23 cafes worth the trip across Germany, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Germany guides.
Man versus Machine ★ 4.7 · Munich
glockenbachviertel · Müllerstrasse 23, 80469 München
Marco and Cornelia Mehrwald's Man versus Machine in Munich's Glockenbach is the city's most-cited specialty roastery; the Müllerstrasse bar pours their own beans.
Tip: Bring a laptop early; the central table fills up by 10:30 on weekdays.
Five Elephant ★ 4.6 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Reichenberger Strasse 101, 10999 Berlin
Five Elephant in Berlin Kreuzberg has roasted its own beans and pulled the city's reference filter coffee since 2010; the New York-style cheesecake is the second draw.
Tip: The Reichenberger flagship runs all-day; the cheesecake at the counter is the order with the filter pour-over.
The Barn ★ 4.6 · Berlin
mitte · Auguststrasse 58, 10119 Berlin
The Barn on Berlin's Auguststrasse, founded 2010 by Ralf Rueller, runs the city's strict third-wave coffee dogma: no Wi-Fi, no laptops, no milk in espresso, single-origin filter only.
Tip: No Wi-Fi or laptops by policy. The filter pour-over with the bean of the week is the order.
The Barn (Schoenhauser) ★ 4.6 · Berlin
prenzlauer-berg · Schoenhauser Allee 8, 10119 Berlin
The Barn's Schoenhauser flagship in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg runs the city's strictest third-wave filter dogma; no laptops, no Wi-Fi, no milk-based drinks past 11:00.
Tip: Counter seating only, no laptops. The single-origin filter changes every 48 hours; ask the bar staff for today's pour.
Vits der Kaffee ★ 4.6 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Rumfordstrasse 49, 80469 München
Vits in Munich's Gärtnerplatz-quarter is the city's grandfather of third-wave coffee; the V60 brewbar pours single origins from beans roasted in-house.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the carrot cake at the counter is one of the city's best.
Bonanza Coffee Roasters ★ 4.5 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Adalbertstrasse 70, 10999 Berlin
Bonanza Coffee Roasters in Berlin Kreuzberg has helped define the city's third-wave coffee scene since 2006; the Adalbertstrasse roastery-cafe pulls the chain's reference espresso shots.
Tip: No Wi-Fi by policy; the cafe is for drinking, not working. Ask the barista for a flat white.
Concierge Coffee ★ 4.5 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, 10999 Berlin
Concierge Coffee on Berlin's Paul-Lincke-Ufer pulls espresso from a tiny 8-cover counter built into a hotel lobby; the single-origin filter list runs four beans per week.
Tip: 8-cover counter only, no laptop tables. The single-origin filter is the order on a quiet weekday morning.
Double Eye ★ 4.5 · Berlin
schoeneberg · Akazienstrasse 22, 10823 Berlin
Double Eye in Berlin Schoeneberg has pulled the city's reference espresso since 2003; the tiny 6-cover counter has a perpetual morning queue from 08:00 weekdays.
Tip: 6-cover counter only, takeaway is the move. Locals queue daily for the espresso macchiato.
Standl 20 ★ 4.5 · Munich
schwabing · Elisabethplatz, 80796 München
Standl 20 is the coffee stall at Munich's Elisabethmarkt in Schwabing-West; locals pick up flat whites and cinnamon buns from the wooden hatch.
Tip: Closed Sundays and bank holidays; counter only, no work-from-cafe seating.
Café Frischhut (Schmalznudel) ★ 4.5 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Prälat-Zistl-Strasse 8, 80331 München
Café Frischhut, known as Schmalznudel, has fried the namesake sugar-dusted Bavarian doughnut just off Munich's Viktualienmarkt since 1973; pair with filter coffee.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the queue is shortest at 09:00 weekday mornings.
Father Carpenter ★ 4.4 · Berlin
mitte · Muenzstrasse 21, 10178 Berlin
Father Carpenter in Berlin Mitte's courtyard runs a small breakfast and brunch carte from 09:00; the flat white and the smashed-avocado toast are the room's signatures.
Tip: The courtyard terrace is the seating to ask for in summer; the brunch carte from 09:00 runs until 16:00.
Fjord Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Schoenleinstrasse 9, 10967 Berlin
Fjord Coffee Roasters in Berlin Kreuzberg roasts its own beans at the Schoenleinstrasse cafe and runs an all-day brunch carte; the filter coffee and toasted sourdough draw locals.
Tip: The Sunday brunch from 10:00 books out by mid-morning; the filter coffee runs until 17:00 daily.
Silo Coffee ★ 4.4 · Berlin
friedrichshain · Gabriel-Max-Strasse 4, 10245 Berlin
Silo Coffee in Berlin Friedrichshain pulls a tight Australian-style menu of flat whites and brunch plates; the Five Elephant beans run the filter side, the brunch runs until 17:00.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the busy window; arrive before 11:00 for a table on the front terrace.
Cafe Anna Blume ★ 4.4 · Berlin
prenzlauer-berg · Kollwitzstrasse 83, 10435 Berlin
Cafe Anna Blume on Berlin's Kollwitzstrasse runs a flower-shop-and-cafe combo with the city's most famous etagere afternoon tea: three tiers, scones, cakes, the room since 2003.
Tip: Sunday brunch books out two days ahead; the etagere afternoon tea from 14:00 is the room's headline.
Distrikt Coffee ★ 4.3 · Berlin
mitte · Bergstrasse 68, 10115 Berlin
Distrikt Coffee in Berlin Mitte runs a brunch-and-coffee room with Bonanza beans; the eggs benedict and avocado toast plates anchor the brunch carte from 09:00 daily.
Tip: Weekday mornings are the work-friendly window; weekend brunch from 10:00 is busy and walk-in only.
Westberlin ★ 4.3 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Friedrichstrasse 215, 10969 Berlin
Westberlin on Berlin's Friedrichstrasse near Checkpoint Charlie runs a Bonanza-bean coffee room with a magazine-shop wall; the filter side and tartines anchor the all-day carte.
Tip: The magazine shop is the second draw; the filter from 08:00 weekdays runs the morning commuters.
No Fire No Glory ★ 4.3 · Berlin
prenzlauer-berg · Rykestrasse 45, 10405 Berlin
No Fire No Glory in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg near the synagogue runs a specialty espresso bar with a tight food carte; the cheesecake and the chai latte run the afternoon crowd.
Tip: Closed Monday. Saturdays after the Kollwitzmarkt close are the room's quietest afternoons.
Roamers ★ 4.3 · Berlin
neukoelln · Pannierstrasse 64, 12047 Berlin
Roamers in Berlin Neukoelln runs an Australian-style brunch room with avocado toast, the Reuben sandwich, banana bread and a coffee program from Bonanza beans.
Tip: No reservations. Weekend brunch from 11:00 has a 60-minute wait; weekday mornings before 10:00 are quiet.
Kaffee Mitte ★ 4.2 · Berlin
mitte · Hannoversche Strasse 2, 10115 Berlin
Kaffee Mitte on Berlin's Hannoversche Strasse runs a Charite-hospital-adjacent cafe with all-day brunch, Bonanza beans and the cinnamon-roll counter that anchors the room.
Tip: The cinnamon roll out of the oven from 10:30 daily is the bake to ask for; the brunch runs until 16:00.
Café Luitpold ★ 4.2 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Brienner Strasse 11, 80333 München
Café Luitpold on Munich's Brienner Strasse, since 1888, was once Europe's largest coffeehouse; Klee and Kandinsky founded the Blue Rider group here.
Tip: The salon at the back is the quieter work seat; the museum on coffeehouse culture is worth ten minutes.
Café Reitschule ★ 4.0 · Munich
schwabing · Königinstrasse 34, 80802 München
Café Reitschule, west of Munich's English Garden since 1927, looks onto the university riding school's paddock; the brasserie/cafe runs from breakfast to late.
Tip: The terrace seat overlooking the paddock is the room's signature in summer.
Rischart Café am Marienplatz ★ 4.0 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Marienplatz 18, 80331 München
Rischart Café am Marienplatz has anchored the bakery side of Munich's Marienplatz since 1932; the upstairs balcony has the city's best Glockenspiel view.
Tip: Counter is downstairs; head up the stairs to the seated cafe for the Marienplatz view.
Cotidiano Promenadeplatz ★ 4.0 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Maxburgstrasse 4, 80333 München
Cotidiano Promenadeplatz in Munich's Altstadt is the city-centre branch of the Gärtnerplatz original; an all-day cafe pouring specialty coffee with breakfast bowls.
Tip: Weekday breakfast 08:00 to 11:00 is the calmer window; weekend brunch needs a 10:00 arrival.