Outside, everything is finally green again — Berlin spring has properly arrived. The perfect moment to discover Café Garten Mitte, which opened over Easter 2026. With a lush garden oasis at its core, right in the middle of Mitte, the café serves homemade brioche, cakes, seasonal lunch, and specialty coffee. Conceived as a neighborhood spot, it’s the kind of place you come to slow down – after a gallery or shopping tour, in between work hours, or simply to spend a few quiet moments surrounded by greenery. Even though the garden sits right next to Gipsdreieck Park, which tends to fill up quickly on warmer weekends, this feels like a world apart: calm, tucked away, almost hidden. Between slightly wild raised beds – where vegetables, herbs, and fruit are grown – you can sip your coffee in the sun and, quite literally, taste what’s growing around you. Inside, the space carries just as much presence. The listed building once housed the city’s first ballroom, and traces of that past are still visible today, layered with more contemporary elements. Furniture was custom-made by a Munich-based carpenter friend; vintage speakers, a piano, and original frescoes set the scene for listening sessions and small concerts. Michael and Famke, the founders, previously managed a well-known bakery just around the corner for several years. It was there they realized how naturally they work together – and eventually decided to create a place of their own.

The two founders both grew up in baking families. Later on, Michael made a name for himself in Berlin’s specialty coffee scene, while Famke worked in numerous bakeries across the city. For Café Garten Mitte, the two have built a strong team around them, as the concept is rooted in community and craftsmanship – everyone brings their own experience to the table. Most of what’s on offer is made in-house: sourdough breads, brioche pastries, cakes, and cookies are baked fresh daily, alongside a seasonal brunch and lunch menu. Ingredients are sourced from their own garden whenever possible, complemented by regional and organic produce – always with options for vegetarians and vegans. For coffee, Michael and Famke collaborate with roasteries from across Europe, including Manhattan, La Cabra, Dak, and Tanat. The menu is rounded out with ceremonial-grade matcha, tea, and seasonal drinks. If your fingers are already itching to save this spot (alongside countless others you haven’t made it to yet), maybe just put your phone aside – chances are you’ll find yourself heading to Mitte this weekend anyway for Gallery Weekend, and can claim Garten Mitte as your new favorite in person.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Garten Mitte, Joachimstr.20, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map

@gartenmitte

As a Japanese person living in Berlin, I have a soft spot for places that embody Japanese culture well. Exactly as Kissabodoes, and it was created by two Polish people. Culture travels well when it’s done so with care. Step inside and let the city fall away. Kissabo carries a nostalgic calm — unhurried, quiet, a little removed from everything outside. The name says it all: a blend of kissaten, the traditional Japanese neighbourhood café, and sabō, a space devoted to tea and stillness. This is not a place that performs; it simply is. Behind it are Gosia and Marcin, who discovered Japanese tea through years of travelling. What started as curiosity deepened into something closer to a philosophy — one rooted in craft, tradition, and the values that form around a bowl of tea. That philosophy takes shape at Kissabo. Matcha is made fresh, sourced directly from a trusted Japanese producer, and served in handcrafted vessels. Alongside it, Gyokuro, Genmaicha and Hojicha are brewed slowly, each with its own character.

For those who want to go deeper, a set matcha menu pairs three preparations with a selection of handmade sweets. The mochi is soft and delicately sweet — Daifuku filled with red bean paste and seasonal ingredients, Dango shaped from rice flour — made fresh and enjoyed with tea. A small menu of non-alcoholic, seasonal cocktails rounds things out for those in a different mood. The space itself is considered. Seats at the bar face the preparation, a larger communal table invites longer stays, and a tatami area offers a quiet space. On the shelves is a hand-picked selection of Japanese craft objects. Among them, tea caddies by Kaikado, the kind you want to pick up and hold. Things made to last, displayed without fuss. If you need a moment away from the city — and a quiet detour into another culture — this is where to go.

Text: Akiko Watanabe / Photos: Robyn Steffen

Kissabo, Kopenhagener Str.16, 10437 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map

@kissabo.berlin