Berlin Secrets with Hilal Harputluoglu
Discover Berlin after a day at the trade fair: in the new Berlin Secrets series, FRUIT LOGISTICA team members offer personal insights into their city.
Berlin has so much more to offer than just appointments, exhibition stands and hotel rooms. FRUIT LOGISTICA visitors often only know the route between the airport and the trade show, missing out on the city's unique features in the process. Berlin Secrets invites you to discover the city through the eyes of FRUIT LOGISTICA team members with personal recommendations. Project organizer Hilal Harputluoglu shows us the places that make Berlin special to her.
Hilal Harputluoglu
What I like about Berlin is that it is an open and diverse city. Many cultures come together here. Kreuzberg, for example, is characterised by its Turkish and Arab communities. It is not only home to the famous Döner kebab, but also to many small shops and restaurants, as well as a lively market. However, I also enjoy spending time in Mitte, where I can relax with a matcha latte on the banks of the Spree or admire the 'starry sky' in the Museumsinsel underground station.
Berlin Wall with matcha latte from Goodlyfe
Today, it is difficult to imagine that Berlin was once a divided city. A few well-preserved sections of the wall can be found at the East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain. Armed with a delicious matcha latte and a pistachio cruffin from Goodlyfe, my favourite café, I sit down by the Spree to admire the street art – 1.3 kilometres of it – between Ostbahnhof and Oberbaumbrücke.
Goodlyfe
Mühlenstraße 61, 10243 Berlin
Website
Starry sky in the Museumsinsel underground station
Most people who get off at Museumsinsel are usually on their way to see the masterpieces in the Alte Nationalgalerie or Nefertiti in the Neues Museum. But it's worth pausing for a moment. In my opinion, this underground station is the most beautiful in Berlin, and it's also a popular selfie spot. Hundreds of small spotlights embedded in the midnight-blue ceiling above the tracks make the vaulted ceiling look like a starry sky.
Museumsinsel underground station (U5)
Unter den Linden, 10178 Berlin
Strolling around Kottbusser Tor and the Landwehr Canal
I love the lively area around Kottbusser Tor. To the north is Oranienstraße, home to many Turkish restaurants including Hasir, one of the oldest in Berlin, and Yunus Emre Steakdöner. As I stroll through the neighbourhood, I discover other oriental specialities, such as stuffed baked potatoes called kumpir, black tea and shops selling sunflower seeds, like Sunflower Seeds by Smyrna. These are great for snacking on while walking. For dessert, I stop at Mubis Cookies, Lokma, or Wonder Waffel. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is a bustling market on Maybachufer with stalls selling Turkish and Arabic goods – it's one of my favourite places in Berlin.
Oriental delights at the Mihmandar restaurant
According to legend, Kadir Nurman invented the döner kebab in Berlin in 1972. My favourite restaurant, Mihmandar, demonstrates that Turkish cuisine has so much more to offer. This chic yet cosy restaurant is ideal for evenings during the trade show and for larger groups. It also takes reservations for events. All dishes are halal, meaning they comply with Muslim dietary rules, and no alcohol is served. I particularly recommend the Iskender kebab, a variation on the döner kebab, and the beyti: fried minced meat rolls topped with cheese and tomato sauce. Simply delicious!
Mihmandar
Kottbusser Damm 31, 10967 Berlin
Website
Cotton candy drinks at The Room
Personally, I don't always want to be in a trendy district like Kreuzberg or Mitte. My favourite bar, The Room, is in Mariendorf, for example. It serves excellent non-alcoholic drinks and shisha pipes under a pink tree in the middle of the bar. There is also a wide selection of food, ranging from Asian dishes to burgers, bowls and gratins. My favourite drink is called the Pink Cloud and comes with pink cotton candy.
The Room
Mariendorfer Damm 96-98, 12109 Berlin
Website