A starred restaurant now works in the room that held the first kebab shop in East Berlin: Bandol sur mer on Torstrasse serves a menu for 184 euros, in an interior that comes in part from the former Central Committee of the GDR. The head chef Andreas Saul has cooked here since 2010 and has also held the lease since 2018.
From a French bistro to a starred house
Bandol sur mer sits at Torstrasse 167 in Mitte, a few minutes from Rosenthaler Platz, and the dining room is small and closely set. Its history is the most unusual on this list. The place opened in 2007, founded by the artist Fred Rubin as a classic French bistro, in rooms where the first kebab shop in East Berlin had worked before. Parts of the interior come from the former Central Committee of the GDR, which you would not guess from looking but is worth knowing. In 2010 Andreas Saul arrived as head chef, in 2012 the house moved from bistro service to menus, in 2016 the first Michelin star followed, and since 2018 Saul has run the place as its tenant. In 2023 it was additionally awarded the Green Star for sustainable work. In the warmer part of the year a small terrace is added, and groups of up to nineteen people can be seated. Payment is possible in cash or with all the usual cards.
Fermented, smoked, with Asian accents
The cooking at Bandol sur mer stands on a classic French base but works with techniques better known from the north: drying, smoking and fermenting shape the dishes, and Asian accents keep appearing, kimchi among them. The kitchen is open, so you see what happens. A menu is served for 184 euros, with a vegetarian version for 174 euros alongside it, which is best flagged when booking. A wine pairing and a non-alcoholic pairing are available as well, along with a list of around a hundred and forty entries, a good number of which are poured by the glass. The house keeps no conventional card for ordering individual dishes, though anyone who turns up without a booking and finds a free table can choose single dishes from the menu. Reservations are made online, and by mail from five people upwards. Gault und Millau awards sixteen points, and Michelin lists the house in its highest price category, which makes it the most expensive one-star house on this list.
Top10 Redaktion
Erfahrungsbericht vom 19.10.2026
Price level
The menu costs 184 euros and the vegetarian version 174 euros. Michelin lists the house in its highest price category.
Pairing and wine list
A wine pairing and a non-alcoholic pairing can be booked. The list holds around a hundred and forty entries, about ten of them poured by the glass.
Without a booking
There is no conventional card for ordering individual dishes. Anyone who turns up without a booking and finds a free table can choose single dishes from the menu.
The kitchen
A classic French base joined with drying, smoking and fermenting as well as Asian accents such as kimchi. The kitchen is open.
Awards
One Michelin star since 2016, with the Green Star for sustainable work added in 2023. Gault und Millau sixteen points.
History
Opened in 2007 by the artist Fred Rubin as a French bistro, in the rooms of the first kebab shop in East Berlin. Parts of the interior come from the former Central Committee of the GDR. In 2012 the house moved to menus.
Head chef
Andreas Saul, head chef since 2010 and tenant of the house since 2018.
Groups and terrace
A small terrace is added in the warmer part of the year, and groups of up to nineteen people can be seated.
Reservation
Online through the booking window on the houses own site, and by mail from five people upwards.
Payment
Cash as well as EC, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Transport
Rosenthaler Platz station is within walking distance, and the tram stops there too.
Address and contact
Torstrasse 167, 10115 Berlin, phone 030 67302051.
Opening Hours
- Mon to Fri: 18:30 – 23:00
- Sat + Sun: Closed
