Berlin

This German city has long been known for its arts and club scenes – but now its restaurants are the star attraction

- JOEL PORTER

Berlin is booming. To add to its deep-rooted creative culture, the German capital is now one of the world’s leading start-up hubs, with a thriving tech industry that’s attracted thousands of new global businesses to the city. Recent immigration has swelled Berlin’s population further, with a large Syrian demographic joining more well established Turkish and Vietnamese communities. The resulting impact of this new international culture on Berlin’s food scene has been dramatic; with scores of new restaurants offering a taste of new cultures and cuisines, there’s never been a better time to eat out.

‘Since 2009, there’s been huge change in Berlin’, explains Billy Wagner of the Michelin-starred Nobelhart & Schmutzig (nobelhartundschmutzig. com). ‘The city was always hip for Germans but with an increasingly international population, Berlin has been opened up to new ideas and heritage that’s transformed our restaurant culture.’