Berlin Neighborhood Guide: Bötzowkiez, Prenzlauer Berg
Last updated: May 11, 2023
Most Prenzlauer Berg guides rarely have you going east of Griefswalder Straße, and when exploring Friedrichshain most people typically don’t go west of Volkspark. What’s left in the middle? Bötzowkiez!
Bötzowkiez, despite being pretty centrally located in Berlin, has become one of Berlin’s most underrated micro-neighborhoods. Without a direct S-Bahn or U -Bahn stop, and with plenty to do in its surrounding areas it often winds up getting a little forgotten. After living in this kiez for over a year (although I recently just moved!), I’m happy to say I got to know Bötzowkiez quite well. This little area is packed full of wonderful cuisine variety, small shops that are unique to this neighborhood, and plenty to see and explore.
Find a map of all places mentioned in this post here.
Transit Stops:
Tram M10: Arnswalder Platz, Greifswalder Straße / Danziger Straße
Tram M4: Hufelandstraße, Greifswalder Straße / Danziger Straße
Bus 200: Bötzowstraße, Am Friedrichshain / Hufelandstraße
Cafés:
Café Nook
This cute little café always has the best pastries and homey vibes; be sure to get a slice of carrot cake if they’re available!
Muckel Café
Yes to Muckel Café! This cafe’s atmosphere is my favorite in the neighborhood, and you’re guaranteed quality coffee and snacks. Definitely try their croissants, and their sandwiches are also so tasty.
Greenfinch
This all vegan café offers a small, but creative menu of plant based items like a ‘goat cheese’ and dill croissant sandwich and cheesecake topped with locally sourced berries.
Sommerhaus KaffeeBar
I’m not a big fan of their coffee, but the cakes are good, the staff is really nice, and the coffee shop is really cute and cozy.
La Tazza
I’ve written about La Tazza before, since it’s a great laptop friendly café! The mood is always warm and vibrant, buzzing with locals working on their laptop, reading the morning paper, or catching up with friends. I typically come for a couple hours of WiFi, working, and coffee, and then stick around to enjoy a lunch of käsespätzle or a baguette sandwich.
Snacks:
Curry 32
This snack bar greets you as you enter Bötzowkiez, and although I’ve only visited once (they really only seem to be open during the most random times) I thought the food really hit the spot! It’s great for a quick bite to eat.
Schmalzmann Delicatesserie
I’ve never been inside this deli, but their food stand out front always has nice bites to eat! The fish and chips were super tasty, and the snacks and drinks they sell outside at various points throughout the week are always interesting!
Meraba
Meraba serves döner with Neuland organic beef instead of the usual pork or chicken. Although it’s a couple euros more than traditional döner, it’s totally worth a try, and you can really taste the quality of the upgraded meat.
Max und Moritz
The classic döner shop of the neighborhood!
Restaurants:
House of Do An
I’ve enjoyed great brunches and lunches at this vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese restaurant. They sell healthy dishes, many which are Vietnamese inspired. I’ve especially enjoyed their bánh mì sandwich and kimchi grilled cheese.
Mama's Banh
I can’t write this list without including Mama’s Banh. I used to live right by Mama’s and some of my best memories in Prenzlauer Berg are from evenings spent at their terrace. Although I do like Mama’s, I found that every time I ventured away from my usual order I was less than satisfied. If you do visit I recommend their pork banh bao, paired with their chicken or duck red curry, which are always fantastic.
Burgers Burgers
The best place for burgers in the neighborhood! All their meat is organic too.
Dezi
Dezi’s is quite a good Indian restaurant in Berlin. I basically inhale their Malai Kofta.
Pepe Nero
Their house pizza is my go to order (ricotta, Coppé ham, rocket, and Grana Padano - yum!), and everything I’ve tried here I’ve liked.
Alt Wien Gasthaus
This restaurant serves absolutely fantastic looking Austrian food. They offer huge portions and the Wiener schnitzel looks especially amazing! I hope to visit soon.
Izakaya Watapas
I also have not yet visited this Japanese tapas place, but I’m told it has very creative and tasty Japanese dishes.
Dessert:
Jubel
Jubel probably has my favorite cakes in this area. This patisserie has such pretty little cakes and so many flavors to choose from!
Rosa Canina
Rosa Canina has two locations in Bötzowkiez, and although they’re just a couple minutes walk from one another they still both manage to have a line most of the time.
Ní Cho Schokolade
This new dessert place serves chocolate, crepes, waffles, and other sweets! Their hot chocolate also looks amazing, and I regret not ordering it when I visited.
Duo
Duo has my favorite ice cream in Kreuzberg, and they also recently just opened a spot in this neck of the woods!
Drinks:
Cantine St. Ambroeus
The natural wine is a dream, and the service makes this wine bar especially nice!
Cafe & Bar Knorke
This simple and sweet bar offers a cozy atmosphere, decent drinks, and tasty flammkuchen!
Fairytale Bar
This intimate and dark fairytale bar is the place to go for creative cocktails and a unique atmosphere. If you’re visiting on a weekend night it’s smart to book a table ahead of time.
Shops:
Soona Otomi
This bright and colorful store carries Mexican craftwork made by Indigenous Americans. I don’t think you’ll find anything like it anywhere else in Berlin!
Fachfrau
This shop carries items made by local women from jewelry and clothing to pottery and household items.
Jacques’ Wein-Depot
The Bötzowstraße Jacques’ Wein Depot gives you a mini winery experience in Berlin! Typically you can sample a few bottles before deciding on one, and whatever bottle you choose is guaranteed to be good. I also found their prices to be very reasonable for their unique and quality wines. My favorite bottle has to be this delicious dessert wine from France.
Weinmarie
Another wine store down the street from Jacques', this one specializes in German wine and small wineries.
Vinyl Vaquero Records
Little record store with a great collection of new and second hand vinyls.
Buchhandlung Die Insel
An independent bookshop run by kind well-read people. If you’re looking for a specific book they have a pretty good ordering system.
Buch Box
This bookstore chain has a limited, but nice selection of accessories, notebooks, cards, little gifts, and of course books.
Grünschnabel Floristik & Plant Store Berlin
A very pretty plant shop that makes the neighborhood extra beautiful.
Etc:
Bötzow Markt
This Saturday farmers’ market has friendly faces, fresh fruit and flowers, and really nice food options! I highly advise you to try the gnocchi, which is always heavily topped with Parmesan.
Volkspark Friedrichshain
Bötzowkiez is neighbors with the oldest park in Berlin. This park is fantastic all year round, and their sloped hill along Am Friedrichshain is wonderful for sun bathing in the summer, and sledding down in the winter. Take your time exploring this park, it may not seem too special at first, but there’s a few things to check out including a couple of monuments, a fairy tale themed fountain, gas lamp lined paths, and an outdoor cinema that’s open in the warmer months. I also enjoy walking to the Großer Bunkerberg, where you can get a nice view of the city depending on how grown out the trees are.
Freilichtkino im Volkspark
This is the outdoor cinema in Volkspark! You can have a really lovely summer evening here. Blankets and cushions are available, and there’s a kiosk selling drinks and snacks. It’s also pet friendly.
Filmtheater am Friedrichshain
I have not yet visited this theater, since it was shut down for most of my time living in Bötzowkiez, but I really hope it survives the pandemic. The inside decor looks quaint and vintage, there are English language movies available, and the prices seem very reasonable! Plus there’s a little beer garden out back where you can get a small discount if you visited the cinema.
Arnswalder Platz
This park has plenty of benches so you can sit and enjoy food from the local businesses and Saturday market. Despite being small, it can be quite lively on summer nights.
Where to next?
Find a map of all Bötzowkiez locations here.
