9 Best Restaurants in Berlin, Germany

Your childhood dream of having dessert for dinner can come true at this intimate "dessert bar" on a pretty street in trendy Neukölln—except at CODA, many of the desserts are more savory than sweet, and all can be paired with alcoholic beverages, from cocktails to beer to wine. Four- or seven-course menus use very little added sugar or fat in the dishes, but feature plenty of different textures and beautiful presentations to keep things interesting, even for those without a sweet tooth.

One of Germany's top restaurants, Facil is also one of the more relaxed of its class: the elegant, minimalist setting—it's in the fifth-floor courtyard of the Mandala Hotel, with exquisite wall panels and a glass roof that opens in summer—and impeccable service make this feel like something of an oasis in the busy city. Diners can count on a careful combination of modern takes on German classics and inspiration from across the globe, best sampled in the four- to eight-course set meals.

Intimate and effortlessly cool, this pint-size modern restaurant specializes in prix fixe menus showcasing creative plates using both local and European ingredients with an Asian touch, served alongside expertly mixed cocktails or inspired wine choices. Snag one of the tables if you’ve come with a group, but it’s most fun to sit on a bar stool near the kitchen where you can chat with the friendly staff and feel like a part of the action.

Anchored by an indoor vertical garden filled with vegetables and herbs used in many of its dishes, this casual eatery inside the Gropius Bau museum focuses on ancient Jewish recipes from around the world. Choose from a selection of organic vegetable-forward mezzes including labneh (strained yogurt) with challah bread, cauliflower with herbed tahini, and zucchini latkes, finished off with tasty cakes baked by renowned Berlin pâtissière Cynthia Barcomi.

Hidden behind a metal door in a nondescript part of Wedding, this buzzy restaurant from Canadian wunderkind chef Dylan Watson-Brawn presents a series of roughly 30 small plates foraged, gathered, and purchased from producers he has personally met, mainly in Germany but also from farther afield in Europe. Eight diners watch the chefs at work right in front of them and hear the stories behind each dish, as well as the tales of the carefully selected all-natural wine pairings chosen to accompany them.

Tucked into a courtyard in the Tiergarten district near galleries and cool boutiques, Oh, Panama (named after a popular German children's book) has a contemporary, artsy decor that perfectly matches its eclectic international cuisine—think small, shareable plates or more substantial mains, with a fine selection of fish, meat, and veggie options. Hip Berliners and in-the-know tourists enjoy expertly mixed seasonal cocktails or a glass of natural wine with their meal.

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, head to this half-timber house—built more than 100 years ago as a pub and guesthouse along the Paris–Moscow railway—that stands dwarfed by a government complex and the hotels and office buildings around Hauptbahnhof. Today, it serves dishes so intricately prepared they look like works of art, with unique flavor combinations; in addition to the à la carte menu, there is a three-course set menu, with a vegetarian option, in the evening.