Green Light’s Guide to Berlin, Capital of Cool
By Roland Dupuy & Ana Lucia Calderon — May 2024
From flea markets to 300-hectare forests, the city is full of sustainable amenities and nature activities. After a rigorous urban evaluation, we at Green Light have curated a list of eco-friendly places to eat, shop, and rest during your stay in Germany’s immortal, enchanting and emblematic capital.
Where to stay
Lulu Guldsmeden Hotel
Berlin is a very walkable (but very large) city. That’s why finding suitable accommodation to rest and relax after a long day of exploring is paramount. With a bohemian yet modern design, the Lulu Guldsmeden Hotel is an eco-conscious hotel located in the fun neighborhood of Tiergarten, beside the enormous central park of the same name. Besides its beautiful Nordic design, the hotel stands out because of its Green Sign status. The label certifies its contribution to the environment through its organic its kitchen and its extensive recycling and cycling initiatives, among other projects.
Where to eat & drink
Bonvivant Cocktail Bistro
Following the French tradition of “living well”, Bonvivant wants you to practice its motto: eating balanced, sustainably, and joyfully. Situated in the young, vibrant district of Schöneberg, its zero waste innovative cuisine will take you on a flavorful voyage, whether you’re heading for lunch, brunch, dinner or drinks with friends.
Opened in 2019, the restaurant follows the culinary art of Bistronomie by using minimal, seasonal ingredients and developing outstanding dishes. Head Chef Nikodemus Berger experiments with vegetables as if the kitchen were his playground, delivering drool-worthy masterpieces. While the brunch selection will make you drop your sleeping-in habit, the 6-course dinner and cocktail pairing menu gives you the whole Bonvivant experience.
Katz Orange
Katz Orange proudly declares itself as “a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement in Germany, serving upscale comfort food based on local ingredients and seasonal availability.” Located in the delightfully refined neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg, the restaurant offers up European fare with a distinct South American-influenced twist — think salmon trout ceviche, baked oyster mushroom with yuzu purée and broccoli, or Spreewald lamb with tomato, cumin and hummus. If you’re visiting as a group, the family feast sharing menu is a must.
A Normal
Another Prenzlauer Berg staple, A Normal is a restaurant and winebar that’s the perfect antidote to menu-induced indecision. With a decidedly minimalist menu offering, you won’t feel spoilt for choice, but fear not — the chefs definitely know what they’re doing.
The menu changes each season, with recent springtime highlights ranging from kohlrabi cabbage with buttermilk, aji amarillo chillies and plum, to cauliflower with salsa macha and parsnip. And as they themselves certify, the extensive wine list is “composed of wine makers and friends who work closely with the land and their tools to make a beverage with a sense of place,” resulting in a curated selection of wines with a particular spotlight on German vineyards.
Frea
“Full taste, zero waste” — that’s the Frea motto. Located on the iconic Torstrasse in Berlin’s central Mitte district, Frea is a leader when it comes to minimizing, even eliminating, food waste. Any kitchen waste or leftover food is composted within 24 hours, and delivered to local farms to be used as fertilizer.
There’s an enticing cocktail list, but Frea really shines by reinventing German classics — white asparagus are served with hazelnut hollandaise, tarragon, horseradish and poppy seeds, for example, or Knödel dumplings with green peas, green asparagus, spring herb dashi and lovage oil. Very tasty, or sehr lecker indeed!
The Barn
The Barn coffee roasters have multiple locations across Berlin, but it’s their café on the city’s iconic Kurfürstendamm shopping street that’s the most impressive. Formerly the Café Kranzler, a grand and popular meeting point for business people, artists, writers, politicians, intellectuals and Berlin socialites opened back in 1834, the space was acquired by The Barn in 2016 and given a much-needed refresh. Today, it’s as popular as ever, offering a wide selection of specialty coffee alongside spectacular views from its famous roof terrace. What’s more, The Barn is involved in a number of reforestation projects, such as the ongoing effort to plant 40’000 trees in the DaTerra estate in Southern Brazil.
Bonanza Coffee Roasters
The intoxicating aroma of roasting coffee beans fills the Bonanza space tucked away in an industrial building facing a secluded courtyard in Kreuzberg, Berlin’s creative heart. First opened in 2006, Bonanza has now expanded to four Berlin locations, but the Kreuzberg roastery is by far the most impressive. With patrons seated mere meters away from the imposing roasting machines, it’s tough to get a closer bean-to-coffee-cup distance than this. Working with artisanal coffee growers across South America and Africa, Bonanza aims to streamline the coffee sourcing and making process, operating at a human scale to ensure as much respect for the environment as possible.
Where to thrift
Das neue Schwarz
Visiting second-hand clothing stores is an absolute must-do in Berlin, and Das Neue Schwarz (the new black) should be at the top of your list. Located in the city's eclectic central district of Mitte, the effortlessly cool shop is set up to satisfy the style cravings of all fashion aficionados.
The small boutique offers highly curated products from your favorite designers. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-rare archival piece or a new gem to show off, this is the place to go digging. Among the designers featured are industry greats such as Maison Margiela, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons, and many more.
Paluvi
Germany in general, and Berlin in particular, outdoes the art of recycling. And with that skill, comes a masterful ability to curate second-hand furniture. With sustainability as their foundation, flea markets have unique furniture pieces like solid-wood tables, gold-framed mirrors, and velvet couches. For Paluvi, though, lamps are what it’s all about.
Paluvi was founded by Daniela Pasch, a vintage lamp collector whose interest in furniture was sparked by a unique sideboard lamp gifted to her by her grandmother. Since then, she’s been collecting vintage lamps, and opened her boutique a couple of years ago to give her cherished gems a second home. Nestled between the buzzing areas of Schöneberg and Kurfürstendamm, Paluvi is a treasure trove for all things illumination.
Final Layer
Whether you like hunting for vintage clothing in a brick-and-mortar store or from the comfort of your couch, Final Layer has got you covered. With both a contemporary physical boutique space in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg and an online store, Final Layer provides a wide selection of curated designer pieces for all fashion aficionados visiting Berlin.
From classic vintage Levi’s to Junya Watanabe’s rarest pieces, Final Layer has enough brands to max out your credit card. The boutique also offers a curated selection of fashion magazines, such as Purple magazine and the first issues of the London-based cult fashion bible The Face.
Where to wander
Tempelhofer Feld
If you need proof that nature is healing, head to Tempelhofer Feld. An expansive field on the Western edge of the Kreuzberg district, it was selected in the 1920’s to become the site of Berlin’s newest airport. But after facing capacity constraints coupled with opposition from local residents, airport operations finally ceased in 2008. What to do with the sprawling tarmac, airfield and terminal buildings was subject to extensive debate, with some disagreements remaining unresolved to this day. But Berliners were determined to reclaim the airfield and turn it into a public park, and their efforts bore fruit. Today, Tempelhofer Feld is a beloved spot perfect for picnics, cycling, sports, open-air events, and any other quests for fresh air.
Mauerpark
Few sites illustrate Berlin’s unity and urban renewal quite like the immensely popular Mauerpark. Located in Prenzlauer Berg on the border line where the wall once stood, this now-charming slice of green space is a local favorite for rosé-fuelled hangouts, lively busking sessions, and bargain hunting in its weekly (and very popular) flea market.
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By Roland Dupuy & friends
Est. 2023, London
Book 1 - Hope in Motion - Available soon