Unique - tips for special shopping experiences in Berlin

The traffic-calmed Bergmannstraße in Kreuzberg between Marheinekeplatz and Mehringdamm is located in the heart of a quarter filled with historic prewar buildings. It’s the perfect place for a relaxed stroll, meeting friends, seeing and being seen. Shopping here pairs wonderfully with a visit to a restaurant or a coffee stop at one of the many cafés.

In Bergmannstraße and its side streets such as Friesenstraße and Zossener Straße, you will find a colorful mix of very individual shops: in the center of the action: the Marheineke Markthalle. Here you will find delicatessen, baked goods, fruit and vegetables. Stalls with international specialities invite you to feast. At the entrance to the hall, the Kommedia bookshop offers spiritual nourishment, and just across the street there are two more bookshops: Hammett is aimed at crime fiction fans and Otherland specializes in fantasy, science fiction and horror books. A few steps away from the Markthalle on Zossener Straße, Spacehall cherishes vinyl records – an institution for fans of independent, electronic music, house and techno.

Many shops in Bergmannstraße are dedicated to individual styling: In addition to the top secondhand store Picknweight, there are several other vintage fashion shops, as well as shops for natural cosmetics, glasses, beads, jewelry, hats and bags. Fine food is not only available in the Markthalle, Berlin chocolate manufacturer Sawade is also present in Bergmannstraße. At Herrlich you will find gifts that make men happy. No visit to Bergmannstraße is complete without stopping at the long-established postcard shop Ararat.

Also in Kreuzberg:

You’ll find more original small shops in Kreuzberg’s Körtestraße, in the side streets of Kottbusser Damm, in the Gräfestraße neighborhood, and in “Kreuzkölln,” located between Kottbusser Damm and Reuterstraße.

At Bikini Berlin in the center of City-West between the Zoo and Gedächtniskirche, the concept of the shopping mall has been rethought. Following the refurbishment and gutting of a listed building from the 1950s, a concept mall opened here on two floors in 2014. With a curated mix of shopping and gastronomy, Bikini aims to set itself apart from the many other shopping malls in Berlin.

One focus is on Berlin brands with eyewear manufacturer Mykita, men's accessories from Auerbach, fashion from Blutsgeschwister, gifts from Promobo and chocolate from Ohde. In modular pop-up boxes, well-known brands launch new products or young designers from the fashion, jewelry and interior design sectors present themselves. Anyone looking for avant-garde fashion, high-quality accessories and selected vintage pieces will find a wide range of products at Bikini.

However, several branches of major fashion brands are now diluting the originally ambitious Bikini concept.

In addition to retail, food and drink play a major role at Bikini. In the Kantini food market you’ll find a mix of international and regional concepts; culinary offerings range from hamburgers and Alpine cuisine to East Asian specialities. Several cafés and bars invite you to linger. One highlight is the large glass façade overlooking the adjacent zoo, where you can watch baboons scampering around.

Kreuzberg's Markthalle Neun is all about food. New operators launched a new concept in the listed 19th-century hall near Görlitzer Bahnhof underground station in 2011. Discounters and drugstore moved out and Markthalle Neun became a marketplace for many small regional traders and a meeting place for anyone who likes good food.

People cook, bake and brew beer in the hall. There are around 50 stalls selling artisan foods, vegetables from the region, oriental specialities, meat and sausages, cheese, honey, bread, cakes and pastries, homemade pasta, and even a stall selling truffles and truffle products. 

The range is rounded off by cookery accessories such as high-quality knives and olive wood utensils.

And of course, Markthalle Neun is a great place to eat. At lunchtime, you are spoilt for choice here: Do you want to try oysters or Austrian cheese dumplings, specialities from France or Italy, from the Near or Far East, salads, empanadas or burgers? The choice is even greater on Street Food Thursday. On Thursdays, the hall is open for longer and you can feast from the afternoon until the evening.

The neighborhood around Boxhagener Platz in Berlin-Friedrichshain, affectionately called ‘Boxi,’ is one of the liveliest places in the city. It is particularly popular with young Berliners and visitors to Berlin.

The streets around the square are lined with vintage and sustainable fashion boutiques and original shops that are perfect for browsing. Hausen in Krossener Straße specializes in Scandinavian design, while Alma Ceramics in Kopernikusstraße sells handmade ceramics from Portugal. The HHV store in Grünberger Straße offers vinyl records as well as streetwear and trainers. InterKontinental – the only bookshop in Germany specializing in African literature – is also located there. The Boxi also is a place for quirky ideas: Aufschnitt Berlin offers special gifts and collector's items in the form of meat and sausages.

The weekly market on Saturdays and the flea market on Sundays are also popular. Cozy cafés and bars complement the shopping experience and make Friedrichshain a center of Berlin's nightlife.

The Hackesche Höfe are a paradise for lovers of the extraordinary. In the heart of the city, not far from Alexanderplatz, the historic ensemble of eight interconnected courtyards invites you to take a stroll away from the traffic. The more than 30 shops in the courtyards have been carefully selected: Instead of branches of large chains, only local businesses, owner-managed shops and manufactories find their place here. There are no mass-produced goods here, but high-quality fashion and accessories, art, handicrafts, design ideas and delicacies from Berlin food manufacturers.

The shopping experience is complemented by charming cafés and restaurants, an arthouse cinema, the Chamäleon Theater and a billiards parlor.

The streetscape of the neighborhoods around Kollwitzplatz, Helmholtzplatz and Kastanienallee in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district is characterized by renovated old buildings with magnificent stucco façades. In addition to cafés and restaurants, a large number of small shops contribute to the lively atmosphere of the neighborhood. Kastanienallee in particular has established itself as a promenade for trendsetters. In addition to many restaurants, the street, also known as ‘Castingallee,’ is mainly characterized by fashion shops. With the Melting Pot though, there also is a record shop for techno, funk, reggae and alternative music. Love Story of Berlin is an English-language bookshop, while Modern Graphics specializes in comic literature, mangas and graphic novels.

Toward Kollwitzplatz there are many shops that cater to an adult and discerning audience with high-quality, sustainably produced fashion or stylish home accessories. There are also a number of shops selling vintage furniture and antiques. At kunst-a-bunt and Kollwitz-Kabinett on Kollwitzplatz, you will find a large selection of crystal chandeliers and lamps.

Prenzlauer Berg is child-friendly. High-quality toys and gifts for children can be found in the Kleine Gesellschaft on Rykestraße and in Ratzekatz on Helmholtzplatz. The Kleine Fabriek also sells children's clothes.

The weekly market takes place every Saturday on Kollwitzplatz. Around 50 traders offer natural cosmetics, textiles, accessories and handicrafts alongside regional organic food.

Also in Prenzlauer Berg: you'll find lots of original little shops in Stargarder Straße by the Gethsemanekirche and in Marienburger Straße as well.