Berlin - a capital for gourmets

No other German city offers such a variety of restaurants, bars and cafés as Berlin. When simply choosing a drink one is already faced with great local choices. Will it be a "Berliner Weiße" (a local beer speciality with raspberry syrup or essence of woodruff) or "Molle mit Korn" (a small pilsener beer with schnapps). If you are stuck, chose both!

And in these post-wall days, one can, enjoy with undivided attention the undivided city and culinary bravado with its many new restaurants that have emerged offering an alphabet of exotic choice ... Armenian blintzes to Yougoslav peper salads.

The restaurants themselves are as different as the meals they serve. There is the small "gemütliche" tavern with typical Berlin dishes like "Buletten mit Senf und saurer Gurke" (meatballs with mustard and cornichons) across the street from palace-like establishments offering international cuisine served by impeccably decked waiters in white aprons and black bow-ties. Restaurants with "crazy" interior decors harmoniously flourish just two steps away from old Berliner corner "Kneipen" whose interiors have not changed a bit since the 40's and sometimes even earlier. The luxurious Italian eatery enjoys as many guests as the austere pizzeria next door. All this, is Berlin today. What's important is that the fare tastes good and the folk are friendly - the stomach decides on who is top or flop in the gastro-scene.

And don't forget Berlin's own contribution to fast-food, the legendary "Currywurst"..... Oh, in Berlin the choice is not easy. But don't worry; you have plenty time to chose - Berlin has abolished the "Sperrstunde" (a law limiting opening - and closing! - hours of public places). So take your time. If need be, even the whole night.