COMFORT FOOD & DAYTIME DRINKS AT BARI NEAR MAYBACHUFER

With over twenty years in hospitality, focusing on events and pop-up bars, Eva Drohner yearned for a permanent venue to call home. Out of that longing, Bari, a new daytime drinking destination, was born. Nestled in Kreuzberg near Maybachufer, Bari is a lively daytime drinking hangout that offers a refreshing take on Italian-American cuisine, blending comfort classics with a twist. Think of dishes like schnitzel smothered in tomato sauce and melted cheese, perfectly paired with a cocktail or two. Noticing a gap in Berlin for Italian-American food, Lucas Klemm stepped in with a creative menu that blends American flavors with traditional Italian recipes, with Virginia Vallesi perfecting dishes. This approach results in home-style plates for contemporary diners like Parmigiana and Rigatoni Ragu Bianci, a cherished family recipe passed down from Klemm’s mother. Among the standout entrées is the Baby Gem Salad, a simple yet mouthwatering salad of lettuce, caramelized cashews, and radishes doused in ranch dressing, which will no doubt be a crowd-pleaser. And since Drohner wants Bari to be a day-drinking hub, the bar menu is quite impressive, showcasing Italian spirits like Campari, Amaro, and Vermouth expertly woven into drinks such as the Negroni, Americano, and Fluffy Garibaldi.

For those seeking lighter, more daytime-friendly options, the menu features a delicious Margarita and Muddy Paloma (a creative spin on the classic). If you’re not in the mood for cocktails, they have something for everyone, including Meckatzer beer, shots, and a variety of non-alcoholic options. Looking ahead, Bari plans to further upgrade its cocktail experience by introducing signature drinks and house-made infusions. But for now, guests can savor the current lineup of refreshing drinks and imaginative dishes, making Bari your go-to destination for a delightful afternoon drinking gathering.

Text: Yolanda Evans / Photos: Mohit Amlani

Bari, Friedelstr.37, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map

@bari.berlin

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Cafes, Sponsored Post

STAY FOR ANOTHER CUP: COFFEE CIRCLE OPENS AT KOLLWITZPLATZ

A quick stop for an espresso? That might be difficult here, because some places make you want to stay a while. The new Coffee Circle Café is located exactly where you would pause after the Kollwitzplatz weekly market or a walk around the square: on a corner that strikes a pretty perfect balance between lively and relaxed. So first, take a seat. In the corner storefront that stood empty for more than two years, the Coffee Circle Café opened in July 2026, creating an open, inviting, and pleasantly unpretentious place for coffee in Prenzlauer Berg. Light wood sets the tone, and the large counter wraps around the corner, welcoming everyone: those who just want to grab a quick flat white or iced coffee to go, and those who would rather stay. Inside, guests gather at small tables, sit on round wooden stools, spread out on benches, and take a seat at high tables or the large community table. Everyone finds their spot here. Outside, a sunny terrace awaits, making it one of the best Berlin cafés with a large outdoor seating area.

The vibe is uncomplicated and relaxed. What matters are the inner values, the ones in your cup. Only what the Berlin-based company, founded in 2010 and defined as a social business, personally selects makes it into that cup. Beans from producers who they have long-term partnerships and visit regularly. Every package can be traced back to the cooperative, finca, or farm (in case you really want to know). Just as important as the company’s philosophy is the taste. Only specialty coffee that scores at least 80 points in cupping according to the standards of the Specialty Coffee Association makes it into the range. The beans are gently drum-roasted in the company’s own roastery in Wedding. On my own coffee journey, I have long since returned to the classic cappuccino. It tastes especially good at the small metal tables outside, with a view of neighborhood life. And because the freshly roasted beans look so nice lined up on the shelf, something has to come home with me, too. For every kilogram of coffee sold, one euro is contributed to projects in the growing regions, helping local communities become more independent in the long term. Coffee Circle was awarded the SCA Sustainability Award in 2026 for this commitment. Now back to your cup and mine: I always pack the drip bags for good filter coffee on the go. For now, the first little trip is to Kollwitzkiez.

Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Lucas Kowalke, Coffee Circle

Coffee Circle Kollwitzplatz, Kollwitzstr.70, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map

@coffeecircle

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Activities, Guests

A SUMMER HIKE FROM LAKE TO LAKE: FROM “GRÜNEN GAMENGRUND” TO STRAUSBERG — RECOMMENDED BY DANIELA BIALK

An early morning bus takes us to Leuenberg, located northeast of Berlin. As we get off the bus and watch its taillights grow smaller and smaller, we find ourselves out in the countryside and need a moment to get our bearings. Luckily, the country bakery Brot & Fein is already open. We pack a slice of freshly baked cake for provisions, and off we go. We want to hike south along the 66 Lakes Trail toward Strausberg. To do so, we simply follow the blue-dot trail marker, 22 kilometers in total. Our route begins right across the street, passing organic farmer Behring’s sheep. Behringhof also has large orchard meadows with various old apple varieties. In late summer, there are dates available for picking your own apples and guided tours on sustainable agriculture. Lange Haussee is the first of many lakes on today’s agenda. The long, narrow lakes were formed by meltwater flowing away during the Ice Age. We cross the tracks of the disused Wriezener Bahn and see Mittelsee glittering through the trees. We walk along a small forest path that runs above and parallel to its shore. It’s unusually hilly here and wonderfully green. Old oaks mixed with beeches and pines reach right down to the water. After this secluded stretch, we arrive at the Waldkiez Tiefensee campground, which lies directly on Gamensee. Our route leads across the campground, with its official swimming area, boat rental, and restaurant. A wooden bench with the best view over the lake is free, perfect for our first picnic.

Continuing along Gamensee, we cross the main road and hike for a long stretch through a wild, old forest, where fallen trees have been left where they fell. In between, there is a stretch of pine forest, the ground covered in green moss, so beautiful you want to lie down in it. Berlin seems infinitely far away. Next to a marshy meadow, trees stand in the water. This is where the Fredersdorfer Mühlenfließ has its source, and from now on, it accompanies our route. It flows through Paradiessee, Kesselsee, Fängersee, and Bötzsee, exactly the lakes we will pass today. Behind the picturesque name Paradiessee lies a paradise for birds and fish. The dark lake, which, like neighboring Kesselsee, was formed by peat cutting, looks enchanted with its tree-covered islands and dead trees. At Fängersee, we discover the abandoned Wesendahler Mühle and finally reach Spitzmühle and the beautiful Bötzsee. After eighteen kilometers of hiking, a little tired and sweaty, we are ready for a well-deserved swim. After that, it’s not far to the Straussee ferry. For more than 100 years, the ferry across Straussee has connected the forest side, “Jenseits des Sees,” with Strausberg Stadt. Be sure to check the ferry times. For a few minutes, a refreshing breeze blows in our faces, then the short boat ride, and with it this beautiful summer hike, comes to an end. In Strausberg Stadt, we take the S-Bahn back to Berlin.

Text & Photos: Daniela Bialk

The hiking guide Von See zu See is author Daniela Bialk’s invitation to take a break from everyday life and explore the 66 Lakes Trail around Berlin. The book offers an abundant selection of day hikes, all easily accessible by bus and train. Available at local bookstores and online.

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Events

RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS — CROSSES FOR ALL AT THE INDIE FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

Football is in full swing right now. Which makes it all the nicer to slide into a festival that’s less concerned with league tables and transfer rumours than with the people behind the game. On 11. and 12.07.2026, the Berlin Indie Football Festival takes over for an entire weekend. Kick-off is at Colosseum, with talks, workshops, and panels. Everything revolves around (creative) football and identity, complemented by an exhibition of art, design, and photography. What’s particularly striking is who’s taking the stage and how football is being discussed. Husna Chhoangalia of Gyals Got Game and Kilian Depuhl of FuWo, alongside footballers and creatives from Athens, Paris, Palermo, Rotterdam, and New York, all bring their own perspectives to the conversation. On Sunday (12.07.), the festival moves to the field. At the SFC Unicorns’ mixed seven-a-side tournament, teams are assembled on the spot from both audience members and speakers. All genders and experience levels are welcome!

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Heloisa Souza, Cacahuetes Sluts, Loredana Sao

Berlin Indie Football Festival
11.–12.07.2026. Get tickets here.

@indie.footie

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Events

FROM RELIEFS TO NOVELS & ROLLERBOARDS — CEE CEE’S CALENDAR TIPS WORTH SAVING

Time to follow the trail! We’re looking at what’s happening right now: in archives, on asphalt, between anti-fascist texts. You might even find a few traces in humorous clothing. CC’s Calendar Tips take you across the city — and make for a damn good read. Let’s begin with written traces at the Buchclub für Alle at the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek on Thursday (09.07.), author Dana Vowinckel will be the guest of the evening. Alongside a surprise reading, she’ll share insights into some of her writing projects and talk with Simone Schröder from the International Literature Festival Berlin on the creative process and festival work. Time to open your ears! The Heroines of Sound Festival runs from today (09.–11.07.) at Radialsystem and this year focuses on the Asian diaspora, with a special emphasis on Japan. Miki Yui, Kyoka, and Midori Hirano move between experimental electronics, performance, and new sonic landscapes. Traces of resistance can be found at the Lesefestival antifaschistische Literatur (until 10.07.). At the Literaturforum at Brecht-Haus, the festival explores which 20th-century texts can help us understand the political present, and what should be included on an “anti-fascist reading list”. Today (09.07.), the festival heads to the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof for a performative reading of resistance texts with Tanasgol Sabbagh and Fabian Saul. The free symposium “Paradigmatische Lektüren antifaschistischer Literatur” continues all day on Friday (10.07.), moving from anti-fascist theatre practices of the 1930s and GDR literature to a conversation with author Mely Kiyak on whether art can be anti-fascist at all. There will also be stories on four wheels with the exhibition Skateboarders – before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall (until 04.04.2027), bringing photographs and objects from East and West Germany, to show how a subculture transformed the way cities were experienced.

Images by Harald Schmitt, Thomas Kalak, and Helge Tscharn tell stories of skateboards, self-created spaces, and a scene that carved out its own path. Other traces have been right outside our front doors for decades… On Friday (10.07.), the Kunst am Bau walking tour invites you to explore Marzahn-Hellersdorf with architecture expert Martin Maleschka, searching for GDR-era reliefs, mosaics, and outdoor sculptures. Over two hours, get a closer look at buildings and places you might otherwise walk past. Sooner or later, every trail leads to the Spree. The Kolonnadenbar (until 30.08.) opened yesterday on Museumsinsel, bringing together everything essential: summer evenings, live sets, drinks, and a cultural program. The initiative by Vagabund Brauerei is bringing together different artistic formats throughout the summer — sometimes musical, sometimes performative, sometimes simply with a view of the water. This next trace is a quick sketch on paper. At the Supersuperficial Pop-up on Friday (10.07.), original artworks are transformed into limited editions that can be worn or used in everyday life. Under the motto “Humorism is Humanism“, illustration, art, and everyday objects come together in a mix of studio and wardrobe. Some discoveries can be taken home straight away. Gato Ceramicscelebrates the opening of its ceramic gallery on Friday and Saturday (10–11.07.) on Kurfürstenstraße. Small dishes by Mirko Pelosi, Table Farrah, and Chisa Yamashita will be served on the gallery’s ceramics — the perfect way to acquaint yourself with the new pieces. Now for rediscovered traces. Coda at Kvost (until 30.08.) revisits an exhibition concept from the 1980s and explores the meeting points between art and music. Through musical references and visual translations from the collection of the Centre for Art Exhibitions, the exhibition examines how art was created under the conditions of the GDR and what still resonates today. If you want to know where ideas begin, head to the Kunsthochschule Berlin this weekend. During their Rundgang (11–12.07.), the university presents works and processes by around 800 students across 2,000 square metres. From painting and fashion design to product design and visual communication, the program includes performances, films, talks, and guided tours. Some discoveries have already lived a life of their own. At the Summer Flea Market by Original Feelings on Saturday (11.07.), the studio in Prenzlauer Berg becomes a meeting point for vintage treasures, special accessories, and other pieces with a past — perhaps your dream summer dress awaits. Stories unfold under open skies with the open-air cinema season continuing until the end of August. On Sunday (12.07.), you have a choice: Der schlimmste Mensch der Welt (OmU) at Arte Sommerkino at Kulturforum or Little Miss Sunshine (OmU) at Freiluftkino Kreuzberg. Two films you may already know, but perhaps have never watched beneath the stars. Happy trail hunting!

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Gato Ceramics, Boheifilm, Kvost, Klonk, Original Feelings, Michael Hernitschek, Woonam

Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, Blücherpl.1, 10961 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Buchclub für Alle 09.07.2026 18h30

@zlb_berlin
@ilb_festival
@danavowinckel
@mareicares

Radialsystem, Holzmarktstr.33, 10243 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Heroines of Sound 09.–11.07.2026. Get tickets here.

@heroines_of_sound
@radialsystem_berlin

Literaturforum im Brecht-Haus, Chausseestr.125, 10115 Berlin–Mitte; map
Lesefestival Antifaschistische Literatur 06.–10.07.2026Paradigmatische Lektüren antifaschistischer Literatur 10.07.2026 from 9h30. Register here.

@wetteristimmer
@lfbrecht

Museum in der Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr.97, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Skateboarders before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall 10.06.2026–04.04.2027

@hdg_museen

KVOST, Leipziger Str.47/1. OG, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Coda 04.07.–30.08.2026

@ifa.visualarts
@kvost
@ifa.de

Kolonnadenbar, Bodestr.1, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
Summer Festival 08.07.–30.08.2026

@vagabundbrauerei

Auguststr.35, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
Humorism is Humanism 10.07.2026

@supersuperficial.berlin

Rang Dong, Marzahner Chaussee 205, 12681 Berlin–Marzahn; map
Walking tour: Kunst am Bau 10.07.2026 17h30

@martinmaleschka

Gato, Kurfürstenstr.39, 10785 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
Gato Opening Weekend 10.–11.07.2026 16–22h

@gato.ceramics
@cook.n.roll
@table_farrah
@uruutsugu

Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, Bühringstr.20, 13086 Berlin–Pankow; map
Rundgang 11.–12.07.2026

@kunsthochschuleberlin

Original Feelings, Straßburger Str.18, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Summer Flea Market 11.07.2026 11–15h

@originalfeelingsstudio

Arte Sommerkino, Matthäikirchplatz 4, 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
Der schlimmste Mensch der Welt 12.07.2026 21h30

@sommerkino.berlin

Freiluftkino Kreuzberg, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Little Miss Sunshine 12.07.2026 21h30

@freiluftkinokreuzberg

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Language

COMFORT FOOD & DAYTIME DRINKS AT BARI NEAR MAYBACHUFER

STAY FOR ANOTHER CUP: COFFEE CIRCLE OPENS AT KOLLWITZPLATZ

A SUMMER HIKE FROM LAKE TO LAKE: FROM “GRÜNEN GAMENGRUND” TO STRAUSBERG — RECOMMENDED BY DANIELA BIALK

RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS — CROSSES FOR ALL AT THE INDIE FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

FROM RELIEFS TO NOVELS & ROLLERBOARDS — CEE CEE’S CALENDAR TIPS WORTH SAVING