A Day With Robert Rieger in Berlin
A Day With Robert Rieger in Berlin
A photographer's route through the city, from brunch to late-night drinks
Name:
Robert Rieger
Photography:
Robert Rieger, Rory Gaylor
Robert Rieger is a Berlin-based photographer whose work spans editorial, architecture and design. He moved to the city straight after his studies and has made it his home ever since. His eye for architecture and interiors shapes the way he moves through Berlin. We asked him to map out a day across his favourite spots in the city.
Berlin in his words
Berlin has something for everyone, quiet classical places and loud alternative ones, often on the same street. What makes the city special to him is the cultural breadth and the people he meets through it. Compared to London or Paris, it still feels less crowded, even at the popular spots. His advice for anyone visiting: take your time, move through different neighbourhoods and spend a moment with the city's history. To find calm without leaving, he heads to the Grunewald, the Südparkgelände or the Botanical Garden.
Morning: Onette
I'm usually there right when they open to get a good seat on the weekend. I like the concept of an American diner with a Brandenburg-Berlin twist. I come mostly for breakfast or brunch, like you would at a classic diner, and to watch people come and go.
Late morning: Goldener Hirsch
It feels a bit like a square in Paris. Older people play boules, children run around the fountain, and the lawn between the Goldener Hirsch and the beautiful Rathaus Schöneberg U-Bahn station is used for yoga, ball games and picnics. Right by the fountain is Laax, a garden café and beer garden laid out like a small park, with all kinds of seating scattered across the green.
Lunch: OKA Nigiri
Since I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing chef Kaoru Iriyama, I keep coming back. Her dedication and deep knowledge of Japanese cuisine are remarkable. If you visit, try to get into a conversation with her about Japan. The interior by London's Bureau Brinkworth is worth the visit on its own. And don't underestimate the onigiri: they fill you up faster than you'd expect.
Afternoon: Georg Kolbe Museum
It's a bit out of the way, but definitely worth the trip. Quietly set in Westend, near the iconic Corbusier building, you get the architecturally striking Kolbe house and the surrounding park. The exhibitions rotate, but the architecture alone makes a visit worthwhile. Afterwards, stop by Café Benjamine in Kolbe's former residential building.
Late afternoon: Funkturm
The view from the Funkturm is at least as good as the one from the Fernsehturm. From 126 metres up, on the grounds of the futuristic ICC trade fair complex, you look out across the whole city. Before heading up, it's worth walking the ICC grounds themselves.
Dinner: NaNum
Opposite the Jewish Museum, NaNum is run by Jinok Kim and her husband Dirk. Kim originally came to Berlin as an opera singer and founded the restaurant with a clear focus on traditional Korean fermentation techniques, kimchi, garum and more.
Evening: Pluto
Run by the team behind Otto and Trio, this bar in Prenzlauer Berg is another great spot for going out. Alongside drinks, there's a small selection of food.
Explore Robert's picks on Google Maps:
A photographer's route through the city, from weekend brunch at Onette to late-night drinks at Pluto. Seven personal picks across the city.
Discover more places like these in the VISUALPLEASURE Berlin City Guide. Over 100 curated venues with a custom Google Map.
