Rutz

Rutz is the restaurant at the top of Berlin's fine-dining scene. Run by chef Marco Müller, it has held three Michelin stars since 2020, making it the first restaurant in the city to reach the highest level of the guide, and it has also held a green Michelin star for sustainability since 2022. Rutz began life as a wine bar on Chausseestrasse in Mitte and still has wine at its heart, and in 2026 it is marking its twenty-fifth year.

Müller's cooking is built around a philosophy he calls Nature and Aroma. The tasting menu, presented as his inspirations menu, changes with the seasons and focuses on the natural flavours and aromas of carefully sourced produce. The full menu runs to around a dozen courses, and a vegetarian version is available. Wine pairings are a highlight, reflecting the restaurant's roots, and non-alcoholic pairings are also offered. Check current menus and prices on the website before booking.

A dinner at Rutz is a long, carefully paced evening, and it suits diners celebrating a special occasion or travelling specifically for food. Service is polished and knowledgeable. Let the restaurant know about allergies or dietary needs in advance, as the kitchen prepares for each service.

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 6pm, with the last reservation at 7.30pm, and it is closed at weekends. Reservations are essential and should be made well ahead, as tables are limited. Allow three hours or more for the full menu, and dress in smart casual or smarter clothes.

For many visitors, a meal at Rutz is the main reason for a trip to Berlin, so plan your booking as early as you can, and keep in mind that the restaurant does not open at weekends. If you are new to tasting menus, the team will explain each course, and you can discuss the drinks pairings with the sommeliers rather than choosing from a long list yourself. Because the menu follows the seasons, returning at a different time of year brings a quite different set of dishes and aromas.

Rutz is a few minutes' walk from Oranienburger Tor station on the U6, at the northern end of Friedrichstrasse. Nearby are the Brecht House, the Dorotheenstadt cemetery where Brecht and Hegel are buried, and the streets of the Spandauer Vorstadt, while the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse is about fifteen minutes away on foot.