ALIBABA BISTRO

Snack Bar on Rochstraße between Alex and Volksbühne

ALIBABA BISTRO is located at Rochstraße 14E in Mitte, in a quiet section between Alexanderplatz and Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. The walk from U-Bahn station Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz takes less than five minutes, and from S- and U-Bahn station Alexanderplatz it’s just under ten. Apartment buildings surround it, and a few steps further begin the Volksbühne, Torstraße, and the nightlife district around Hackescher Markt. This very location explains its operation: anyone out and about in Mitte will almost inevitably end up here on the way back, because the street forms the connection between the clubs in the north and the train stations in the south. From the outside, the place is simple; inside, there are a few tables, but the majority of guests take their food to go. Parking spaces are scarce in this area, but almost every line passing through Mitte stops nearby. Rochstraße itself is short and connects Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße with Neue Schönhauser Straße, two axes where most of the evening crowd in Mitte can be found. Those coming from Hackescher Markt will walk less than ten minutes.

Döner, Kebab, and Fries without a Closing Time

The menu features döner, kebab, and fries, along with the usual side dishes and drinks. Pricewise, almost everything remains in the single-digit euro range, meaning a full meal costs less than a cocktail in the bars next door. Orders are placed at the counter, eaten on-site or on the go, with pickup and delivery also available. The real difference from the many other snack bars in the area is that ALIBABA BISTRO’s kitchen never stops: there’s no hour when the grill stays cold, and that’s why the place is just as busy at four in the morning as it is in the early evening. The clientele mixes accordingly: guests on their way home, drivers on shift, employees from surrounding hotels. If you’re looking for a quiet meal, it’s better to come in the afternoon; if you want to experience Berlin’s nightlife from its hungry side, come later. Orders still go out even when the kitchens of surrounding restaurants have long been cold, making the place a fixture for delivery runs. If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s best to try the classic döner, by which the establishment must be measured.