Monet Bistro

Monet Bistro: French Country Cuisine on Grünberger Straße

Monet Bistro is located at Grünberger Straße 40 in Friedrichshain, two blocks from Boxhagener Platz. It’s about a seven-minute walk to Warschauer Straße, and tram lines M10 and M13 stop one block away. In good weather, a few bistro tables are set up under the awning on the sidewalk. Dogs are allowed in the dining room. Boxhagener Platz itself, with its weekly market, cafes, and late-night shops all around, is one of the neighborhood’s centers, and Grünberger Straße is just far enough away that it remains quiet outside the door.

The name refers to Claude Monet, his garden in Giverny, and old household cookbooks from which the establishment draws inspiration. Modern French country cuisine is served on a short menu that changes with the seasons and always includes vegetarian and vegan dishes. For private evenings, the entire bistro can be booked for up to 20 guests, including the open kitchen, wine cellar, and cocktails.

Open Kitchen, Entrecôte, and a Cellar Full of Small Vintners

The room is small and intimate, the light is warm, the kitchen is openly visible, and there are only a few tables. The wine cellar is built around small producers, primarily from France. Eight wines are continuously available by the glass, including a Champagne Bauchet Origine, a Crémant de Loire, and a Chablis from Baudoin Millet. Additionally, there are seasonal cocktails such as a Bistro Martini, a French Negroni, and an alcohol-free Spritz.

The menu starts small, with olives, bread and butter, a cheese platter, and French onion soup with Comté. It continues with Beef Tartare with cured egg yolk, vegan Panisses, a Tomate farcie au Chèvre, and oysters. For the main course, Rôti d’entrecôte for 36 Euros and Coquelet rôti for 32 Euros are on the menu, served with French fries or a side salad. To finish, there’s Mousse au Chocolat or a Crème Brûlée with lavender. On weekends, it’s very busy, so a reservation one to two weeks in advance is recommended.