A good place to drown your Berliner winter-melancholy. The bartenders are top notch and the interior is warm but stylish, with the inevitable retro vibe. Open from 6 till late. There´s also a legendary (and kinda expensive) restaurant next door, which provides the bar with some excellent snacks. Works for dates and for friends, but if you´re planning for a bigger group it might be wise to reserve.

My favorite lake to visit during the warmest months. It's located in the southwestern part of Berlin and it's reacheable by public transportation, just around 40min from the city center.

ABC is Berlin´s Eggs Benedict Mecca. This laid-back, fun little shop will provide you with one of the city´s best Aussie brunches - provided you reserve or are willing to wait for some time. But the eggs, the coffee and the Bloody Mary really make it worth.

It is an English language bookstore centering on non-western, diasporic, and queer perspectives. Many many many rare and special books carefully selected by Siddhartha Lokanandi that is the soul of this place! Check it, it is unforgettable :)

Best record store in Berlin. A great selection of Rock, Folk, Indie, Wave, Industrial and especially the huge floor dedicated to House and Techno Records. Staff are typical Berlin-Style - not very friendly but very knowledgeable.