ocelot, not just another bookstore

ocelot on Brunnenstraße in Mitte is an independent bookstore with a café and large windows overlooking Volkspark am Weinberg. The shelves feature literary fiction, poetry, English titles, and many small publishers, while a La-Marzocco machine graces the counter. For this reading café in Berlin-Mitte, it means: come early, as the few tables fill up quickly.

ocelot, not just another bookstore: Bookstore with a Café at Weinbergspark

The ocelot bookstore at Brunnenstraße 181 in Mitte has existed since around 2012, and since December 2023, Cecilia Drain has been managing it alone. The store is located in Brunnenhof, a few steps from Rosenthaler Platz, and has large windows overlooking Volkspark am Weinberg. Across approximately 265 square meters, you’ll find literary fiction, poetry, and many titles from independent publishers, along with an English-language section and a large children’s book section. In the café, a La-Marzocco espresso machine is at work, and people read, work, and discuss books at three large and one small table.

Author Evenings, Reading Circle, and Publisher Premieres

Approximately once a month, there’s an author evening, usually in German, sometimes in English. Every six to eight weeks, a reading circle meets to discuss a book together. In autumn 2026, the program includes an evening on Czech literature in translation and the autumn premiere of Verlagshaus Berlin, whose poetry volumes are also well-represented on the shelves. Since the few tables in the café are often quickly occupied, it’s worth coming early or taking your coffee with a new book to Weinbergspark across the street.