We already know Berlin-Brandenburg has it all. But one of the most sacred places in the region is the Japanese Bonsai Garden, an hour from Berlin-Mitte, near Potsdam. As a family business, it’s easy to notice the attention to detail — tree decorations and, most importantly, Japanese traditions have been carefully instilled by the founders. As you walk in, you are transported from Brandenburg and swept away to the outskirts of Kyoto, with blooming cherry blossoms in late April, azaleas in May, and an insane palette of autumn colors in October. You can easily spend a few hours here. The garden has a tea house with a variety of different teas available. They also have a variety of Japanese sweets and treats to enjoy while sipping on a cup of Sencha in the garden. They sell tea leaves and matcha so you can take a piece of this oasis home with you and bring a sense of tranquility into your everyday life. They have my absolute favorite Marukyu Koyamaen’s Kinrin Ceremonial Matcha. Oh, and they make it incredibly hard to leave the garden without purchasing a beautiful bonsai tree on your way out.
Text & Photos: Tanya Khvorostiana
Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Tanya moved to Berlin nine years ago, after living in Barcelona. She is currently working as a visual editor and graphic designer, spending most of her time researching special locations and places in Berlin.
Japanischer Bonsaigarten, Fercher Str.61, 14548 Schwielowsee–Ferch; map
@tanyataco
Discover lovingly curated ceramics from Portugal at Studio Oliveira, next to Viktoriapark. Even as a child, Isabel, the store’s owner, spent many hours trawling through ceramic markets in Portugal, marveling at the beautifully handmade pieces. Last year, the art historian and half-Portuguese realized her dream and has been selling traditional ceramic plates, cups and vases in her boutique ever since. In her search for special pieces, she visits the latest ceramics studios in Lisbon and hidden workshops in small, little-known villages. Many people know Portugal as a coastal country, but artisans and craftspeople are usually tucked away in the hinterland. Depending on the region, you will find different designs and techniques, and most ceramics are still made and painted by hand. That’s why Studio Oliveira has a wide variety of collections: traditional cabbage leaves, ceramics in the shape of fruit and flowers, woven baskets, folkloristic plates, but also simple stone handicrafts in pastel colors. Isabel knows all the makers personally — you can find more information about the individual collections and artists on the website. Or simply pop into the store and Isabel will tell you the story behind each piece.
Text: Annika Hillig / Photos: Stadtgören & Sophie Doering
Annika herself was part of the Cee Cee team for a while and wrote regularly for our newsletter, among other things. Now, she is pursuing her creative passion and working as an aspiring goldsmith in the south of Germany.
Studio Oliveira, Katzbachstr.25, 10965 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
@studio_oliveira.de
Anyone who lives in Friedrichshain knows it’s difficult to convince friends to visit the neighborhood. Designer Malaika Raiss provides several good reasons to venture this way. With her Mani Creative Space, a store for encounters and inspiration has moved into one of the listed buildings on Karl-Marx-Allee. The large south-facing window front with its iconic red frame has allowed Berlin’s bohemians to let the sun shine on their faces. Artists such as Kandinsky came and went. So it’s no wonder fashion and design feel at home here today. In Malaikaraiss’ light-flooded showroom, you can try on the new summer collection, find selected vintage furniture from Another June, and pop into the studio of artist Anna Zimmermann next door. Her art prints have been immortalized in many of Malaikaraiss’ designs. If you want to become part of the new Friedrichshain bohemia, you can rent the Mani Creative Space, including the forecourt and terrace, for events, pop-ups and dinners. Kandinsky would have loved this creative collaboration.
Text & photos: Kristina Hellhake
Kristina Hellhake loves good ideas and the stories behind them, especially in the fashion industry. She writes “Things I Didn’t Buy This Week” about all the beautiful things she resists.
Mani Creative Space, Proskauer Str. 38, 10247 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
@compose__pr
@malaikaraiss
With the sun setting on our faces, we stroll along Mehringdamm, the wide connecting axis between the city center and Tempelhof Airport. The large windows of Glaserei reflect the last glimpses of sunlight. When you walk into a new restaurant and it immediately feels like it’s always been there, you know it’s going to be a wonderful evening. Markus Schädel, from Schädels in Oderbergerstraße, and Albrecht Sprenger have opened their new restaurant with a bar and grill concept in the former glazier’s store. In the middle of the room stands a large zinc counter, bar stools and a few tables. They serve a variety of grilled dishes such as merguez with Provençal ketchup, sea bream fillet with lemon butter, grilled vegetables with pecorino, grilled pulpo, green asparagus, or rillette of smoked trout, fish soup with saffron, cannellini beans with baked garlic. We ordered lots of small plates to share, the table so full there was only room left for drinks. Simple dishes, accompanied by a glass of crémant, Chardonnay and potato chips — all served as though we had landed in a bar in Marseille rather than Mehringdamm. Next to us were a few locals and a table of teenagers: All generations coming together. “Just come in for a small plate or two. We cook what we like to eat ourselves,” says Markus Schädel and laughs. The naturalness with which his restaurant comes across is undeniable — unpretentious, delicious, to the point. We’ll be back here soon.
Friederike Schilbach is Editorial Director at Aufbau & Blumenbar. She works with authors such as Cemile Sahin, Rita Bullwinkel and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah. She likes peonies, and her favorite dish at Glaserei is the Sea Bream fillet with lemon butter. She lives with her family in Mitte.
Text: Friederike Schilbach, Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Robyn Steffen
Glaserei, Mehringdamm 49, 10961 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
@glaserei_bar_grill
If you appreciate Berlin’s vintage scene but need a break from digging through endless boxes, then you might be interested in Tinker and Borrow, a vintage shop (and more) that opened last summer in Gesundbrunnen. I stopped in one day to browse and ended up chatting with the friendly owner, Sabrina. Maybe we just have shared taste, but I like the way the store feels: an aesthetic curation of vintage, handmade, and upcycled; a cozy ambiance that doesn’t feel pretentious or exclusive. Also cool: Tinker and Borrow is more than just a nice-looking store where you can buy pretty things. Sabrina places a big focus on community and knowledge sharing, and the store regularly hosts open events ranging from upcycling workshops to literary readings to knitting club meetups. It’s an eclectic mix, and that’s a good thing. It means there’s likely something perfect for you.
Luke Johnson has been living in Wedding since 2017 as a photographer and aspiring naturalist. He recently completed a master’s degree in natural resource management at the Humboldt University of Berlin and is currently seeking a job in nature conservation.
Text & Photos: Luke Johnson
Tinker and Borrow, Martin-Opitz-Str.21, 13357 Berlin–Gesundbrunnen; map
@tinkerandborrow
@luke________johnson