You could easily walk right past Kurhaus Ponte Rosa. Fair enough — why would you look for something enchanting along a railway embankment? Yet like so many Berlin treasures, there’s more here than meets the eye. Venture past the gate and down the tree-lined path. You’ll hear chortles of laughter in the afternoon breeze. You’ll breathe in the scent of pizza crusts lightly charring over hot stone. Kids hustle between long tables and benches. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. It’s self-service, so bring a few friends to stake out your seats while someone puts in a pizza order. Relax in the evening light. Remember why we put up with the endless months of wintery gray. We are taking in the cure. Just don’t let your bliss fool you into a false sense of permanence. Life is short and the summer will soon be gone. So, too, will Ponte Rosa. Despite grumbling by neighborhood supporters, the city has plans for residential development here. Now’s the time to drink in these slowly fading summer evenings. (Text: Leitha Matz / Photos: Pamina Aichhorn)

Kurhaus Ponte Rosa, Kreuzbergstr.42b, 10965 Berlin-Kreuzberg, map

Mon-Sat 16-2h, Sun 15-2h

Leitha Matz fell in love with Berlin and moved 4 years ago from the Lower East Side in NYC to Kreuzberg. She’s a co-founder of the German startup Zuper.