Restaurant & Nightlife Recommendations

Hackescher Markt/ (10-15 Minute walk from ESMT)

Weihenstephan Traditional German/Bavarian (Southern German) & Brewery; Price: €- €€

Enjoy a Pork Roast with Pretzel Dumplings or a classic platter of Bavarian cold cuts in an atmosphere that's rich with history after a day of exploring one of Europe's most influential cities. tel: 49 30 2576 2871 Neue Promenade 5, 10178

Oxymoron European; Price: €€

An unusual combination of club, bar, café and restaurant. By day Oxymoron is a place to meet for a coffee or a quick snack. The evening menu offers sustenance in the form of international dishes, ranging from tasty pasta to exotic specialties. tel: 49 30 2839 1886 Rosenthaler Straße 40/41 Hackesche Höfe , 10178 Berlin

Barist Franco-Italian; Price: €- €€

The Barist offers great breakfasts, hearty sandwiches, a cheap midday menu and delicious Franco-Italian cuisine in the evening. The menu is constantly revised, meaning that you can return time and again and still be surprised by tasty new dishes. tel: 49 30 2472 2613 Am Zwirngraben 13/14, 10178 Berlin

Frida‘s Schwester International; Price: €€

New Zealand lamb meets Moroccan couscous, a worldwide mix. tel: 0049 (0) 30 – 28 38 47 10 Neue Schönhauser Straße 11, 10178 Berlin

Ossena Italian; Price: €€

The almost indecently-large pizzas and family-sized portions of pasta are legendary. The pasta is often served al dente, so let the waiter know if you prefer it slightly softer. tel: +49 30 2809 9877 Rosenthaler Straße 42,10178 Berlin

Mutter Hoppe German/Austrian/European; Price: €-€€

Traditional German cuisine, in gemütliche Atmosphere. Tel.: +49 30 241 56 25 Rathausstraße 21, 10178 Berlin

Gendarmenmarkt/Mitte (10-15 Minute walk from ESMT)

Lutter & Wegner German/Austrian/European; Price: €€

The main focus of Lutter & Wegner is European wines. They serve a large selection of German and Austrian Rieslings along with other French, German, and Austrian wines and a small range of dishes: mixing gourmet taste with light cuisine. Service is friendly, well-informed and professional. tel: 49 30 202 9540 Charlottenstrasse 56, 10117 Berlin

Brasserie Am European; Price: €€

The French inspired Brasserie Am Gendarmenmarkt is one of those places where style meets substance effortlessly in a setting that is sophisticated yet casual. The location of this restaurant in the heart of historic Berlin is another factor that contributes to its chic elegance, particularly as it is right in the centre of the fascinating cultural life and grandiose architecture that is so prevalent in the Pigeon Strasse. tel: 49 3020453501 Taubenstrasse 30, 10117 Berlin

Bocca di Bacco Italian; Price: €€€

Original Italian dishes with exquisite wines are served in a modern ambiance. The menu offers classics, such as spaghetti with Venus mussels and duck liver on lamb's lettuce. tel: +49 30 2067 2828 Friedrichstrasse 167/168, 10117 Berlin

Restaurant Aigner European/modern German, Austrian; Price: €€€

Aigner, with its discreet Viennese art nouveau decor and innovative menu combining local and Austrian classics with seasonal dishes, has already caught the eye of Borchardt's most prominent patron, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. All dishes are lovingly prepared and the wine list should satisfy the most fastidious connoisseur, with over 150 wines to choose from. tel: 49 30 2 0375 1850 Französische Straße 25, 10117 Berlin

Good Times Asian; Price: €-€€

Asia, Thai and Indonesian flair. tel: +49 30 - 20074870 Hausvogtei Platz 11, Berlin – Mitte

Café Nö Southern German/Mediterranean; Price: €-€€

Southern and Mediterranean cusine. Small, intimate location. tel: 030-2010871 Glinkastraße 23, 10117 Berlin

Entrecôte French; Price: €€

Entrecôte is a French restaurant/brasserie in Berlin-Mitte. The cuisine is genuinely French, serving Saumon Fumé, Escargots, Foie Gras and homemade pastries. For meat lovers, there is Steak Minute or Steak avec Pommes Allumettes. All this is complemented by numerous, wonderful French wines. tel: 49 30 20 16 54 96 Schützenstrasse 5, 10117 Berlin

Borchardt French/German; Price: €€€

Dishes such as fillet of beef with herb butter and potatoes make an excellent choice; anticipation of the imminent arrival of yet another VIP only serves to enhance the experience. tel: 49 30 2038 7117 Französische Straße 47, Berlin 10117

Evening/Nightlife

Berliner Prater Garten (Berlin’s Oldest Biergarten) – (25 Minute walk from ESMT or taxi)

Berlin's oldest beer garden serves up rustic German food which you can dig into in the loveliest of surroundings. The complex also has an open-air stage which is used by the Volksbühne, one of Berlin's most inventive theatre companies. tel: 49 30 448 5688 Kastanienallee 7-9, Berlin 10435

Hotel de Rome – Terrace (5 Minutes from ESMT) tel: +49 30 460 6090 Behrenstrasse 37, Hotel de Rome, Berlin 10117

Newton Bar – (Gendarmenmarkt, 10 Minute walk from ESMT) Great cocktails, friendly staff, very professional, comfortable outside sofa's, sassy music and very interesting and pretty good looking clientèle. The drinks aren't cheap but in a place like this they shouldn't be. Charlottenstrasse 57 (Gendarmenmarkt), 10117 Berlin

Delicious Doughnuts (Mitte near Hackescher Markt, 20 Minute walk from ESMT) One of the classics on the East German club circuit, Delicious Dougnuts frequently boasts big-name DJs, many of whom come from London to wow Berlin's clubbers with the latest soul, funk and acid jazz sounds. The atmosphere is intimate and the decor slightly up-market with black leather sofas and oriental furnishings. tel: 49 30 2809 9274 Rosenthaler Straße 9, Berlin 10119 b-flat (Mitte near Hackescher Markt, 20 Minute walk from ESMT) Acoustic Music & Jazz Club tel +49 30 2833123 Rosenthaler Straße 13, 10119 Berlin-Mitte