To beef or not to beef? While Berlin is famous for its vegetarian and vegan choices, there are also plenty of fantastic restaurants taking beef (and all the other meats) very seriously. Indulge your inner carnivore and have the steak of your dreams!
The Grand
Nobody understands meat as well as Thilo Roth, head chef of The Grand: he knows what to do with the precious cuts served at this swanky Alexanderplatz restaurant. Over the famous Southbend grill, heating up to over 800 degrees, he applies his magic to Japanese Kobe beef, French Charolais, and dry-aged German Husum beef.
Address: Hirtenstraße 4, Mitte | Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm, 7pm-11pm, Sat+Sun 7pm-11pm
Directions: S- and U-Bahn station Alexanderplatz
Grill Royal
Kanye West, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson – no other place in Berlin is better for celebrity spotting than this legendary Mitte haunt. The food is pretty amazing too — their meat selection is stellar, prepared with knowledge and care. But it’s their lobster bisque we’re particularly partial to, cooked long and slow all day, reminding us of days by the seaside.
Address: Friedrichstraße 105b, Mitte | Daily 6pm-11.30pm
Directions: S- and U-Bahn station Friedrichstraße
Herz & Niere
In German, there’s a saying that something needs to be checked by its ‚heart and kidneys‘, meaning it needs to vigorously examined. Head chef Christoph Hauser takes his craft seriously, creating a clever and sustainable nose-to-tail menu. If you don’t have time for a full meal, get a deer salami to take home.
Address: Fichtestraße 31, Kreuzberg | Tue-Sun 6pm-12am
Directions: U-Bahn station Südstern
Adana Grillhaus
Lamb chops, elevated through charcoal flavours and care: there are many Turkish grill houses in Berlin, but there are few like Adana. Four branches all within walking distance in Kreuzberg — order the ‚Special Plate‘ and you’ll be as happy as Larry.
Address: Manteuffelstraße 86, Kreuzberg | Daily 12pm-2am
Directions: Görlitzer Bahnhof
Bristol Grill
The mother of all steak houses in Berlin – even though it was renamed recently after changing hands. It’s still the perfect place to revel in Nostalgia for a world that never existed, like a real-life Grand Budapest Hotel. The braises are phenomenal and hit the spot on cold winter nights.
Address: Kurfürstenstraße 27, inside Hotel Bristol Berlin, Charlottenburg | Daily 5pm-12am
Directions: U-Bahn station Uhlandstraße
Kumpel & Keule Speisewirtschaft
Berlin’s best butchers opened their own restaurant – and immediately became one of our favourite restaurants last year. Go for the steak – and stay for the sweetbread and veal tongue. They now open for lunch as well, serving their famous burger without the usual queues at their Markthalle Neun stall.
Address: Skalitzer Straße 97, Kreuzberg | Tue-Sat 11.30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm
Directions: U-Bahn station Görlitzer Bahnhof
www.kumpelundkeule.de/speisewirtschaft
The Brooklyn
Their Angus beef is imported directly from Nebraska, aged during shipping on cargo boats, and is only seared quickly at 850 degrees. The result is an almost black crust and tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior.
Address: Köpenicker Straße 92, Mitte | Daily 6pm-12am
Directions: U-Bahn station Heinrich-Heine-Straße
To The Bone
Quench your carnivorous desires with dry-aged Chianina beef at this extremely stylish Italian on Torstraße. Host Giacomo Mannucci has created a space where culinary excellence thrives. And your vegetarian friends will get fed, too!
Address: Torstraße 96, Mitte | Mon-Sat 6pm-11pm
Directions: U-Bahn station Rosenthaler Platz
Lino’s Barbecue
Lino Brandi gets up every morning at 4.30am to prepare his authentic Texan Barbecue, resulting in buttery soft meat with a deep black crust. Order the „Texas Trinity“ for a plate of brisket, pork belly spareribs and homemade jalapeño sausage with dill pickles and pickled red onion.
Address: Malplaquetstraße 43, Wedding | Wed-Sun 6pm-10pm
Directions: U-Bahn station Leopoldplatz
BRLO Brwhouse
A beer garden, brewery, one of Berlin’s best vegetarian restaurants – and probably the only place where meat is served as a side, and not as the main event. But when they serve it, it’s pretty much perfect: tri-tip, chuck roll, pork ribs and belly out of the smoker, sourced from some of the best farmers in Germany.
Address: Schöneberger Straße 16, Kreuzberg | Tue-Fri 5pm-12am, Sat+Sun 12pm-12am
Directions: U-Bahn station Gleisdreieck
Midtown Grill
It’s all about the ribeye here: At Midtown Grill, head chef Thomas Czerwionke and his team source it from a different country every month, serving it with that country’s typical spices and sauces. But they also serve the classics, seafood, and a daily changing lunch menu for 18€.
Address: Ebertstraße 3, Mitte, inside Marriott | Mon-Fri 6.30am-11am, 12pm-11pm, Sat+Sun 7am-11pm
Directions: S- and U-Bahn station Potsdamer Platz
Doyum
Many say this place is home to Berlin’s best Döner – but far better than their Döner are their grilled-to-order kebabs and other traditional Turkish dishes full of meaty, garlicky goodness. Do not miss out on the amazing Künefe for dessert; crispy dough threads with molten cheese, syrup, nuts and cream.
Address: Admiralstraße 36, Kreuzberg | Daily 7am-12am
Directions: Kottbusser Tor
Steakhaus Marzahn
Steakhaus Marzahn serves a mean steak, a steak so good it’s worth a trip to the outskirts. They really know their meat, importing only the best cuts from the United States, Ireland, and Argentina. And their starters are also worth a try!
Address: Mehrower Allee 52, Marzahn | Daily 12pm-11pm
Directions: S-Bahn station Mehrower Allee
