Brunnenstrasse 158 is home to St Leonard, a barbershop that continuously refines its standards of modern barbering. Well known for its exceptional service, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, St Leonard has cultivated a friendly community of both locals and visitors. Regulars come not only for a great haircut, trim, or shave, but also to relax, unwind, and enjoy the warmth of Dom and his team. Founded by Dominic James Eliott, St Leonard was born out of his years of barbering experience in London. He quickly developed a clear understanding and appreciation of what works and how to treat clients. Establishing his own shop, curating a team, and adopting a detail-oriented approach to barbering was naturally the next step. His approach is constantly evolving. Dom always expresses a passion for refining every part of the barbershop experience – from the environment, equipment, and service to the products available – ensuring that everything is seamless and at its best.
All of this is done so that when you visit St Leonard, you can relax and focus on the important things: the cut and the conversation, feeling comfortable and at home. St Leonard offers more than a haircut — it’s a space for community and friends, a moment to pause, enjoy, and share. And you get a great cut too! I’ve been popping in for a chop and a chat for years now, and it’s always such a pleasure to visit and watch the space grow. Whoever you choose for your cut, trim, or shave — Dom, Tom, Karolina, or Lloyd — you can be sure you’re always in good hands. So if you’re looking for a great barbershop and an environment where everyone feels comfortable and valued, St Leonard is the place for you.
Text: Aaron Dawkins / Photos: St Leonard & Aaron Dawkins
Aaron Dawkins is an art director and graphic designer. Based in Berlin, he enjoys working in the fields of art, culture, fashion and commerce. He specialises in the design and direction of identities, books, digital and printed objects.
St Leonard, Brunnenstr.158, 10115 Berlin–Mitte; map
@stleonardberlin
@dominicjameseliott
I return from my summer vacation refreshed yet tired — the last grains of sand hide in the narrow crevices of my suitcase and the salty scent of seawater lingers on my clothes. Weeks after my vacation, my hair is still feeling the effects of the salt water and blazing sun that I exposed it to for days on end. My ends are brittle and fragile, they feel dry and rough. If yours feel the same, I recommend a visit to Molar. Kathrin Zenk founded the hair salon near Savignyplatz in 2011 after working for Vidal Sassoon, Wella and Aveda. Back then, the salon was opened and run by three people — the team now consists of ten colorists and master stylists, some of whom Kathrin has been working with for years. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a loss for ideas when you visit or have been busy collecting inspiration and ideas, the team not only takes their time when it comes to implementation but is also happy to advise you on a new look.
The “Hair Spa Treatments” are also particularly popular here. With the scalp treatment, for example, you’re doing something good for your hair and your scalp will be properly looked after. Alexander Wang, Lala Berlin, von Bardonitz, Nobi Talai, Marc Cain and Dorothee Schumacher, are just some of the names that the team has worked with at international fashion weeks in recent years. If you want to know which cuts and colors are trending at the moment and which suits you best, Molar is the right salon for you.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Molar, Bleibtreustr.4, 10623 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
@molarberlin
In 2020, photographer and video producer Sandra von Mayer-Myrtenhain, photographer Junshen Wu, and food stylist Yannic Moeken got together and launched the online magazine Famous for my dinner parties — with the aim of taking a critical look at society and culture through the lens of food. The magazine became popular, the stories got attention, and the site developed its very own visual imagery. And so last year (2023) the magazine was given a space in the physical world: The first print edition was available in selected stores from the most important cultural capitals. Essays, photo series and the team’s favorite stories came together, and it quickly became clear that a second issue was needed. And it was this edition that was just celebrated with a big launch party in Berlin. In “Rages! Crazes! The Food Fad Issue” it’s all about food fads — quirky, frivolous, amusing, and yes, sometimes they are all justified. The fact is, they reveal a lot about us and the world — how we live and see others, our wishes and dreams. In this issue, old and new food trends are analyzed with humor (but also seriousness), diets and their failed promises are discussed, and questions that you have never asked yourself are pondered, all within the magazine’s colorful pages.
One afternoon, Yannic comes across the “bashing brunch” trend that has been doing the rounds among journalists and the internet in general for a decade now. Full of passion, dedication and outrage, a number of headlines such as “10 Reasons Why I Hate Brunch”, “Brunch Is Bad And It’s About Time We Admit It”, “The Complete Guide To Hating Brunch”, or, in short and simple terms: “Brunch Is For Jerks” have emerged over the years. Find out what’s behind the anti-trend, and why Haidilao, the largest hotpot chain in China, might be “The Happiest Place on Earth” in the magazine. More articles, more pages, more contributors: like the first issue, the second one is in small, compact form, but don’t let size fool you, this magazine will put a big smile on your face.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Famous for my dinner parties
@famousformydinnerparties
It’s that time again: the latest edition of The Neighborhood Map is here! As always, we didn’t do it alone — this time, we’ve teamed up with Hinge, the dating app designed to be deleted, to bring you the best city tips for great dates. If you’re in dating mode or simply looking for inspiration for memorable outings, grab the Cee Cee x Hinge The Neighborhood Map. It’s always free and “out there” — you can find it at selected spots all around the city. Follow us on Instagram to see exactly where, or check it out online on our map microsite. Alongside our picks for cafes and bars, we’ve also focused on places in Berlin that make perfect backdrops for special dates. We’ve included recommendations from people who’ve already found love—thanks to Hinge, of course. During our research, we discovered that Jeroen, one of our co-workers here at Cee Cee Studio, also met his girlfriend Marie on Hinge. Naturally, we had to share their story with you. The map reveals where Jeroen and Marie, and other Berlin based daters, went on their dates—and much more. So, whether you’re just in love with Berlin or on the lookout for that special someone, this one’s for you. See see you out there.
Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Robyn Steffen
Cee Cee x The Neighborhood Map – About Town with Someone Special
The map is available free of charge at many spots, including here:
FED Bagels & Wine, Reichenberger Str.104, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Cassiopeia Sommergarten, Revaler Str.99, 10245 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Futurium, Alexanderufer 2, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Das Café in der Gartenakademie, Altensteinstr.15a, 14195 Berlin–Dahlem; map
Tokyo Gohan, Dieffenbachstr.68, 10967 Berlin–Mitte; map
@ceeceeberlin
@hinge
Yes, I’m tired of hearing it, too… the term “Artificial Intelligence” is simply everywhere. But AI is here to stay. So, we must engage with it before we miss the boat and end up with a hazy understanding of how it can work in our favor. That’s how “Alles überall auf einmal” by Miriam Meckel and Léa Steinacker made it onto my reading list. The 400-page book was published back in February 2024, but only now have I found the time to dive into the authors’ insights. Surprisingly, it was easy, naturally educational and very entertaining. Even the title is a nod to the entertainment industry, specifically the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; the plot of this sci-fi dramedy serves as a fitting metaphor for the multifaceted and parallel dimensions of AI development. Fortunately, the book “Alles überall auf einmal” is more straightforward and engages readers right from the start.
“An excellent introduction to artificial intelligence,” wrote Die Zeit about the book, and it truly is. The work (also highly recommended as an audiobook) explores the beginnings of computer science with pioneers like Ada Lovelace and takes us through digressions into neural networks, bot-to-bot communication, and deepfakes, all the way to the present day. Anyone who thinks an “introduction” won’t offer anything new should remember: Just because we might use ChatGPT or Midjourney, we are all still at the beginner level when it comes to AI. And, of course, no book on AI can conclude without addressing the questions of opportunities and risks. The subtitle “How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Our World and What We Can Gain From It” already hints at this. Here, in contrast to typical German angst, there is a focus on opportunities. This is a book for which the overused term “must-read” is indeed fitting.
Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Sophie Doering & Stephanie Pistel
“Alles überall auf einmal” by Miriam Meckel and Léa Steinacker
Around 400 pages, published by Rowohlt; audio book by Argon
@mmeckel
@lsteinacker
@rowohltverlag
@argonverlag