15 Restaurants on the Waterfront in Berlin

Even though Berlin is not located by the sea, it is surrounded by water.

There are about 50 lakes in Berlin and the surrounding area, three rivers - the Spree, the Havel, and the Dahme - flow through the city, and eight canals crisscross Berlin.

In the areas surrounding Berlin and Brandenburg, there are many other lakes that are worth a trip. So finding restaurants on the waterfront is no problem in Berlin.

Upscale cuisine in a noble ambience accompanied by a good sip of wine, the view dreamily directed to the water, dignified home cooking in a beer garden atmosphere while the paddle boats pass by, enjoying a drink in the bar of the clubhouse after dining on the sun terrace, or ringing a bell for the ferry to come and pick you up again after dinner… no matter what you have in mind, Berlin has everything to offer.

This small overview should make it easier for you to choose the location you want.

1. Restaurantschiff Patio

Restaurantschiff Patio does not sail on the Spree, but the two-story restaurant ship floats directly on it. The view of the river is incomparable, in the summer from the roof terrace, in cool weather through the glass dome of the winter garden.

The cuisine is regional, high-end, and Italian-inspired, and the ambience is perfectly matched.

Address: Helgoländer Ufer / Kirchstraße in 10557 Berlin- Tiergarten

2. Brecht's Steakhouse

Close to numerous theaters and cabarets directly on Schifferbaudamm is the former home of Bertold Brecht. The sun terrace, which is open all year round, offers an incomparable view of the river.

The kitchen specializes in steaks of all kinds, and the grilled specialties are accompanied by wines from Chile, South Africa, California, and Argentina.

Address: Brecht's Steakhouse, Schiffbauerdamm 7, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

3. Allegretto A Tavola

Dolce Vita on the Spree... Here you can experience Italian lifestyle in the middle of Berlin. The view of the Spree, Museum Island, and the Berlin Cathedral is unique. The ambience is chic but relaxed, the dishes are prepared according to mom's recipes.

Allegretto A Tavola treats its guests to light Italian cuisine. The pizza comes out of the stone oven, the pasta is homemade, and the rich dessert offerings make sure that you are spoiled with choices.

Address: Allegretto A Tavola, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Strasse 2, 10178 Berlin-Mitte

4. Ganymede

In the summer, the terrace offers an unforgettable view of the Spree River, as well as the TV Tower and the Reichstag. The interior is kept in the French style which can also be found in the kitchen. Ganymed offers French cuisine and seafood at the highest culinary level.

It is run in the style of a French brasserie. As in GDR times, when Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, and Helene Weigel went in and out here, guests from politics, business, and the cultural scene meet here today.

Address: Ganymed, Schifferbaudamm 5, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

5. Carl & Sophie

The historic site of the Bolle dairy from 1890 is located in the pedestrian zone in Moabit. This is exactly where you will find Carl & Sophie. In addition to the gorgeous view of the Spree, it also offers an incomparable view of the beautiful Gründerzeit buildings on the other bank of the Spree. The interior, with its old industrial lamps, wooden tables, and wicker armchairs lends a special charm and is completely in the style of the Meierei.

Chef Maico Orso offers modern cuisine influenced by many countries that cannot be pigeonholed. The wines come from Germany and Spain.

Address: Carl & Sophie, Alt-Moabit 99, 10559 Berlin-Moabit

6. RioGrande Restaurant

It lives up to its great name, because if you lift your eyes from your plate, you feel as if you are on board a ship, the terrace seems to be directly on the water and offers an unforgettable view of the Spree and the famous Oberbaum Bridge

The interior of RioGrande in Kreuzberg has a maritime feel, and the old catacombs in which the restaurant is located convey a special flair.

The cuisine is internationally upscale, and the pasta dishes are a particular specialty.

Address: RioGrande, May-Ayim-Ufer 9, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg

7. Spindler & Klatt

This sought-after club restaurant is located in the area of a former army bakery in Kreuzberg. The restaurant floats on a kind of raft directly on the Spree River. The huge terrace is open both in the summer and the winter and is considered one of the most beautiful outdoor areas in Berlin.

From the boat, the view of the Spree is unique and offers the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dinner.

The restaurant directly on the terrace offers pan-Asian cuisine with a European influence.

If you feel like it, you can visit the integrated club after dinner.

Address: Spindler & Klatt, Köpenicker Strasse 16 - 17, 10997 Berlin - Kreuzberg

8. Café on the Neuen See

Even though it's called a café, behind the name lies a country inn directly on the Neuensee in the animal garden, a 2.1 km2 park. In the middle of Berlin, you can sit here under shady trees and enjoy the atmosphere by the water.

The cuisine ranges from hearty regional dishes to interestingly combined international dishes. Right next to it is the beer garden, which serves freshly tapped beer as well as Bavarian and regional specialties.

Address: Café am neuen See, Lichtensteinallee 2, 10787 Berlin-Mitte

9. Fischerman's Restaurant

This fish resturant is located at the Greenwich-Promenade at the Tegeler See, the second largest lake in Berlin. The large sun terrace offers a wonderful view of the lake, where you can watch the boat excursionists. Perhaps you would also like to take a steamboat ride across the lake....

Specializing in fish and seafood, the restaurant offers upscale fish cuisine. The menu includes pike-perch fillet, monkfish, salmon, sea bass, shrimp pan, maties, and much more.

Address: Fischerman's Restaurant, Eisenhammerweg 20, 13507 Berlin-Reinickendorf

10. Köpenicker Seeterrassen

Idyllically situated directly on the banks of the Dahme, a branch of the Spree, the Köpenicker Seeterrassen offer a wonderful view of the river and the castle island. The bay of the Frauentrog, as the landscape is called here, owes its name to the laundresses who used to work here.

If you feel like it, you can rent a boat and sail across the Dahme.

The cuisine is regional, good middle-class, and varied, every Friday there are spare ribs and Saturday you can have breakfast until 2 pm.

Address: Köpenicker Seeterrassen, Müggelheimer Straße 1 A, 12555 Berlin - Köpenick

11. Mutter Lustig

The Mutter Lustig café-restaurant in the Köpenick district welcomes its guests in the midst of a idyll, lush garden and the terrace offers a view of the water. The restaurant is decorated in maritime vintage style and  the atmosphere is cozy.

There are traditional German dishes and rich breakfast platters. If you feel like it, you can take a trip on the lake in one of the historic paddleboats, which are rented by the hour at the dock right in front of the building.

Address: Mother Lustig, Müggelheimer Strasse 1, 12555 Berlin - Köpenick

12. Insel Lindwerder

Vacation atmosphere in the middle of Berlin.....  Lindwerder Island is located in the Havel River and can only be reached by ferry from the eastern bank of the Havel River in Berlin's Grunewald Forest.

The crossing takes only a few minutes and is operated by a private passenger ferry, which runs when needed and can be called with the bell.

The idyllic excursion restaurant on the island offers German cuisine as well as numerous fish dishes.

Address: Insel Lindwerder, Havelchaussee 1, 14193 Berlin - Zehlendorf

13. Wannseeterrassen

Since 1937, the Wannseeterrassen in Berlin have been known as a legendary picnic spot with one of the most phenomenal views of the great Wannsee. They burned down several times and were last reopened in 2015 after a complete restoration.

The restaurant, bar, café, pastry shop, and beer garden can accommodate a total of 850 guests. There are dishes from the cuisine of Germany and Berlin on the menu, which is slightly influenced by France.

Address: Wannseeterrassen, Wannseebadweg 35, 14129 Berlin

14. Freischwimmer in Kreuzberg

A small staircase leads to the old boat rental, which houses the Freischwimmer in Kreuzberger flood gate. The atmosphere at sunset is unparalleled, and guests can enjoy the fantastic view of the Spree from the jetty.

The interior is rustic cozy with wood, the cuisine is international, the dishes are prepared in front of the guests.

Address: Vor dem Schlesischen Tor 2a, 10997 Berlin

15. Fischerhütte on the Schlachtensee

This idyllic historic inn is located directly on the Schlachtensee. From the terrace you have an incomparable view of the lake The cuisine is upscale bourgeois.

On weekends, guests can expect a hearty brunch. The exquisite wines can be purchased in the restaurant's wine shop.

Address: Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee, Fischerhüttenstrasse 136, 14163 Berlin-Zehlendorf

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