New Year’s Berliner

January 3, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

We are three days into 2017 and it feels like a perfect time for sharing New Year’s resolutions. But this blog isn’t about everyday tips for existence, so I honestly don’t want to write about the unreal new me. I guess reading about losing weight and taking self-care moments is inspirational only during those first free (okay, four) days of the year, so I think additional trashing of the internet with this type of vagueness is a waste of time. I’m entering 2017 with hopes, and I hope this year won’t be so turbulent as the last one – both on global scale and in my personal life. But 2017 is also the year of the rooster: so we should all expect big changes coming, for good and bad.

Right, I’m stopping here with all this reflectiveness. I’ve spent my New Year’s Eve in one of the most beautiful (in every meaning of this word) cities in the entire world – Berlin. Although nearly everything was closed and I just had to spend those few hours on wireless spa lounging, I’ve checked out a few of my Berliner favourites. The Store, which sells everything from Vetements to vintage Interview magazines, always strikes me with its incredible retail concept. For lunch, I tried out the neighboring Cecconi’s: an Italian restaurant kept in a typically ‘SoHO’ style interior. A lot of big-city fuss, dozens of stylish people, yet the food seemed plain (I ate their classical pizza, and beef carpaccio, which had far too much of mayonnaise on it). The next day took me to Qua Phe, a Mitte district mecca. I was 100% sure I won’t be dissapointed. Delicious pork buns, spicy salad, traditional Vietnamese coffee and ginger mochi. I can brunch here literally everyday.

The Store – Torstraße 1 / Cecconi’s – Torstraße 1 / Qua Phe – Max-Bee-Straße 37

The Store

In Mitte

Patrick Hellmann Schlosshotel

Qua Phe

All photos by Edward Kanarecki

November in Berlin

November 12, 2015November 12, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Berlin always charges me up with creativity. That’s why, I can honestly recommend a trip to this diverse and extraordinary city to anyone who wants to spend his or her time in a, as they say, hype way. Here is my November mini-guide to the city’s most interesting shops and restaurants.

ORA – Kreuzberg – A former pharmacy is situated on the peaceful Oranienplatz, which one day became the most beautiful restaurant of the German capital – ORA. With the original cabinets de curiosities, wooden shelves and marble counters from the past, the restaurant serves lovely carrotscakes and casual, yet nutritious lunches. The romantic interior makes this restaurant not only a place to “EAT AT”, but also to “BE IN”.

Oranienplatz 14

Voo Store – Kreuzberg – Voo is a concept store hidden in a former locksmith shop patio with perfectly selected clothes (Marques Almeida, A.P.C., Our Legacy, Gosha Rubchinskiy pack), awesome shoes (Raf Simons X Adidas rules) and lovely stationery (the notebooks! the pottery!). Here, you can relax and read niche magazines while drinking drip coffee from their Companion Coffee place.

Oranienstraße 24

Kreuzberg wouldn’t be such a bold and colourful district without its well supplied flower-shops.

Fête De La Boutique – Mitte – Owners Feli and Teresa have created a cozy atmosphere in their place. Self-designed contemporary furniture accompanies niche French, German and Scandinavian brands like Bruuns Bazaar, American Retro or Minimum. From fashion to home decor to jewelry and books, Fete De La Boutique makes you feel nearly like at home.

Mulackstraße 11

Unico – Mitte – Unico selects its jewellery straight from the studios of the most talented and contemporary designers from Buneos Aires. Their small, eclectic space located in the heart of Mitte is a place where a perfect Christmas gift can be found.

Alte Schönhauser Straße 50

Qua Phe – Mitte – Qua Phe is leading the Asian cuisine game in Berlin, and specifically the Vietnamese one. Great selection of finger food from Vietnam like banh bao or bahn gio is here, and you can eat it in a off-duty atmosphere of wooden tables, Asian stools and raw, metallic elements. Qua Phe is also known as a Vietnamese coffee shop – if you are visiting this place, don’t forget to taste their coffee drips with one of their signature desserts, ginger moshi! This gluey, sweet treat reminds me of toffee, but not quite…

Max-Beer Straße 37

Qua Phe

August 18, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Qua Phe is leading the Asian cuisine game in Berlin, and specifically the Vietnamese one. Great selection of finger food from Vietnam like banh bao or bahn gio is here, and you can eat it in a great atmosphere of wooden tables, Asian stools and raw, metallic elements. However, real Berliners come to Qua Phe as to a Vietnamese coffee shop – if you are visiting this place, don’t forget to taste their coffee drips with one of their signature desserts – ginger moshi! This gluey, sweet treat reminds me of toffee, but not quite…

Max-Beer Straße 37 / Berlin