For me eating ice cream is a quintessential part of summer, so how fitting that a new spot for creamy vegan gelato has opened just around the corner from my Friedrichshain home. Vellgoods has only been around since the beginning of July 2021 but has already become one of my go-to places for sweet treats. The shop’s founder Ruben Vellguth has been an enthusiastic ice cream taster since a child, having spent most of his pocket money on scoops of Stracciatella. This memory is what led the former engineer to open up his own parlour for quality – dairy-free – ice cream. All but one of the flavors are made from in-house cashew milk and contain no soya or palm oil.

The range includes classics like chocolate, cashew vanilla, pistachio and lemon and will be expanded in the coming months. My favorite? The somewhat unusual yet flavor-packed curry ice cream. Also worth a taste are the soft, crunchy cookies which, like the ice cream, are made directly behind the counter so you can see the magic happen. The chocolate for the cookies comes from Swiss label Choba Choba while the peanut butter comes from Berlin’s own Twisted Nut. My tip: try the ice cream and cookies at the same time with the ice cream sandwich. Not only does it taste delish, it’s also highly Instagrammable!

Text & Photos: Sophie Doering

Vellgoods, Eckerstr.1, 10249 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Wed–Sun 13–19h

@vellgoods

Back in 2016 we told you about the corner cafe Kiez Kaffee Kraft in Prenzlauer Berg. Fast-forward to May 2021 and this sweet spot for brews and homemade cakes has gained a sister with the opening of a second cafe up the road in Pankow. Housed in a single-storey modern wooden cabin, the large, sunny space offers an inviting atmosphere that opens out onto a huge veranda, offering the perfect place to wake up with a morning coffee or chill with a cool drink on one of the sun chairs. Speaking of drinks, the espresso-based brews are made with coffee from Munich roaster JB Kaffee, which matches perfectly with the cakes. These are the same homemade goodies we know and love from the Prenzlauer Berg shop, with favorites including banana bread and a deliciously zesty lemon cake. The highlight has to be the large meadow area that extends out from the cafe: it’s a little green oasis called Bleichröderpark with a large expanse of grass. Why not visit as part of a Pankow day trip? First stroll around the gardens of Schlosspark Schönhausen, then take a plunge in the cool waters of Sommerbad Pankow before refreshing with a drink at Kiez Kaffee Kraft. It’s the perfect summer’s day up north! 

Text: Annika Hillig / Photos: Sophie Döring

Kiez Kaffee Kraft, Breite Str.35, 13187 Berlin–Pankow; map
Mon–Thu 8h30–18h, Fri & Sat 8h30–21h, Sun 8h30–18h.

@kiezkaffeekraft

Lunch at Frank, which opened in late April 2021, will transport you around the globe. The imposing cafe on Prenzlauer Berg’s Schönhauser Allee offers monthly changing menus inspired by different global cuisines, with one or two specialities served each day of the week. Founders Olli and Daniel are engineers and interior architects by trade, and this is evident in the design of the cafe. The two mastered the craft of welding over lockdown, thus much of the furniture in the space has been made and designed by the pair personally. High ceilings and harsh metals contrast with warm woods and huge windows, flooding the room with light.

So what about the food? Options you can expect include an octopus burger with habanero and zucchini (Fridays), wild garlic risotto with whole grain barley, green asparagus, broad beans and rhubarb (Tuesdays) as well as “Korean Fried Chicken” with chili sauce and gan jiang mayo (Saturdays). All this is accompanied by French pastries made on site, delicious coffee from Röststätte Berlin and fresh juices such as the Lässiger Rainer which is packed with coconut water, orange, carrot, chamomile, turmeric, black pepper and agave. But that’s not all: the chefs behind Frank have worked with Sicilian gelateria Duo to create some unique ice cream flavors, such as asparagus and a delicious miso and sake topped with nuts. We can’t wait till things open up properly and we can spend hours just sitting in the space, but until then the team will gladly serve up your lunchtime treat to go – it’s the next best thing! 

Text: Lottie Mac / Photos: Lee Edward & Annika Hillig

Frank, Schönhauser Allee 176, 10119, Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Open for takeaway Mon–Sun 8h30–18h

@frankcafe.de