Nathanja & Heinrich

Nathanja & Heinrich: Corner Cafe and Trendy Bar in Reuterkiez

Nathanja & Heinrich is located at Weichselstraße 44, a side street off the heavily frequented Weserstraße, and it benefits precisely from this. The corner is quieter, yet the wooden benches against the wall are quickly occupied in summer. The name is not an agency’s idea, but is composed of the first names of the two managing directors, Nathanja Smeers and Heinrich Lautenschläger. The green facade of the corner establishment is visible from afar on Weichselstraße, and on warm evenings, the large windows are open.

The establishment is spread across three rooms with high ceilings: the main room with the bar, an adjoining room with additional seating, and the outdoor seats against the house wall. There is a smoking and a non-smoking area, and because the ceilings are so high and the ventilation is good, the air remains more tolerable than in comparable Neukölln venues. Reservations can be made online, which noticeably helps on busy evenings. Reservations can be made online, and live music is regularly played in the spacious room with the unplastered walls.

Dips, Halloumi Döner and Martinis at the Counter

More food is eaten here than in most bars. The menu features a changing sandwich of the day for 8 Euros, homemade focaccia, Nocellara olives, and a cheese platter with aged goat cheese. The dips are served as a series; five pieces cost significantly less than five ordered individually, and each comes with focaccia. For 12 Euros, there is also a vegan charcuterie board made of smoked and cured root vegetables.

As dusk falls, the operation shifts towards the counter. The Martini is the real star of the house, clean and crisp cold, alongside a considerable wine selection and a cocktail menu that is unpretentious. In addition, there are evening specials like the Halloumi Döner, available individually or in a pack of three. This mix of cafe, kitchen, and bar makes Nathanja & Heinrich one of the most reliable trendy bars in Neukölln. From the kitchen come mainly small plates: Dips are available in one variety for 5.50 Euros and in five varieties for 24 Euros, plus Halloumi Döner, Cauliflower Wings, and homemade Focaccia.