Where to eat, sleep and play in Germany's capital of cool

Big Breaks

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Where to stay in Berlin

Circus Hostel: You can choose between dorm-style or private rooms. Dorm beds cost from €15 and are fun if you go with a group (note: no hen or stag parties allowed). The staff are ever so friendly and speak lots of languages, including perfect English. They also have lots of money-saving tips, including a weekend metro card that gets you and a friend unlimited travel on the S and U Bahn. The hostel is in Mitte in central Berlin, not too far from most sights and easy walking distance to funky areas such as Prenzlauer Berg. Oh, and they do a great all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast for only €5!

Hotel Otto

This hotel is a real find, tucked away in the leafy suburb of Charlottenburg. It is a 10-minute walk from Savignyplatz station with its direct link to Schoenfeld airport. The room is large, clean and has a useful folder with loads of information about the hotel, the area and Berlin itself.

* Where to eat

Maru: Maru is a small and cosy Korean restaurant which offers quality sushi. You’ll get a good portion of ‘nigiri’ for about £5 and they serve food until midnight. Korean sushi is a nice option, if you don’t like the typical Japanese sour rice; it comes with a well-flavoured smooth sauce. It is a place to meet for a date, as well as for a business lunch.

Die Zwölf Apostel: An amazing restaurant on Bleibtreustrasse. ‘The Twelve Apostles’ introduced Berlin to 12 types of pizza named for the 12 apostles. The most popular version is the Judas. It is always very popular, so booking is recommended.

* What to do

Bauhaus-Archiv museum: The Bauhaus-Archiv is a must see for any design/architecture fan. The collection is limited but quality. They have a great range of Bauhaus posters on sale starting from €5 (a bargain) and the shop is full of gorgeous items classic and contemporary. The cafe’s good too — lots of healthy choices.

Alternative Berlin tour: This outstanding tour takes you to places you would never find yourself. Loads of street art, scorching graffiti, abandoned places, funky shops, markets, hidden neighbourhoods and cultural icons. These are the places locals go to. You’ll hardly see a tourist all day. They offer brilliant night tours as well: bars/clubs/secret spots. These guys know their stuff. (alternativeberlin.com)