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The best shopping in Berlin
July 5th 2018
By The Telegraph
From luxury stationary boutiques to artisanal tea stores, Berlin has plenty to offer even the most discerning shoppers. Foodies are especially spoilt for choice, with farmer's markets crammed with the finest local produce and zany chocolatiers. Telegraph Travel's Paul Sullivan provides the ultimate guide to shopping in Berlin
Mitte
R.S.V.
It sells all things stationery, from writing paper and greeting cards to notebooks and calendars, most of them hand-made by small manufacturers and producers intent on conserving old and occasionally moribund techniques. There’s a great selection of writing utensils too, from Caran d’Ache to Koh-I-Noor, and everything is neatly presented in a delightfully minimal interior created by Yolk Studio. A second, larger store selling a slightly broader range of goods is also located across the road.
Address: Mulackstraße 14 + 26
Contact: 0049 30 28094644; rsvp-berlin.de
Opening times: Mon–Sat, 11am-7pm, Sunday closed (both stores)
Prices: £-££
Claudia Skoda
This hip but welcoming space, dominated by a large, central designer table, is one of the flagship stores for veteran Berlin knitwear designer, Claudia Skoda. In the 1970s her designs were worn by the likes of artist Martin Kippenberger and David Bowie but today her clothing, in this shop at least, is mostly made for women. Whether it’s a baggy winter jumper, a figure-hugging dress, or a colourful skirt or scarf, all of the creations here have a chic, timeless appeal and ooze quality. As her motto says: “modern since 1973…”
Contact: 0049 30 400 418 84; claudiaskoda.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat 11.30am-7.30pm
Prices: ££-£££
Charlottenburg
DUBENKROPP Pralinen & Schokoladen
Chocolatier Sabine Dubenkropp is often on-site at her charming pink-hued shop, making sweet treats from her atelier out back. Delectable chocolates made from natural ingredients are meticulously arranged in vitrines and on elegant cabinet shelves, and range from innovative chocolates (truffles with absinthe; dark chocolate with wasabi) and world-class pralines, to a smattering of baked goods and imported varieties. Sabine is often on-site herself (her atelier is out back), and there are a some small pavement chairs if you decide to stay for a coffee or hot chocolate.
Contact: dubenkropp.com
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun, 10am-4.30pm
Prices: ££-£££
Hallesches Haus
Located inside a handsome 19th-century red-brick building that was once a post office (as well as a club), Kreuzberg’s Hallesches Haus offers two good-looking main rooms. The spacious and welcoming café area has designer lamps and tables, vaguely distressed walls and its health-conscious menu of sandwiches, soups and lunch bowls draws a hip crowd. The slick store next door sells an attractive selection of furniture, home accessories and cosmetics: designer trays, glasses and scissors by Hay, designer plant hangers, luxurious hand soap and incense in fragrances like chamomile and juniper.
Contact: hallescheshaus.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm, closed Sunday
Prices: £-££
Prenzlauer Berg
Goldhahn + Sampson
A long-running and much-loved culinary shop loved by Prenzlauer Berg's local foodies. Owned and run by Andreas Klöckner and Sascha Rimkus, it stocks a glamorous array of chocolate, spices, condiments, wines and more from around the world, as well as high-end kitchen utensils. There's also a little deli that sells delicious breads, croissants, meats and cheeses, and a library of around 4,000 cookbooks (many in English) that’s unparalleled in the city. They run cooking classes too.
Contact: 0049 30 28094644; goldhahnundsampson.de
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm. Closed Sunday
Prices: £-££
Kollwitzplatz Market
Named after famed German artist Käthe Kollwitz, the leafy, cobbled streets of Kollwitzplatz are lined by fine 19th-century houses. On Saturdays a farmers' market runs along the Kollwitzstraße side, offering everything from seasonal fruit and veg to flowers, deli food and homemade arts and crafts. The specific stalls change, but you can always find specialist items like fresh, hand-made pastas, boutique chocolates and a variety of artisanal oils, jams and other delicacies from Germany and beyond. There's also plenty to eat, from falafels and fish sandwiches to waffles and the ubiquitous wurst.
Opening times: 8am-5pm, every Saturday
Prices: £-££