Berlin Guide

Berlin’s history is not only visible in its buildings and memorials. It is also a history of language, information, persuasion and the power of public narratives.

That makes the Museum für Kommunikation an obvious stop for the EEA community. Its new exhibition Real Talk! Language. Power. World., opening in November 2026, looks at multilingualism, identity, political language, digital media, AI and the ways words influence how we see the world.

Communication is not always about words. Berlin’s music scene offers another way to experience ideas, emotion and storytelling – from one of the world’s great orchestras to much smaller stages across the city.

If you arrive the day before the EEA, there are two particularly good options on 10 December.

At the Berliner Philharmonie, British vocal ensemble VOCES8 will perform Winter Tales at 8 pm – an atmospheric Advent programme from an internationally acclaimed a cappella group.

In the Philharmonie’s Main Auditorium, the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Marek Janowski, will perform Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8, also on 10 December at 8 pm. The same programme is repeated on 11 and 12 December – although naturally, we already have rather better plans for the evening of the 11th.

And if you want to experience the city after dark, neighbourhoods such as Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and Neukölln are good places to start. Berlin’s nightlife is famously spontaneous, so it is worth checking what is happening shortly before your trip rather than planning every evening weeks in advance.

Berlin in December has a character of its own. Once the sun goes down, festive lights, Christmas markets and winter installations transform the city – and there are plenty of places to enjoy the atmosphere before or after the European Excellence Awards.

Every year, we are happy to recommend Berlin classics such as the Christmas Market at Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg Palace. But if you are looking to discover somewhere a little different this year – or are staying in Berlin for the weekend after the Awards – we have two more favourites for you.

At Domäne Dahlem, a historic organic farm in the south-west of Berlin, Christmas feels a little more home-grown. The working Bioland farm follows a “field to plate” philosophy, growing its own fruit and vegetables and combining organic farming with traditional crafts. Its Advent market brings that spirit together with handmade products, seasonal food and a relaxed atmosphere across the historic estate.

Back in the heart of the city, the Sustainable Christmas Market on Sophienstraße brings together design, crafts and sustainably produced goods in one of Mitte’s most charming streets. Just around the corner from Hackesche Höfe, it is an easy addition to a winter afternoon in central Berlin and a lovely alternative to the city’s larger Christmas markets.

And if you want to turn your winter walk into an experience of its own, visit the Christmas Garden Berlin. After dark, the Botanical Garden is transformed into an atmospheric winter trail, with elaborate light installations illuminating the gardens along the way.

No Berlin stay is complete without good food – and we have picked a few places across the city that are worth making time for, whether you are looking for a quick coffee between plans, something sweet in the afternoon or a memorable dinner with your team. Some of these places can get busy, so we recommend booking ahead where possible.

For coffee and pastries, SOFI is tucked away in the Sophie-Gips-Höfe in Mitte and focuses on carefully crafted, low-intervention baking – an easy stop if you are already exploring the city centre. ACID Café, originally founded in Madrid and now with two Berlin locations, combines very good coffee and baking with beautifully considered interiors, making it as much a design stop as a coffee one. And in Prenzlauer Berg, Jubel Feine Patisserie is one for anyone with a sweet tooth: a tiny pâtisserie creating modern cakes, tartlets and desserts that look almost too good to eat.

For dinner, Otto is one of our picks for experiencing a more contemporary side of Berlin. The small, lively neighbourhood restaurant puts ingredients from Berlin and Brandenburg at the centre of its cooking and describes itself as a window into the region’s produce – relaxed rather than formal, but still somewhere worth planning an evening around.

A little further south, Merold follows a similarly regional philosophy in a different way. Chef Jonas Merold and his team work with organic produce from Berlin and Brandenburg, using fermentation and preservation alongside modern cooking techniques. It feels rooted in its neighbourhood while still being special enough for a proper dinner – a good choice if you want to venture beyond Mitte and see another side of Berlin’s food scene.

For something particularly Berlin, there is Cookies Cream. Hidden away in Mitte, the Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant has been part of the city’s dining scene for years and combines ambitious plant-based cooking with an unmistakably Berlin setting – including an entrance that is deliberately rather difficult to spot. This is the one I would recommend for a more special dinner during your stay.

And if you are in Prenzlauer Berg, November Brasserie offers a completely different option: a contemporary Japanese brasserie centred around high-quality fish and seafood, paired with a beautifully restrained, mid-century-inspired interior. A good choice for a longer dinner with colleagues after a day in the city.

Afterwards, head to migas, a listening bar in Wedding, where curated music, drinks and small plates come together in a relaxed setting.

Our picks:
SOFI · bakery & coffee
ACID Café · coffee & pastries
Jubel Feine Patisserie · pâtisserie
Otto · contemporary regional cuisine
Merold · modern regional cuisine
Cookies Cream · vegetarian fine dining
November Brasserie · contemporary Japanese
migas, a listening bar · music, drinks & small plates