Downtown Walk, 8 Tastings

Overview

Eight tastings anchor this walk through Berlin's bohemian centre, run by Secret Food Tours over three hours in English. It starts with the city's best known street food, a döner kebab from a place with a strong local reputation, served with a beer. Currywurst follows, then a traditional German pastry from a bakery, before the tour settles into a historic restaurant for Biergarten classics with a choice of Riesling or German beer. A stop at a local brewery adds tap beer, and one dish stays a secret until the day itself.

Food is only half of it. The route runs through narrow streets, hidden courtyards and past street art, and the guide layers in history from wartime damage to the Soviet era as the group walks. Recent reviewers repeatedly single out this mix, saying the guides know both the city's history and the history of its food, and that the pace leaves time to digest between stops.

It suits hungry visitors who want to eat their way through the city's classic dishes while learning its history along the route. Families have taken it with teenagers and enjoyed it, and portions are generous enough that one reviewer advised going on an empty stomach. Come with comfortable shoes: the listing warns the tour involves a fair amount of walking.

Itinerary

1. Meet at BurgstraßeThe tour starts at Burgstraße 19, 10178 Berlin. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point.
2. Döner kebab and beerThe first tasting is Berlin's famous street food, a döner kebab from a legendary local spot, paired with a beer.
3. Currywurst stopThe group tries currywurst, the postwar dish that became a Berlin icon.
4. Streets, courtyards and pastryWalking through narrow streets and secret passageways, the tour stops at a local bakery for a traditional German pastry.
5. Historic restaurantBiergarten classics are served at a historic restaurant, with a choice of a glass of German Riesling or a classic German beer.
6. Local breweryThe group steps into a local brewery for tap beer while the guide covers stories from Berlin's past.
7. Secret DishA surprise Secret Dish is served, revealed only on the day of the tour.

Common Questions