With its unpretentious bar food, excellent natural wines and contemporary art, Bar Normal is a Prenzlauer Berg highlight. During our visit, our neighbor’s Tuscan bean stew with burrata looked so good we had to order it right away. The beef short ribs with pumpkin and spicy relish were also a hit: tender, fragrant and beautifully plated. This elegant simplicity permeates the whole bar, which is warm and welcoming but understated, with minimalist yet comfortable seating. As for the menu, you could call the range of flavors European Fusion: Dutch bitterballen as a starter, French lemon chicken for main, and truly incredible deep-fried churros for dessert. There’s a wide-ranging natural wine list, and the service is attentive and friendly. The painting of the dreaming horse above the bar? That’s by Leonie Specht, we learned upon inquiry. It feels very Berlin, unshowy and yet surprisingly good. With this new wine bar, owner Van Anh Le manages what only a few have done: an excellent bistro without frills – in other words, completely normal. Leonie Specht’s art can be seen until 01.05.2022. A reservation is highly recommended.
Text: Hilka Dirks / Photos: Gehardt de Koekkoek
Bar Normal, Oderberger Str. / Kastanienallee, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Wed–Sun 18h30–23h30
