"What is this frozen yogurt stuff?" my East German mother-in-law asked me curiously. "Have you tried it?" I assured her that yes, it had been an inescapable part of my American childhood. Last summer, frozen yogurt became the latest food craze in Berlin, and an avalanche of shops serving the creamy fat-free frozen sweet overtook the city. Yoli was first on the scene, and is still the best and Mere…

Dinner at Katz Orange is a sensual experience. The first glimpse is already a feast for the eyes; the two-story restaurant is housed in a stunning former brewery, set back in a quiet courtyard. (If the weather's fine, consider booking a table outside.) You'll feel special, cared for by the sweetly attentive staff and sipping one of their delicious cocktails –'Grape Me' is already a cult Mere…

We're lucky to have an addictive ice cream shop ust a few blocks from the Miniloft apartments. The cheerful ice cream heros at Berliner Eismanufaktur serve up delectable, all-natural ice cream. They offer eighteen rotating flavours: their vanilla is the best we've ever tasted, the pistachio belongs in the pistachio hall of fame, and their sorbets are intensely fruity. Branch out with more Mere…

A visit to Princess Cheesecake gives an ordinary afternoon a little boost of luxury. Their motto: "Make everyday a lovely day!" is spot on. You will feel like royalty. Their exquisite cakes are as much a feast for the eyes – little works of art, heaped with glistening fruit or quivering with smooth pastel layers – as they are a delight to the tastebuds. Choose from a wide variety, from Mere…

Korean food has become a bit of a craze in Berlin, and we've found our favorite. YamYam serves fast and fresh Korean food, with veggies galore. It's the perfect place for a quick bite while out shopping on Alte Schönhauser Straße. If you're in the mood for soup try Monsieur Vuong's, but if you'd prefer a hot rice bowl YamYam's bibimbap can't be beat (rice, vegetables and meat if Mere…

The aptly named RisOtto serves – what else? – risotto, and nothing else. And such delicious, creamy rice bowls they are! The menu changes daily, usually with five savory choices and a dessert option ranging in price from 4,90-8,90 EUR. You could go simple with peas and lime, a bit more fancy with white beans, ham and thyme, or try the "mother of all risottos": risotto milanese with saffron Mere…

The days may be darkening but the last leaves are still golden - enjoy the final days of this beautiful fall with a walk through Tiergarten and a stop for a delicious snack in Schleusenkrug. This popular beer garden, located at an odd corner at the corner of the zoo and the park, is worth a visit any time of year, with a Mere…

For years, a quaint timbered building stood alone in the wasteland where East met West, one of the few structures to have survived the battle for the Reichstag in WWII. Today it enjoys a prime location, between the main train station and the new Ministry of the Interior building, and houses the gourmet restaurant Mere…

Cocolo Ramen, a tiny, cozy Japanese restaurant, is completely addictive. Their delicious soups are a far cry from the 30-cent powder packages ubiquitous on college campuses. Rich, savory broths and chewy noodles are topped with artful arrangements of succulent pork belly, shrimp and pork dumplings, roast pork or smoked chicken. Or try the vegetarian miso option: they're all scrumptious, the best Mere…

A hearty breakfast is hard to find in Berlin. Sure, Sunday buffet brunches are an institution, and a roll and cheese can be found in any old bakery. But what about pancakes and waffles? And English breakfast? And eggs benedict? As an American homesick for real breakfast, I almost cried with relief when Chipps (run by the team behind Cookies Cream) opened their second location down the street from Mere…

Asian-European fusion restaurants are becoming distressingly more frequent in Berlin - they all seem to serve the same dishes - but Dudu definitely comes out at the top of the pack. The serve gorgeous, high quality sushi, tasty pho soup, and popular roast beef and papaya Mere…

Bar 25 was forced to close its hedonistic gates back in September, but the party lives on, in part. Their neighbors down the river, Radialsystem, are hosting Bar 25's restaurant until the end of Mere…

This is two Italian restaurants in a row we've reported on, but this one is too lovely to keep to ourselves... Muret la Barba brings great joy: a simple, autenthic, delicious Italian restaurant and wine bar near the Miniloft apartments, with a huge wine selection, most of which can also be ordered by the Mere…

Heading home to your Miniloft in that netherland between night and day, the smiling potato with the backwards baseball cap is there to save you from your hunger. Tom's Fritten (Berliner for french fries, of course) serves hand-cut, hand-made fries out of its cheerful Mere…

Don't be fooled by the hum-drum exterior on a busy street: La Galleria Italiana, a homey little hole in the wall with 30 seats, serves tasty homemade pastas and other delectable delicacies. It's another great addition to the roster of good restaurants within walking distance of Mere…

In lazy summer, a trip out to one of Berlin's many lovely lakes is the perfect day trip. The lake Schlachtensee is smaller and more intimate than the nearby Wannsee, with wooded banks, grassy knolls, and clean waters; it's easily accessible by public Mere…

Themroc is a jewel of a restaurant, hidden in plain sight - I'd ridden my bike past this little hole in the wall dozens of times and never realized it was there. Now that my eyes have been opened, I can't believe how long I've lived without Mere…

In a city where hamburgers are relative newcomers to the culinary scene ('Bouletten', although also made of ground beef, are really no comparison), the title for Berlin's best burger is hotly Mere…

The Tadschikische Teestube (Tajikistan tearoom) is a warm and welcoming treasure hidden behind the Neue Wache on the busy tourist hub between Unter de Linden, Museum Island and Alexanderplatz, the perfect spot for a break after a day wandering around cold Mere…

Happily a friendly new French brasserie has opened around the corner from Minilofts, a place that hits the spot, whether you opt for a casual yet classy lunch or relaxed dinner with good French Mere…