Markthalle Neun

Markthalle Neun is a covered market in a listed historic hall in Kreuzberg and one of the best places in Berlin to see how the city eats now. It was one of the municipal market halls built across Berlin in the late nineteenth century to move food trading off the streets. After years of decline the hall was taken over by a group of local people who reopened it as a market for regional producers, small traders and independent food businesses.

During the day the hall works as a neighbourhood market. You will find stalls selling vegetables, cheese, meat, bread and coffee, alongside counters for lunch, and the atmosphere is relaxed and local rather than touristy. It is a good stop for a coffee and a pastry, a quick lunch or picking up picnic supplies on your way to the Landwehr Canal or Görlitzer Park.

The best-known event is Street Food Thursday, held every Thursday evening from 5pm to 10pm, when the hall fills with stalls cooking dishes from around the world and the long tables in the middle are packed with locals and visitors. It is lively, noisy and good fun, and one of the easiest ways to taste a lot of the city's food scene in one evening. The market also hosts regular special events, such as breakfast markets and festivals, which are listed on its website. Arrive early on Thursdays for the widest choice and a seat.

The hall opens Monday to Wednesday from 8am to 8pm, on Thursdays from 8am to 10pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 8pm. It is closed on Sundays. Individual stalls set their own hours, so not every counter is open all day. Most traders take cards, though carrying a little cash is sensible. The hall is at street level and the central aisle is easy to move around, though it can be crowded on Thursday evenings.

The market sits between Eisenbahnstrasse and Pücklerstrasse in the Wrangelkiez. Görlitzer Bahnhof station on the U1 is about five minutes' walk away. The Landwehr Canal, Görlitzer Park and the bars and restaurants around Wrangelstrasse and Oranienstrasse are close by.