Sly Berlin

Worth getting out of bed for

Step out of Sly Berlin and it seems every street tells a story of Friedrichhain’s Soviet past and friendly, free-spirited present. Top of your cultural check-list: the East Side Gallery, the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, now reclaimed by artists from across the globe with kaleidoscopic political murals. Stick with the street art theme at RAW Tempel, a gritty cultural hub where sporty Berliners skate and boulder between industrial buildings plastered with graffiti and stickers. Up your landmark quota at Oberbaumbrücke, the grand neo-Gothic bridge that once served as a crossing point between East and West Berlin. The boutique-lined streets surrounding Boxhagener Platz are always good for a stroll, but go on Sundays to rifle through the treasure-rich flea market. And for a beech-shaded breather, take a turn about the leafy trails of Volkspark Friedrichshain, the oldest public park in Berlin and, as per local wisdom, prime picnic territory.

Local restaurants

A sustainable farm in the Spreewald Forest powers the menu at Michelberger. Ingredients are foraged, hunted and organically grown, so the menu changes seasonally, but expect hearty treats such as hand-rolled dumplings, wild mushrooms and plenty of field-fresh veg.

Local cafés

Set in an atmospheric old building between old East German apartment blocks, Saaldeck Café and Bar makes a stylish pitstop for a flat white and slice of fresh-baked apfelkuchen.

Local bars

A skip down the street from Sly, Barrel Weinbar is a local-favourite spot with a cellar well-stocked with some of Europe’s finest labels. Inside it’s invitingly rustic, but we’d take a table out in the square – on chilly evenings, you can always order an emmental-loaded flammkuchen to warm the cockles.