focuses on food in East Berlin, specifically in the Friedrichshain district.
• 3.5-Hour Guided Original Craft Beer Tour in Berlin: This tour takes you to some of the best craft beer bars in Berlin, and the whole tour is in Friedrichshain. We’ve taken a beer tour with this guide, and it was excellent.
• Berlin Street Art: 3-Hour Off The Grid Tour: Street art is a big part of the urban landscape in Berlin, and this tour shows you some great street art in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg while explaining the history and stories behind them. I’ve taken this tour, and it was a fascinating look at Berlin’s street art scene.

Top Friedrichshain restaurant options

It’s hard to pick just one best restaurant in Berlin Friedrichshain, so I’m not even going to try. There’s something for everyone here, and I’ve divided up these Friedrichshain restaurants into categories to help you find what you’re looking for. You can find my Friedrichshain food map at the end, but for now, keep reading. And make sure you understand how to tip in Germany.

Where to eat in Friedrichshain

Here are a few good options for places to eat, from Portuguese to Japanese and everything in between. For German restaurants, scroll down to the next section.

Hangmee: This Thai and Laotian restaurant serves tapas sized portions that make it easy to try several different things. Their food is fantastic, and we’ve been eating here for years. Reserve ahead, they’re popular.

Niko Niko Ramen: This is our favorite ramen restaurant in Friedrichshain, plus they have gyoza and a few other things. They’re usually busy, but they don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait a little while.

Iro Izakaya: Right on Boxhagener Platz, this Japanese restaurant has lots of tapas sized options, and their food is delicious.

Kong: This is a Chinese noodle restaurant with a small but excellent menu. They have a minimal design with a lot of concrete, so it’s wonderfully cool on a hot summer day.

Lisboa Bar am Boxi: If you’re looking for a nice Portuguese dinner in Friedrichshain, we really like Lisboa Bar. It’s a little pricey, but the food is excellent. Reservations recommended.

Papaya: This is a solid good choice for Thai food near Boxhagener Platz. We sometimes eat here for lunch before browsing the Saturday fresh market at Boxhagener Platz.

Matanga: This Latin/Spanish fusion restaurant has delicious options from slightly pricey (like their wonderful chimichurri) to cheap (empanadas) and their cocktails are fantastic. We go here quite often.

Khwan: Located in the RAW-Gelände complex, this is a trendy Thai restaurant with tasty food.

Maru: One of my favorite Korean restaurants, this one is tucked back in Samariterkiez, the opposite side of Frankfurter Allee from the lively Boxi area. Reservations recommended.

Aleppo Supper Club: This popular Syrian restaurant has two locations in Friedrichshain, one in Samariterkiez (mainly takeout) and one a block from Boxhagener Platz.

Shakespeare & Sons Books & Bagels: Part bookstore, part bagel shop, this is an excellent choice for an easy lunch. They do NOT accept cash.

Mustafa Demir’s Döner Kebap: You should try Döner Kebap in Berlin at least once while you’re here, and Mustafa Demir’s is one of the best. Mustafa Demir’s Gemüse Kebap is their vegan alternative just a few doors down the street. Either is a good choice for a quick and cheap meal in Friedrichshain.

Holzmarkt: Located along the Spree River, this eclectic spot is a collection of food trucks, a beach bar, and a so much more. It’s a great place for cheap eats in Friedrichshain, and it’s a good place to go for the true vibe of this district.

Brammibal’s Donuts: This trendy vegan donut chain has many locations in Berlin, and the Friedrichshain location is on Warschauer Strasse. I’m not vegan, but these are really tasty.

>>Looking for places to eat in Mitte? Check out my restaurant guide for Berlin Mitte.

German restaurants in Friedrichshain

Lots of the restaurants that ended up on my list of places to eat German food in Berlin are actually in Friedrichshain. Again, this is where I live, so it’s easy for me to eat out here over and over again.

Friedrichs Wirtschaft: This is a charming German/Austrian restaurant that’s only open Thursday through Sunday. They have excellent Schnitzel, but it’s a small place, so reservations are recommended.

Jäger & Lustig: One of our favorite German restaurants in Friedrichshain, this restaurant has sort of a modern hunting lodge feel to it. Their Schnitzel is excellent, they have lots of other options on the menu, and they have a big beer garden in the warmer months. Reservations recommended.

Mutzenbacher: This one is actually Austrian, but it’s a tasty option for a nice dinner. Reservations recommended.

Kurhaus Korsakow: Right on Boxhagener Platz, this is yet another good choice for local German food in Friedrichshain.

Vegan restaurants in Friedrichshain

To be clear I’m not vegan, but vegan restaurants are very popular and easy to find in Berlin. If you’re vegan, you’ll do fine here.

1990 Vegan Living: I haven’t eaten here, but it’s regularly one of the first vegan restaurants people mention when looking for recommendations in Friedrichshain. And they always have a line.

li.ke : serious||thai||vegan: I also haven’t eaten here, but it’s another one that always seems busy and popular with locals.

Brammibal’s Donuts: I mentioned this one earlier, but since they are vegan, it was worth repeating. If you’re looking for a tasty dessert, give them a try.

Balaram: While I’m not vegan, I am lactose intolerant, so I have tried this place several times for vegan ice cream. Their flavors are really good.

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Burgers in Friedrichshain

Burgers can be hit or miss in Germany, but we have a few good ones in the neighborhood.

Burgeramt: This is a very popular restaurant with delicious burgers and lots of different options. Reservations recommended.

Rembrandt-burger: Tucked away in a quiet part of Friedrichshain, this is a Dutch sort of burger place where you can get burgers, chicken burgers, salads, and a few other things. They have lots of different dips for the fries too.

Burgermeister: One of the most well known burger restaurants in Berlin, they used to only have one location but have recently opened a few across the city, including one in Friedrichshain.

Friedrichshain bars

There are lots of bars in Friedrichshain. The Boxhagener area especially is a well known place to go out for drinks. You’ll see plenty of cheap drinks and all night happy hour specials, but I mostly steer clear of those because the drinks tend to be not so good. Here are what I think are some of the best bars in Friedrichshain.

Note that I’ve put craft beer bars and beer gardens in separate sections.

Wein Salon: We’ve been going to Wein Salon for so long we’re now friends with the owners. Though Wein means wine, you can get craft cocktails, local craft beer, and interesting non-alcoholic cocktails along with their high quality wine. Wein Salon also holds events from time to time, like a cabaret show, pub quiz, and other performances.

Dachkammer: In the sea of cheap, watered down cocktails, Dachkammer is a great choice for actual good drinks. It’s popular and can be busy any night of the week.

Nobel Rot: This is an excellent choice for a wine bar in Friedrichshain, not far from Boxhagener Platz. They have some food, like a cheese and/or meat plate you can order with your wine.

Home Bar: Near Ostkreuz, this laid back bar has lots of beer choices, but also cider, wine, and cocktails. They don’t serve food, but they will happily let you bring in food from one of the many nearby restaurants.

Gallery Rooftop Bar: On top of Hotel Indigo by the East Side Gallery, this rooftop bar is a great choice for a cocktail with a view. You can see over the East Side Gallery and the Spree River, plus the Oberbaum Bridge and even the TV Tower.

Friedrichshain craft beer

We really like craft beer, especially Andy, and there is some really good craft beer in Berlin. Luckily there are several craft beer bars right in Friedrichshain.

Straßenbräu: Strassenbraeu brews their own beer and they usually have about a dozen on tap. You can try several with a flight, and they also have cider, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. They don’t have food, but you can bring in food from one of the nearby restaurants.

Protokoll: This is a small craft beer bar in Friedrichshain where you’ll find a wide selection of craft beer from locally brewed to some from other countries. They don’t have food, but sometimes they have a pop up event, and they also serve wine, cider, cocktails, and a few non-alcoholic options.

Bräugier Ostkreuz: This is a newer one to the area but we welcome the addition. They have lots of great choices of craft beer, and they have a small menu with things like burgers, salads, nachos, and more.

Hops & Barley: Hops & Barley brews their own craft beer, as well as a cloudy cider, and serves it up in this cozy old school feeling bar. They have some simple German food like Flammkuchen.

Best Biergartens in Friedrichshain

If you’re visiting Berlin in summer, or even the warmer months of spring or autumn, a beer garden is a must. Berlin has many excellent beer gardens, but here are our favorites in Friedrichshain.

Jäger & Lustig: I mentioned this one in the German restaurants section, but it’s worth repeating here because they have a large beer garden that’s great in the summer. One section is attached to the restaurant, and you can order from the full menu, while the actual Biergarten section is more focused on the beer and has a smaller menu.

Privatbrauerei Schalander: Schalander used to be our favorite German restaurant in the neighborhood until sadly they closed due to rent increases. But their brewery and beer garden location in the RAW-Gelände is still open, and it’s a relaxed place to sit with a beer (or wine) and enjoy the nice weather.

James June Event: This tree-filled beer garden on Karl-Marx-Allee is a great choice if you want a wide variety of food. It feels cozy despite being right on a busy road, and their food menu ranges from sausages and pizza to salads and more.

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Cafes in Friedrichshain

You won’t struggle to find a good cafe in Friedrichshain. There are lots of great places for a coffee or tea with a nice piece of cake. If you’re looking for a restaurant in Friedrichshain for brunch or breakfast, there are lots of options.

KALA Cafe: Located on Warschauer Strasse, this cafe has lots of plants which give it a warm vibe. There’s lots of seating, including a few chairs up front where you can watch the world go by. Cash only.

44 Brekkie: This cafe is a popular place for brunch on the weekends, so be patient as you wait for a table. They have a location in Prenzlauer Berg and also this one in Friedrichshain on Gabriel-Max-Str.

All About Café: Cozy cafe in Samariterkiez that sort of feels like you’re in someone’s living room. They have breakfast and pastries.

Coffee Karros: The owner has a strong passion for coffee, and it’s a small but cute cafe. Very dog friendly.

OM Coffee: This cafe is open every day and conveniently located near Frankfurter Tor. They have a good selection of coffee and pastries, and they love dogs.

Die Kaffeefreunde: This was our local favorite cafe when we lived right around the corner. It’s a cozy place with good coffee, delicious cakes, and enough things on the menu for breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

Brotquelle, glutenfreie Bäckerei: I haven’t eaten here, but if you’re gluten free or celiac, they have great reviews.

Best coffee in Friedrichshain

Aside from typical cafes, Friedrichshain is home to a few high quality places where you can get third wave coffee. Both of these restaurants are also wonderful choices for brunch in Friedrichshain.

Silo: This is a top choice Friedrichshain for third wave coffee, and they have a good menu of eggs and other breakfast items. You can also order brunch style cocktails.

19grams Boxi: They roast their own beans, so this is another excellent choice for quality coffee in Berlin. They have a location near Alexanderplatz, and this smaller one in Friedrichshain.

Ice cream in Friedrichshain

We are lucky to have some really good ice cream shops in Friedrichshain. If you’re here on a hot day, you won’t be disappointed with one of these options.

Chipi Chipi Bombón: This is by far our favorite ice cream in Friedrichshain, and could compete for the title of our favorite ice cream in Berlin. Try the Dulce de Leche, or if you’re in Berlin in winter, try the Spekulatius.

EisPiraten: A popular choice just off Boxhagener Platz, it’s worth waiting in line for. It’s also one of the few places where I can sometimes find mint chocolate chip.

Peggy Bee: We tried this one for the first time a few years ago during Ice Cream Week, and they did not disappoint. It’s also a cute little cafe.

Balaram: I mentioned this one above in the vegan section, so for all of you who don’t eat dairy, this is a tasty option.

>>Read: 51 Tasty German Foods to Try: What to Eat in Germany

Where to eat near the East Side Gallery

Almost any of the restaurants I’ve talked about in this article are great choices for food near the East Side Gallery. But most are not RIGHT there, and it’ll take you some time to walk or hop on a tram for a few stops.

If you’re short on time and wondering where to eat by the East Side Gallery, you could go across the street to the Mercedes Benz Platz, and there are plenty of options there. Some are chains, like Five Guys, which isn’t exactly exciting or Berlin-specific, but it’ll work.

There are also several hotels with rooftop bars here, and they are a great place for cocktails with a view. We especially like the Gallery Rooftop Bar in Hotel Indigo.

Friedrichshain restaurants map

Here are all my favorite Friedrichshain restaurants, bars, cafes, beer gardens, and more all on one map.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this list of the best restaurants in Friedrichshain Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!