6 AMAZING VEGETARIAN PLACES TO CHECK OUT IN BERLIN

Ideal for those searching for a delicious, creative plant based meal.

No longer just lettuce and carrots, vegetarian food has exploded in tasty and exciting ways across major cities all over the world in the last decade. Despite not always being easily accessible or particularly good everywhere you go, there is one city in Europe where you’re more than guaranteed a delicious vegetarian or vegan meal: Berlin.

Not just a gay-friendly haven, or a party paradise, Berlin has a rich history, fascinating architecture, and, despite misconceptions about German food, a properly buzzing culinary scene. Though you could simply follow your nose, it certainly doesn’t hurt to follow a few recommendations, too.

With that in mind, we’re here to help; here are 6 amazing vegetarian places to check out in Berlin, IDEAL for those searching for a delicious, creative plant based meal.

MOMOS

Very different from the more on trend, hipster restaurants so commonly found in Berlin, Momos has more of a fast food/pick up and order from the counter vibe, with affordable prices and quick service. Oh, and the food? Outstanding. 

Small dumplings packed with all sorts of delightful fillings are the order of the day here, including spinach and cheese, broccoli and mushroom, potato and carrot, eggplant and onion, and so much more. 

You can pair them with flavoursome dips like spicy tomato, lemon and mint, or sesame and soy. A real treat for the taste buds and great for a quick lunch or dinner; keep your eye out for the daily specials, too!. As Biomes points out, there are still vegetarianism pros and cons to consider, but if you are going to adopt a plant based diet, Momos may well become a dear friend.

VAUST BRAUGASTSTATTE

While this restaurant started out as ‘just’ vegetarian, it’s now switched to full vegan, and has become an essential restaurant in the Paper City.

We’re talking handmade ravioli with kale and potato, tempeh mushroom slices, coconut and cauliflower soup, and even currywurst (one of the city’s most popular meals) that certainly rivals any meat version found elsewhere in Berlin. They also have a tonne of home-brewed craft beers that are fantastic and totally vegan. Visit once, and becoming a regular is all but guranteed.

COOKIES CREAM

Despite the name, this isn’t an indulgent ice cream shop with cute branding and a devoted teenage following. Instead, it’s one of Europe’s finest, most highly regarded vegetarian restaurants. If you’re going to have one blowout while you’re here, make it Cookies Cream. 

The speakeasy feel of the entrance, where you enter through back streets and a car park before finally knocking on a back door/fire exit, feels properly illicit. The clublike doorway shouldn’t come as a surprise; the owner learnt his trade running underground raves, and the vibe indoors is industrial, too.

The food, however, is refined, sophisticated and fun to boot. The shiny Michelin star which hangs above the door (metaphorically, of course, this place is way too cool for any of that mainstream, showboating stuff) is testament to the superb veggie food being served here. A must visit.

ZOLA

Although it’s not strictly vegetarian, Zola arguably makes the best pizzas in town. Wood fired, sourdough pizzas in the Neapolitan tradition are the order of the day here, the crusts arriving blistered and burnished, just as they should be, with toppings restrained, just as they should be. 

For groups where it’s necessary to placate meat-lovers and vegetarians alike, Zola is a good choice. For the latter group, you’ve got margherita, marinara, bufalina, vegetariana, and the Zola special (tomato, pears, walnuts, fior di latte, and gorgonzola) to choose from. Not an easy decision, we realise, but in the words of Marlo Stanfield, it’s ‘one of them good problems’. Your meat loving friends might just leave vegetarian.

SHISO BURGER

Another great “in-between” option for all kinds of diets, Shiso has been a revelation in the Berlin burger world. Not your typical American cheeseburger (and all the better for it), Shiso has the skills to turn wonderful vegetables into proper, ‘dirty’ feeling burgers with dexterity.

The Veggie burger is tofu, grilled eggplant plus all the regular trimmings, while the Toad burger (better than it sounds) is portobello mushroom with blue cheese and all that good stuff like lettuce, tomato, and red onion. If all that wasn’t enough, the sweet potato fries plus kimchi on the side somehow manage to feel indulgent yet healthy. And that’s what it’s all about, right?

LUCKY LEEK

Cookies Cream isn’t the only vegetarian ‘fine dining’ experience in Berlin. Nope, Lucky Leek uses the finest local, seasonal produce to create stunning, deceptively simple dishes which are a joy to eat regardless of your dietary leanings. 

It’s a hugely popular hang out, so booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Once you do bag yourself a table, prepare for one of the finest meals of your life! Desserts are particularly indulgent here; jasmine tea mousse with praline shard anyone?

Hungry for more culinary globe trotting with a plant based bent? Check out these tips on 5 of the most vegan friendly cities in the world.