Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Allo Berlin!

First full day in Berlin. Up early enough and without too much of a sore head after wine & cocktails the night before!! First stop Checkpoint Charlie (If you don't know what that is it is you can check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie



Following some photos here and getting my passport stamped at the US Army Checkpoint we walked from Checkpoint Charlie towards the Gendarmenmarkt. 





We then headed for the chocolaterie, Fassbender & Rausch. This place is just a chocolate lover's dream heaven (So my perfect place) Downstairs is a shop but its soo much more than that. Between the displays of chocolate, sweets, tea, drinking chocolates and desserts are some incredible chocolate structures of Berlin's best known landmarks, a chocolate plane, a chocolate Titanic and a working chocolate volcano - I'll let the photos speak for themselves. 








You can then take a lift up to the first floor restaurant. All dishes they serve have chocolate in them but we just went for dessert and hot chocolate. I got a mini chocolate torte, Sean picked the tiramisu & his little brother went for the white chocolate symphony. We also shared the praline selection. These are all works of art. 





I had a mocha with mine made from hot milk chocolate (you can choose half & half or a dark chocolate), Sean and his brother both chose the dark hot chocolate with rum. I can't tell you enough at just how amazing this place is!

After there we went to visit Emperor William Memorial Church.



Then we had some drinks in the plaza beside the church in the sunshine. Utter bliss. We then walked to the large department store, Kaufhaus Des Westens (KADEWE)



Spread out over 7 floors this place is incredibly overwhelming but the best part for me was the food court. OMG you would probably need a week alone here to try out everything they have to offer!

That evening before dinner we visited the Reichstag and Brandenburg gate. These are both so impressive. We sat at Hopfingerbrau im Palais in the sunshine. 

Depending on which way you're facing you either get a great view of the Reichstag or the Brandenburg Gate. 

I ordered prosecco but Sean and his brother shared the metre of beer. This was really awesome. Really great touristy spot!





After finishing our drinks we took a bus towards the TV Tower.


Some great views of Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island on the way...




We went to Rotisserie Weingrun.



This place is in the Michelin Guides for 2014 & 2015. I think we were lucky to get a table but we did manage to. Took our seats and after ordering they brought us out some freshly baked foccacia and hummus. 

For starter I had goats cheese with rocket and rhubarb. Heavenly!


Sean & his brother chose the octopus salad.



I then had the half chicken for my main. The skin was crispy and salty and the meat inside was moist and tender. Just so good. Sean chose the lamb and his brother had the veal liver. Sides were meditteranean vegetables, fried baby potatoes and mashed potato.



For dessert I had tiramisu with marinated strawberries and an espresso.



Great food, service and atmosphere. This was probably my favourite meal of the holiday. 

After there we had to walk dinner off. We walked back towards the Gendarmenmarkt.


We visited the Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt which is a Munich style beerhall. Had red wine here, Sean and his brother had some beer and we got some pretzels which were fresh out of the oven. 

Then up the road to Newton for a cocktail. It was a chilly enough evening but the only seats were outside so we grabbed a seat towards the heater. They leave fleeces on the seats so we snuggled down under one. I tried a passionfruit cosmopolitan - really nice twist on the usual cosmo!


After that we headed back to the hotel. Just had one cocktail there (Blue Lagoon) and then it was time for zzzzz...

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