Business Travel in Berlin

Potsdamer Platz has historically been the heart of Berlin. While it didn’t fare well during the 20th century (being flattened by aerial bombings and then divided by the Berlin Wall), the 21st century has seen it return to its old, bustling self.

Surrounded by major government buildings, offices, malls, shops and restaurants, it’s a convenient spot to meet at. The Sony Centre, in particular, has a lot to offer, including a striking glass-and-steel dome that lights up in vivid colours every evening. The square is served by both the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn, so getting there is easy.

Unter den Linden is to Berlin what the Champs-Élysées is to Paris or The Mall is to London – a long, tree-lined boulevard linking some of the most interesting parts of the city. It takes its name from the linden trees which line the route. At the western end, you’ll find Pariser Platz, which is home to the iconic Brandenburg Gate. At the other end is the Crown Prince’s Palace.

The street runs though Berlin’s cultural hub, and is surrounded by galleries, museums, theatres and historical buildings. Bebelplatz is a focal point of that culture as it contains the opera house, with the German Historical Museum just over the road.

acht&dreissig is a cosy, modern restaurant serving some innovative takes on typical German cuisine in an industrial chic setting. While the number of dishes on the menu is quite small, each packs a flavourful punch. The German tapas is particularly creative while the more traditional dishes, like schnitzel and ox cheeks, are well-presented and skilfully prepared.

The restaurant is well-suited to business lunches because of its convenient location near the Oranienburger Tor U-Bahn station, just north of the city centre. The service is friendly, and it contributes towards a great atmosphere. However, being a busy place, meals can take a bit of time coming during peak periods.

When it comes to Feierabendbier (the German word for after-work drinks) in Berlin, the western borough of Charlottenburg is both convenient and classy. The area around the zoo and Tiergarten park was once among the top party spots of West Berlin. While the fall of the Berlin Wall has seen the clubs move further east, they’ve been replaced with swanky lounges and cocktail bars, such as Monkey Bar and House of Gin. Head further west, towards Savignyplatz, and you find a more bohemian vibe, with Das Schwarze Café and Dicke Wirtin among the standout joints.

Monkey Bar is at the top of 25hours Hotel, overlooking the Berlin Zoological Garden and Tiergarden park. Being on the 10th floor, it’s far from the highest of the city’s rooftop bars, but its fantastic views, great atmosphere and exotic cocktails make it a firm favourite. The Monkey Mulata is especially worth a try. It’s made with Mulata rum, lime, syrup and chocolate foam, which combine to create a very complex flavour.

While there is an outdoor terrace, most of the bar is indoors, behind floor-to-ceiling windows, making it comfortable at any time of year.

Said to be the oldest restaurant in Berlin, Zur letzen Instanz serves hearty German dishes in the sort of traditional setting that you can’t convincingly fake. While the restaurant has been in exactly the same location since 1621, the current version opened in 1924 – still long enough ago to give it plenty of olde worlde cred.

The cosy, 2-storey restaurant has a reputation for outstanding traditional German cuisine. The star of the menu is the grilled pork knuckle with honey-glazed red cabbage, but other great dishes include the lamb sausages and wild boar.

Grill Royal on Friedrichstaße is perhaps the best-known Berlin restaurant, having served plenty of local and international celebrities with excellent steaks and seafood. Situated right by the River Spree, it’s naturally a popular choice for romantic couples, too. It’s the sort of place where reservations are practically essential.

Grill Royal isn’t just popular for its Hollywood clientele, though. The menu has one of the widest meat selections in Berlin, including ingredients flown in from Argentina, Australia, the USA and France. The seafood is equally well-travelled, featuring Chinese caviar, French oysters, and lobsters from Canada and Norway.

Kaufhaus des Westens (or KaDeWe for short) is the largest department store in continental Europe, with over 380,000 items for sale across 8 floors. It’s the star attraction on Tauentzienstraße, a major shopping street just south of Tiergarten park.

You’ll find souvenirs on the 5th floor, along with arts, books, electronics. A Berlin Buddy Bear makes a fun and unique gift, or you can get a gift basket of German sweets and deli treats. Fashion takes up most of the lower floors, with 1 for men’s clothes and 2 for women’s, if you include shoes and accessories. The top 3 floors are mostly for food, including a massive food hall and a 1,000-seat winter garden restaurant.

When you think of Germany, the structure that symbolises it best is almost certainly the Brandenburg Gate. The iconic neoclassical structure was originally built to celebrate the end of the Batavian Revolution in the 18th century and continues to be a symbol of peace and unity.

The design was based on the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, but has the Roman goddess Victoria (goddess of victory) riding in the chariot on top. It has appeared in the background of some of the most significant events of the 20th century and the sense of history and importance is palpable around it. Be sure to check out the museum dedicated to the gate, on the other side of Pariser Platz.

The iconic Reichstag building is the seat of the German government (the Bundestag) and an extremely impressive building in the heart of Berlin. A beautiful glass dome was added to the roof in 1999 and gives unrivalled views of the surrounding city. It was built as part of a promise that the German government would be open to constant scrutiny from the people being governed, and lets you see down into the debating chamber. Access to the dome is free (it wouldn’t be very democratic if they charged for it!), but you need to book a place in advance on the building’s website.