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Tornado Wallace's Guide to the Best Breakfasts in Berlin

Start your day by getting Frühstück in the party capital.

In collaboration with Jägermeister.

When you live in Berlin, you could be forgiven for sometimes forgetting that you live in Germany and not just some freaky-deeky pirate island out in international waters. Whether it's the diverse multiculturalism, the bohemian edge, or the pirates themselves, it can feel a world away from the lush countrysides, the Bavarian beer gardens and the financial epicenters found among the usual German cliches. So the occasional glimpse of something more traditional is always a friendly reminder that you're in the land that brought you Club Mate, Krautrock and Kommissar Rex.

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My favourite reminder comes in the form of Frühstück - or "breakfast" to those English speakers not in a hurry to pronounce one of German's hardest words. A typical Früschy consists of a variety of cheeses, cold meats, bread rolls and perhaps a boiled egg and some fruit for good measure. Everything you'd want to start a day with if that's how you happen to like to start your day. Here are some places that I regularly visit that do this a cut above the rest:

Bateau Ivre
Oranienstraße is the artery that runs through Kreuzberg, filled with lots of cafes, bars and shops. So it's only appropriate to sit at Bateau Ivre and stuff your silly mouth with delicious European cheeses until your arteries are as clogged as Oranienstrasse. Life watching is particularly special here so try get a seat outside (not so easy when the sun is out), and watch the madness unfold.

Kreuzberg - Oranienstraße 18

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Salon Schmück
Here there are a lot of options on the menu, just in case your boringly unadventurous friends can't get down with a traditional vibe. But they can still whip out a classic Frühstück to rival the most hyped cafes in Berlin.

Kreuzberg - Skalitzer Straße, 80

Zur Rose
This is included because I realised that most of my favourite Frühstück places happen to lie awfully close to each other, which is more to do with the area I spend most of my time in than any other anomaly. Nevertheless, it's inclusion is justified as I have found myself on the occasion wandering back to this little haunt in Mitte after a pleasing debut several years ago. With a nice front area to people-watch in the summer months, and a cosy interior for winter, it makes for a great local cafe/bar to escape without escaping from the bustle of Rosenthaler Platz.

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Mitte - Weinbergsweg 26

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@natistar8Kaffeehaus KuchenRausch

Friedrichshain can sometimes be a bit tricky to navigate. There are some nice stores, restaurants and bars but they are generally surrounded by the same places targeting backpackers and bucks parties. KuchenRausch is in the thick of the bullshit but delivers the goods when it comes to a good ole no gimmick Frühstück, which is oddly rare for the area.

Friedrichshain - Simon-Dach-Straße 1

Bastard
This place takes the number one spot on account of the straight up quality of the produce offered and maybe it's proximity to my house. An extra degree of care is taken when it comes to Frühstück preparation at Bastard and it can be witnessed by both eye and tongue. Big plates full of amazing cheeses, wurst, fruits and spreads fill the table and the tummy. Check the opening times before you leave the house though as some days they are shut. I still haven't worked out when and I've been caught out several times, once with a group of unhappy friends who cycled there in the rain. It still plagues my conscience.

Reichenberger Straße, 122

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