The little, laid-back brother is here, and he’s serving lasagna. That’s roughly how you could sum up Sugo. The team behind Caligari, open since June 2025, has created another spot with the same vibrant energy on a smaller scale and with a simpler menu. If you’ve ever been to Caligari in Schillerkiez, you’ll know what I mean when I say, I love the liveliness. You don’t come here just to eat, but to share the atmosphere with the team behind the counter and the guests at the next table. The place hums in the best possible way, and a night there always lifts your spirits. At Sugo, Andreas calls it “Caligari’s Greatest Hits”, served in a cozy bistro setting. He and Miki, the duo behind Caligari, had long dreamed of opening a second place. When the chance came to take over a former wine shop just a few streets away, they didn’t hesitate. The two Italians, Berliners by choice, turned the small space into an eight-table dining room. Simple chairs, a tiny open kitchen, a modest bar, and a fridge full of wine by the entrance. Everything feels cosy, unpretentious, and genuine.

The menu is concise: burrata, vitello tonnato, meatballs with sugo, and that’s about it. Three starters, three mains, one dessert. This simplicity is what makes an evening at Sugo so easy-going. The idea was to create a place where “after a long day, you can just drop in for a quick lasagna and a glass of wine”. Doors open at 17h, just in time for aperitivo. And if you’d like to make it more private, Sugo can also be booked for small celebrations.

Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Ruby Watt

Sugo, Okerstr. 35, 12049 Berlin–Neukölln; Stadtplan

@sugoberlin

Konrad Adenauer once bought his magazines here, Helmut Kohl his bread rolls, and Joschka Fischer countless comics. For decades, the Bundesbüdchen in Bonn was a meeting place in the government district, becoming legendary. Now, the cult kiosk can also be found in Mitte. Culinarily, the Bundesbüdchen builds bridges between past and present. Chef Johann Maier — formerly at Mraz & Sohn in Vienna and later Cordobar and Oh, Panama in Berlin — serves modern interpretations of German classics, inspired by traditional recipes from across the country. His dishes reflect the culinary heritage of regions from the Eifel to the Bohemian Forest, from the Baltic Sea to the foothills of the Alps. The menu includes Obazda with marinated radishes and wasabi arugula, oxtail soup with langoustine Maultaschen, and cheese spaetzle with white kimchi and applesauce. Classics such as blood sausage dumplings with caramelized cabbage or red mullet in shellfish bisque with green vegetables are also on the menu. Owner Jochen Thoss aims to bring the same feeling of home to the interior. Echoing the Bonn original, the space features a kidney-shaped counter, bold colors, Cassina leather chairs, and simple wooden tables. The result is a place where neighbors, politicians, long-time residents, new Berliners, and travelers can meet over natural wine with char or beer with boiled beef.

Text: Lea Hirsch / Photos: Arash Farahani

Bundesbüdchen, Hannoversche Str.2, 10115 Berlin–Mitte; map

@bundesbuedchenberlin