Nowkoelln Flowmarkt

This Flohmarkt only occurs once a month takes place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and is one of our favourites so far. There are far less professional market traders selling over-priced handbags and cameras that you find at Mauerpark and Boxhagener. The general fare tends to be people selling their own second hand stuff or crafts people selling hand-made things.

The location is lovely, stretching along the canal, and the atmosphere very cheerful. There are live music acts throughout the day and food stands (which are actually a bit pricey).

Our stall at Nowkoelln Flowmarkt

We have been twice and found some great bargains on both visits. People are willing to haggle and if you're prepared to rummage around then you can get some crazy things for just a few euros.

Nowkoelln is also a good spot to sell your own stuff. Having helped clear out an apartment in our block we had a fair amount of curious items to sell and had a great day standing next to the canal. We made some nice new friends: people were very friendly, despite our inability to count auf Deutsch.

Check the website for the date of the next market: Nowkoelln Flowmarkt. If you want a to have a stand at the market you can either sign up at the proceeding event for a large 3m covered stand, or just turn up on the day with your own table/rail/rug and they come around and collect money off you depending on how much space you have.

Directions: go to Schonleinstr. on the U8, take the exit for Burknerstr., go down Burknerstr. and then keep following the canal until you reach the market.

Berlin Burger International

As a (not very good) vegetarian one thing I have missed is burgers. The trouble with vege-burgers is they lack substance. Too often eating a vege-burger is like eating a porridge sandwich: too soft, too bland, too messy. That's why I was very happy to discover Berlin Burger International.

These burgers are sky-scrapers, piled high with salad and sauce, kept standing with a skewer, and full of flavour. Although nothing will quite match the chewy, meaty goodness of good beef my vegetarian order was by far the best I've ever had. I heard positive noises in regards to the meat options too.

Stacked!

Located at Pannierstr. 5, just round the corner from Hermannplatz. 

La Focacceria

After visiting the Arkonplatz Flohmarkt we were keen to find something nice to eat, and were very happy to stumble across La Focacceria.

The food is simple but delicious, and pretty reasonably priced too. The primary offering is slices of deliciously topped focaccia bread which, once chosen by you, are baked in pizza ovens and served straight to you on a chopping board (very rustic).

The pricing strategy was straight forward, you pay for the number of stücke (pieces) you want. Bulk buys give you cheaper stück. We ordered 5 for €7, and were pleasantly full. For €18 you could get 14 stücke, which we figured would happily satisfy four people for just €4.50 each.

We also saw some very nice looking lasagne and cannelloni being served up for just €3.90 per generous portion.

From some reviews online it sounds like the place can get very busy, though when we were there it was quite calm and we had a nice seat outside. However, if its bursting you can always get take-away.

Closest U-Bahn stop: Rosenthaler Platz (U8) or Bernauer Straße (U8).