PeterPaul

Berlin isn’t a city stuck on tradition, which is why one of the best places to try German food is at PeterPaul. They serve modern takes on German classics—like königsberger klopse (meatballs in a creamy sauce) and sauerbraten (a gravy-rich roast meat dish)—and almost everything comes in small portions.

Order three to four dishes per person, but if you find yourself drawn to heartier options like the buttermilk-marinated crispy chicken, opt for fewer and finish off with the rich black forest cherry cake. Even though it’s one of the nicer places on this list, there isn’t a dress code, and you’ll probably still see people dressed in open button-down shirts and Veja sneakers—this is casual-but-cool Berlin, after all.

photo credit: Zoe Spawton