Hafenküche

Waterside Excursion Restaurant: The Hafenküche on Rummelsburg Bay

The location on Rummelsburg Bay is spectacular. The restaurant is situated opposite Plänterwald and the Island of Youth, in Lichtenberg, directly on the Spree riverbank. Anyone arriving here for the first time immediately understands why the Hafenküche is considered one of Berlin’s best waterside excursion restaurants. In harsh winters, the fireplaces warm guests, while in summer, the waterside terrace entices with refreshing drinks.

Behind the project are two experienced restaurateurs. Frederik Grieb was Sous-Chef for three-star chef Dieter Müller on the MS Europa. Mathias Brandweiner was Sommelier at the Waldorf Astoria and Restaurant Manager at Le Faubourg, and was named Host of the Year by the Berliner Meisterköche in his mid-20s. Together, they opened The Pots at the Ritz Carlton before deciding to become self-employed. Today, they run the Hafenküche as their own project. No longer fine dining, but the craftsmanship is evident.

Besides the restaurant, the complex also includes a canteen and Spreedeck, a barbecue area, the houseboat Spreeapartments, the boat rental Spreeboote, and the salon boat GRACE. So, if you want to spend an entire day on the water, this is the perfect place.

What’s on the Menu?

The kitchen works with market-fresh ingredients, classic techniques, fresh herbs, and the best cuts of meat from the open charcoal grill. Whether classic or creative, cooking is done with market-fresh vegetables, home-grown herbs, and regional products.

The menu is divided into starters, intermediate courses, main courses, and grill items. For starters, for example, there’s a wild herb salad with raspberry vinaigrette, salt-baked beetroot and iced Roquefort, or Paolella burrata with marinated tomatoes and coffee-miso vinaigrette. Also as a starter, a fresh salmon and shrimp ceviche, garnished with crunchy passion fruit, coriander, and cucumber, delights. It sounds like summer, but tastes great all year round.

For wine, the Hafenküche relies on hand-picked bottles from France, Austria, and Germany. This is fitting for Mathias Brandweiner, who started as a sommelier. On weekends, breakfast is served from 9 AM, à la carte from 12 PM, and in the evenings, it gets cozy by the fireplace or on the waterfront, with more refined options on the menu. A restaurant visit by the water that is truly worthwhile.