Tuesdays and Fridays only.
Discover Local Berlin: What to Do Around Mercure Berlin
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Berlin, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the East Side Gallery, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Curry 36, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Berlin in 5 picks
Marheineke Markthalle
a restored 1891 market hall in Kreuzberg, for cheese, bread and charcuterie from local producers.
Turkish Market at Maybachufer
Tuesdays and Fridays only — the city's largest, for fresh produce and fresh-pressed juice.
Winterfeldtmarkt
Wednesday and Saturday mornings, further off the tourist trail than Mitte's bigger names.
Gleisdreieck Park
six minutes from your hotel, a community-built green space where Berliners actually spend their Sunday.
Kreuzberg's backstreets
skip Checkpoint Charlie for the neighbourhood that gives Berlin its reputation.
Explore Berlin's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Berlin
We've mapped local spots in Berlin, from the longest surviving stretch of the Wall to the city's favourite currywurst.
History & art
East Side Gallery
At 1,316 metres, the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, on the Spree in Friedrichshain. After the Wall fell, 118 artists from 21 countries painted it, and it opened as an open-air gallery in 1990. Walk its length and read the messages of hope.
Friedrichshain · Open-air gallery · Perfect for history and street art
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Built between 1891 and 1895 on Kurfürstendamm and badly damaged in the Second World War, its broken tower now stands as a memorial against war. Look out for events in and around the church, such as summer jazz nights.
Kurfürstendamm · Church and memorial · Ideal for history
Urban Nation Museum
Opened in 2017 in what's often called Germany's graffiti capital, this museum celebrates and preserves street art and urban photography, tracing how urban art grew up.
Schöneberg · Museum · Made for street art
Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart
In the former terminus of the Berlin–Hamburg railway, one of the world's largest public collections of contemporary art, part of the National Gallery. Head to the west wing for Joseph Beuys' large-scale works.
Moabit · Contemporary art museum · Perfect for modern art lovers
Food
Hasir restaurants
Founded in Kreuzberg in 1970, Hasir is said to be where the classic döner kebab was born. The family now runs restaurants across Berlin – order the Saksuka or the Halep Kebap.
Kreuzberg, Mitte, Charlottenburg and more · Turkish restaurant · Made for kebab lovers
Curry 36
Curry 36 has served currywurst since 1981, and it's a favourite with Berlin's taxi drivers. Classic, organic or vegan – take your pick at the no-nonsense stand on Mehringdamm.
Kreuzberg, Mehringdamm · Snack bar · Great for a quick bite
Monkey Bar, Bikini Berlin
A rooftop cocktail bar with sweeping views over Berlin and the zoo – one of the city's favourite spots for a sundowner. Hungry? NENI on the same floor serves international dishes.
Charlottenburg · Rooftop bar · Perfect for sunset drinks
FAQ
No — like most market halls, it closes Sunday and Monday.
A short walk.
The East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain is the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, at 1,316 metres, covered with murals painted by 118 artists after the Wall fell.
Curry 36 on Mehringdamm in Kreuzberg has served currywurst since 1981 and is a favourite with Berlin taxi drivers. It offers classic, organic and vegan versions.
Visit Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart in Moabit, one of the world's largest public collections of contemporary art, or the Urban Nation Museum for street art.
Where to sleep
These Mercure hotels appear on our map:
- Mercure Hotel Berlin City West
- Mercure Hotel Berlin Mitte
- Mercure Hotel Berlin Tempelhof
- Mercure Berlin Checkpoint Charlie
- Mercure Chateau Berlin am Kurfuerstendamm
- Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin
- Mercure Hotel Berlin City
- Mercure Hotel Berlin Wittenbergplatz
- Mercure Hotel Berlin Zentrum