Straw lampshades dangle from the ceiling, rattan chairs and pink accents fill the room. The feature is the yellow-tiled bar counter, behind which the food is cooked. If you long for a summer vacation, you should stop by Mehringdamm to get your fix. Inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragán and American photographer Slim Aarons, Maike and Marian, with the help of their architect Anja Ziehmann, opened Taqueria Mama Rosas in mid-May 2024. At Mama Rosas, the barrier between guest and host is almost non-existent — the taqueria was born out of Maike and Marian’s desire to make friend taco night accessible to others. Maike was born in Peru and grew up with Mexican cuisine; Marian has a background in gastronomy, having run Weilands on Potsdamer Platz with his two partners for 18 years. The concept at Mama Rosas is simple: Mexican street food, with tacos and quesadillas, classic cocktails, and soon bowls and sandwiches.

The menu remains small and refined, the offerings authentic and simple. My recommendation: you shouldn’t skip the tacos, because they are and will remain the core offering. Maike prepares all taco ingredients fresh every day: corn tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo, and pulled pork or chicken — there’s also a vegan option with mushrooms and potatoes. Collaborations with friends are planned, and fish tacos are also likely to make it onto the menu soon! If you’re looking for a cocktail or two for your beach vacation, choose between Margaritas, Palomas and Mezcal Mules, each of which has a non-alcoholic version. Now, would I say that after your visit to Maike and Marian, you can do without a real vacation? No, because Mehringdamm is still Mehringdamm and Mexican beaches are still Mexican beaches. However, if you’re looking for a little taste of a beach bar, Taqueria Mama Rosas is the place to go.

Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Savannah van der Niet

Mama Rosas Taqueria, Mehringdamm 72, 10961 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map

@taqueria.mama.rosas

If you enjoy meeting friends for long brunches, you’ve probably been to Annelies or Distrikt Coffee a few times already. The concept at Annelies is simple: the food is made with seasonal and regional ingredients and, in addition to menu classics, there are unusual dishes you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. With their new (third) location, Sophie Hardy, Hannes Haake and Matthew Maue offer you the same kitchen concept, as an evening version. Since Bertie’s soft opening at the beginning of May 2024, you can try chef and co-founder Matthew’s dishes virtually every hour of the day. The large, floor-to-ceiling French windows give you a taste of what awaits you inside. The wooden benches are reminiscent of classic American diner booths and the bar counter with its steel bistro stools transports you to NYC. Bertie not only draws on the metropolis for its interior design but also its menu. No wonder, because Matthew grew up in the US’s big cities and has tasted his way through New York, Chicago, Brooklyn, San Francisco and beyond. Most of his interpretations are served as sharing plates and bar snacks, making them particularly suitable for a quick detour to the bar.

Deviled eggs with smoked egg yolk and chives, marinated mushrooms, flatbread with bouillabaisse, mussels and saffron aioli, or a Caesar schnitzel with salad, parmesan, and gravy — the menu is fun and, with its different portion sizes and varied selection, leaves little to be desired. The deep-fried potatoes with bouillon seasoning and lemon aioli and the buffalo wings with ranch and celery have already become my clear favorites. Those with a sweet tooth will love the banana pudding with salted peanuts and caramel sauce (I promise!). There are also classic cocktails such as negronis, margaritas and pisco sours, draft beer, natural wines, and a fine selection of non-alcoholic drinks. All good things come in threes, as Sophie, Hannes and Matthew prove once again with their new bistro, Bertie. Incidentally, reservations are not possible here for the time being, and this is how it will remain in the future.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Bertie, Schwedter Str.13, 10119 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map

@bertieberlin