You’d think that around Torstraße there would be endless places to gather. In reality, though, I find myself at the same spots again and again — whether for a quick morning coffee, a short lunch break, or an afternoon moment to unwind. Which is why I’m delighted a new café has quietly appeared in my neighborhood, adding a fresh option to my list. Just a few minutes’ walk from Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Strom Café has brought new life to the Backfabrik courtyard since late October 2025. Strom, both literally and figuratively, stands for flow. The flow of friends and regulars drifting in, and the movement and energy the place creates. It sees itself as a neighborhood café with a bistro feel and a tucked-away courtyard spot. Above all, Strom is a café built on craft: on the plate, in the glass, and in the space’s design. Inside, find a warm dining room by interior designer Celeste Asfour, who chose materials that will accumulate their own stories over time: hand-formed terracotta tiles, each with small irregularities; tables made from recycled PVC; and a small wood-and-mirror shelving piece that separates the tables from the open kitchen. Together, they reflect Celeste’s attention to detail, while playful objects lighten the concept, because, as the team discovered together with Ida Ejsing along the way, not everything has to be so serious. It’s these playful touches, like the round pink bathroom sink or the beautiful handmade lamps from Sweden and Italy, that make me notice something new every time I visit.
The team contributes just as much to the warmth and easygoing atmosphere. Elia Sylla, a trained chef and sommelier, leads Strom and develops the menu together with Yelnur Vityk, Jernej Gaube, and Luka Baronicevaite. From day one, they’ve shaped the café and continue to give it its character. Their backgrounds reflect the diversity of the offering. Culinarily, Strom moves between German, Scandinavian, and Eastern European influences. Signatures like the potato salad, cheese sandwich, and the Strom waffle taste familiar yet newly interpreted. The lunch special changes daily, and almost everything is made in-house (the sourdough comes from Keit). While the menu isn’t centered on vegan dishes, there are always delicious plant-based options, like the kale-kalamansi salad. During the day, homemade cakes await in the small counter display, alongside coffee brewed with Nano Kaffee beans. Drinks like the Ruby Spritz and Arnold Palmer round out the selection. A wine list featuring low-intervention bottles is coming soon, and from late November 2025 onward, Strom will occasionally be open for Saturday Specials. And even though I’m already taken with the place, I can’t wait for spring, when the courtyard comes alive and is sure to become one of the new neighborhood hotspots. The windows will swing open, the bistro tables will be set up, and coffees and spritzes will flow. When I leave Strom, a sense of movement lingers, as if the place itself has passed on a little extra energy. You can really feel how warmth, craft, and community flow together here.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Strom, Saarbrücker Str.36, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
@stromcafe
