7 Top Tips for Sweet Treats in Berlin & where to find them
Berlin can be a harsh mistress; the winters are long and grey. At least once, perhaps on a day in April, you will be tricked into venturing outside in too few layers because the sun is shining and you got overexcited. Then, you must suffer the dire consequences as the wind picks back up with cruel vengeance, blowing through you and your silly, flimsy spring jacket.
So, you just have to be patient and not expect her to change her ways for you too quickly. One day you’ll notice a bit more interaction on the U-Bahn. An intergenerational rock-out is happening between a young woman in her headphones and an old rocker in his; they grin at each other with mutual respect as she alights, never to see each other again. The blossoms are out, pink and white and beautiful, with a sea of tiny blue flowers carpeting the spaces next to the busiest traffic intersections. Berlin loves to give you pleasure; you just have to know where to look for it.
And we’re talking more specifically about a very simple, family-friendly pleasure here, so calm down... we’re talking sweets. Sweets, of course, can and simply must be enjoyed all year round, but there’s something about indulging simply for the joy of the sun coming out in an ice cream, or whatever else may take your fancy. I delight in seeing a very serious-looking businessman gleefully propelling himself out of an ice cream shop, briefcase in one hand, ice cream in the other. I see him and think, ‘Good for you, Sir’.
Point being: pleasure is available to you, and you don’t have to be scanning the entry rules of a highly-rated Berlin sex club, wondering if perhaps good times just aren’t meant for you. Just go and get an ice cream. Or a donut. Or a cinnamon swirl. The list goes on and is handily laid out for you below…
Find all your new favourite Berlin sweet treats on a map!
Hokey Pokey
Hokey Pokey is an ice cream boutique with multiple establishments in Prenzlauer Berg and a central location on Torstrasse, in Mitte. Hokey Pokey is somewhere my mother insists upon being taken to within the first 24 hours of landing in Berlin, even in the winter. Your classics, like Rocky Road and French Vanilla, are all there and then some. The flavors here are too delicious to be wasted upon children or those who do not appreciate the sweeter things in life: Café Noir, containing sherry, coffee, and dark chocolate; Hokey Pokey, caramel with cinder toffee pieces; and Banana Peanut Butter, where you can taste the ripeness of the bananas that made it.
Why is this ice cream laying down?
Duo Sicilian Ice Cream
Sicilian ice cream in Kreuzberg. Duo Sicilian Ice Cream has a wonderful broad selection of flavors and combinations but really excels on the classics like Tiramisu and hazelnut. Without a doubt, the biggest selling point for Duo is the pistachio glaze poured over the top of your ice cream, hardening to a delicious encasing for your chosen flavor beneath. You can also sit down for a coffee and order some freshly filled cannoli or croissants. Any genre of pistachio is on offer here.
Zeit Für Brot
Cinnamon rolls, fresh, warm, big enough to share (or not, as there is absolutely no judgement in eating one whole). Zeit Für Brot usually has a line out the door for the cinnamon rolls, with a variety of flavors and glazes (apple and cinnamon, white chocolate and raspberry), but it’s known for its artisanal bread as well. Extra points are awarded to this establishment for showing the rolls being made in the kitchen and the incredibly fast pace with which they turn these bad boys over!
Sammy’s Berliner Donuts
Donuts have increased in the trendy stakes in the last few years in Berlin. And whilst we would certainly recommend having a wander into any little independent Bäkerei and picking up a 'Berliner' (a jam-filled donut, not to be confused with JFK himself), there are some really great new donut options in the city. Sammy’s Berliner Donuts has three branches with some really excellent flavors and viable vegan options. Sammy’s was founded by Samantha Sawadsky, a Berliner who wanted to keep the culinary tradition of the Pfannkuchen (donut) but modernise with the best regional ingredients and diversity of flavours. Their donuts are not only excellent, but 100% vegan as well! The Bienenstich, vanilla cream with hazelnut toppings, is particularly good.
What’s life without donuts?
Brammibals
Brammibals has multiple locations across the city (and in Hamburg now, too!). This is an entirely vegan donut establishment and really lacks nothing when it comes to flavors. Splurging on a box of 6 or 12 and taking them to a birthday picnic will make you very, very popular.
Burak Künefe
There are apparently more Döner kebab establishments in Berlin than in Istanbul. I tried to find a similar statistic for Baklava, another Turkish import, but could not. Trust me, though, there are lots of establishments where you can purchase this really wonderful Turkish dessert. Burak Künefe just on the border Mitte & Wedding offers delicious Turkish coffee and an array of confections. Baklava is made using filo pastry, and Künefe (kunafa) is made with spun pastry called kataifi. Caution for those who don’t like things too sweet; this is very sweet!
The best things in life are sweet….
Der Kuchenladen
If you're looking for more traditional 'German' cake offerings like a Black Forest Gateau or Sachertorte (Austrian but who cares really?), Der Kuchenladen in former West Berlin offers some traditional slices and is perfect for the very German 'Kaffee und Kuchen' (coffee and cake) time of day. There are also much more contemporary desserts on offer, like different flavors of cupcakes and ice cream cakes.
Why are you still reading this? Go and eat some cake.
More Berlin for you to discover…
Want to make the most of Berlin? Check out these articles for top tips, historical stories, videos, podcasts, and more!
There are plenty of articles below, but a great place to start is our guide to enjoying Berlin in 2024.
