Tim Raue

Restaurant Tim Raue is the flagship of one of Germany's best-known chefs, and it holds two Michelin stars. Tim Raue grew up in Kreuzberg, and his restaurant sits just a few streets from Checkpoint Charlie in a building on Rudi-Dutschke-Strasse. The restaurant's own motto is that, in the end, it is all about wanting to lick the plate, which sums up its focus on intense, memorable flavour.

The cooking draws heavily on Asian cuisines, especially Japanese, Thai and Chinese, combined with European technique and top-quality produce. Dishes are known for their balance of sweetness, acidity, spice and umami rather than for heavy sauces, and the menu changes with the seasons. Dinner is served as a tasting menu, with matching wine and non-alcoholic pairings available. Check the restaurant's website for current menus and prices before booking, as these change.

The dining room is modern and relaxed for a restaurant of this level, with a warm atmosphere and attentive, unstuffy service. It suits food lovers celebrating a special occasion, couples and anyone keen to try one of Berlin's most talked-about kitchens. Allow most of the evening for the full menu. Let the restaurant know about allergies and dietary requirements when you book, so the kitchen can plan.

The restaurant is open in the evening only, from Tuesday to Thursday from 6pm to midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to midnight. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Reservations are essential and are best made well in advance, particularly for weekends. Smart casual dress is appropriate.

Tim Raue is also well known in Germany through television and books, and his restaurant has appeared on international lists of the world's best restaurants, so tables are in demand from food lovers around the world. Despite the profile, the experience is focused on flavour and hospitality rather than formality. If you are unsure whether a full tasting menu is for you, read the current menu on the website before booking, and tell the team when you arrive if you have any preferences, as they are used to tailoring the evening.

Kochstrasse station on the U6 is a few minutes' walk away. Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror are nearby, the Jewish Museum Berlin is about ten minutes on foot, and the Gendarmenmarkt is around fifteen minutes to the north. Nobelhart & Schmutzig, another of Berlin's leading restaurants, is close by on Friedrichstrasse.