Old West Berlin: Tim Raue's KaDeWe gastronomy floor, Cordobar around the corner, hotel bars at the Waldorf Astoria, and the old-money restaurants of Savignyplatz.
The Duc Ngo's 893 Ryotei on Berlin's Kantstrasse cooks a Japanese-Peruvian izakaya menu with a sushi counter; the dining room runs late and the bar serves until 02:00.
Signature: Yellowtail sashimi, Black-cod miso
Order: The yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle, the black-cod miso, and the chef sushi omakase.
Tip: The bar counter for omakase is the room's best seating; book it eight weeks ahead via the website.
The Duc Ngo's 893 Ryotei on Berlin's Kantstrasse cooks Japanese-Peruvian izakaya plates and runs a sushi counter; the dining room serves until late.
Signature: Yellowtail sashimi, Black-cod miso
Order: The yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle, the black-cod miso, and the chef sushi omakase.
Tip: Bar counter for omakase is the best seating; book eight weeks ahead via the website.
Rogacki on Berlin's Wilmersdorfer Strasse has run a counter-style deli since 1932 with smoked fish, eel, sausages and the standing Aalsuppe bowl locals queue for daily.
Signature: Eel sandwich, Aalsuppe (eel soup)
Order: The smoked eel sandwich and the Aalsuppe (eel soup) at the standing counter.
Tip: Counter-only, no reservations. Closed Sunday. Aalsuppe runs daily from 11:00.
Brotgarten on Berlin's Seelingstrasse in Charlottenburg has baked organic German breads, rolls and Pfannkuchen since 1986; the New Year's Eve Pfannkuchen queue is a city ritual.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The Pfannkuchen from October through Silvester is the seasonal headline; bake out by 12:00.
Worth the queue: Berliner Pfannkuchen
Viniculture on Berlin's Grolmanstrasse in Charlottenburg runs the city's biodynamic-Italian and Sicilian-wine specialist; the Etna and Mount Etna pours anchor the by-the-glass list.
Signature pour: Cornelissen Etna Rosso by the glass
Wine focus: French and Italian biodynamic wines
Food: Cheese and charcuterie boards
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bar from 18:00 is the easier seating than the tables; cheese board is the order.
Bar am Steinplatz at the Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin Charlottenburg runs a German-gin-focused cocktail program; the room sits on the corner of Hardenbergstrasse and Steinplatz.
Signature drink: Berlin Gin cocktails
Food: Snacks and small plates
Tip: Hotel bar with terrace seating in summer. The Berlin-Gin flight from local distilleries is the order.
The Rogacki standing counter in Charlottenburg has served smoked eel sandwiches and hot Aalsuppe since 1932. Order at the fish counter and eat standing; the eel is smoked on the premises.
Try: Smoked eel sandwich and Aalsuppe
Rogacki's standing counter in Charlottenburg serves an eel sandwich and a hot Aalsuppe at prices that make it one of the city's best-value fish lunches since 1932. No seats; eat at the rail counter.
Try: Eel sandwich and Aalsuppe (eel soup)
Diener Tattersall in Charlottenburg is a hunting-scene-panelled bar open until 02:00 since ex-boxer Franz Diener took it over in 1954. Simple Berlin tavern plates, a long beer list and a crowd that includes artists, journalists and regulars.
Try: Berlin tavern food: Klopse, lentil stew, sausage and kraut