We’re well known for making all our customers’ desires come true (as long as they’re not too naughty… but even then… ah, the memories). However, when our friends from a hotelsoftware company asked if we could provide them with a cool cooking class, we had to say no… because honestly, cooking classes are boring. Unfortunately we don’t have “boring” on the menu. You can hardly switch the TV on without seeing a stressful kitchen chef competition, so we considered this trend and created a reality tv show activity where we put our guests into a similiar situation with cameras broad casting live. Berlinagenten’s first Kitchen battle was born.
The facts: rough industrial location, 6 high class chefs as supervisors, a camera team, a selfbuilt street food market, a stage, vast amounts of beverages and 50 clueless participants who had no idea what was coming to them. We warmed our guests up with Currywurst and Champagne in the gourmet supermarket Frische Paradies before unveiling the big surprise. Today, you become the chefs!
The rules were easy. 4 groups, 4 courses (and a live quiz show, just to spice things up). Each group cooked one course and in the end everyone got to vote for their favourite dish (that wasn’t from the own group). The points from the voting and the quiz show combined would determine the grand winner.
And so the battle began. The teams followed the instructions of their chef leaders, foremost the Gebrüder Eggert, two sexy chefs from Berlin with beards and beers, whose main task it was to observe and make witty comments. Soon each kitchen stall was full of activity and buzz. There was laughter, drinks, mingling, handicraft food work and even spying.. Every team was absolutely smashing it, giving their everything to cook the best food and to beat the other groups. In the end the starter course – a lovely chevice – made the race for the top, followed by an amazing salad, handmade strudes and last but not least – a tasty Berlin burger.
If you’re looking for extra ordinary events, give us a call. From tasty to taboo, Berlinagenten makes anything possible. Guten Appetit!
Image movies are a tricky thing. Even with best intentions, they sometimes end up being as enjoyable as a ride on a crowded S-Bahn at 30°C. In a stroke of genius, Swedish airline SAS’ PR agency contacted us to help with the SAS image movie for Berlin. Berlinagenten has been living next to the city’s creative pulse for 15 years now and we know just what puts the enthusiasm on our visitors’ faces: the legendary, one of a kind nightlife.
There are venues in Berlin opened non-stop from Friday night to Monday evening, sometimes longer. Parties on any day of the week, absolutely no curfew, spontaneous open air parties, inexpensive drinks and a surplus of amazing nightlife locations. The fun literally never stops in Berlin. So, what better way to showcase Berlin’s virtues to the world than by conquering its nightlife in an epic 3 hour ride?
Long story short. We set off for an epic with a film team that didn’t know what was coming to them. Doors flew open, smiles were flashed and we got naughty. Here’s the video. Enjoy.
Berlin has given birth to cutting edge startups like SoundCloud (read our interview with SoundCloud CTO Eric Wahlforss here), Zalando or Delivery Hero, all taking international markets by storm. In Berlin’s creative sphere ideas arise in all forms and places. Sometimes you dream of the next big thing while having a beer with a stranger at Sisyphos and sometimes the ideas are born and cultivated in the shaded offices of creative agencies. A new trend promises to even further enrich the creative minds roaming the Capital: Co-working spaces.
The idea is as simple as it is genius: you share a vast, open office space with other professionals, often whole companies. It’s a fundamentally new approach to our relationship with work. Co-workers work in an environment that is based on community-building and sustainability. You share your experience with others, and in return you can build on their experience. You generate a network of skill and knowledge around you that’ll help you and your company grow and create a whole new flow of creativity. How cool is that?
Over the last few years the co-working concept has come of age. We selected some of Berlin’s coolest co-working spaces for you to check out.
Factory Factory is the pulsing heart of Berlin’s creative scene. It’s home to SoundCloud, Twitter, 6Wunderkinder and more stars of Berlin’s start up sector. It creates the perfect environment to focus, meet, chat and relax. They also offer lunch yoga (not quite sure if that means doing Yoga while eating or afterwards), end of the week drinks (quite sure what that means) and cozy afterhours on the spacy outside terrace. The design is easy-going and has made many a worker forget that he’s at work at all. Go to Factory
Mindspace Mindspace opened in The Q shopping center in Mitte last month and is the brainchild of two entrepreneurs from Tel-Aviv, who’ve opened Mindspaces both in their hometown as well as Berlin and Hamburg. At Mindspace class and unpretentious style fuses to create a creative surrounding with flexible office sizes depending on your personal requirements. They’re one of the best looking spaces in the field. Go to Mindspace
Betahaus Betahaus is the only space who also offer a hardware lab & woodshop. That means you can design your ideas in the co-working areas and get right to frankensteining them to life in the lab, before blowing your hat off at one of the community events. Which is a nice way to describe free beers on Thursdays at “betabeer”. The design is nice and clean and lures companies from all different sectors. Go to Betahaus
Unicorn WORK EAT MEAT. No, wait. WORK EAT MEET. Yeah, that’s the one. At Unicorn sophisticated and minimalistic interior meets healthy, green, freshly-prepared food and delicious coffee. The focus at Unicorn is to combine the benefits of co-working with health-conscious food, putting them apart from the other co-coworking spaces thanks to their amazing food concept. If you’re someone who gets hungry at work a lot, Unicorn definitely is a great choice. Go to Unicorn
Ahoy Likeable and relatively minimalistic design, described as “nautical” (hence the name). Ahoy considers co-working as a lifestyle and puts networking on the throne of the co-coworking virtues. Working at Ahoy is like being on a cruise ship – you easily drift through the waves as you’re making contact with the other passengers, be it start-ups, freelancers or corporate, this is where worlds meet. They also have a punching bag. Go to Ahoy
Office Club Formerly known as Mobile Suite, Office Club has recently been redesigned and boasts a minimalistic office landscape that leaves your focus where you want it to be: on your work. They’re the perfect choice for freelancers or start-ups that don’t earn a fortune yet. Their prices and offers are very flexible, which is great if you’re working from project to project. Our tip for anyone who’s looking for value for money. Go to Office Club.
Soho House Even though Soho House’s co-working space isn’t an officially dedicated one, it’s definitely where you’ll find the international elite of creative representatives drinking their coffee. Don’t expect too many start-ups here. Though the space is open to all (accessible via “The Store”), Soho House is a members’ club for those who’ve already made it far in the creative scene. The design is very cozy and the coffee is great – plus, you might be in for some promising acquaintances. Go to Soho House
The one thing that always stays the same about Berlin is the low, humming energy, that fills the air and anybody can feel, but nobody can quite explain. It’s the magnet that draws people here and it’s the magnet that always makes you come back. But the streets, the places and names change all too quickly. With an energy like Berlin’s at the core, it’s just natural for the surface to vibrate and take different shapes at every turn.
West Berlin’s face has had its share of transforming energy in the last years, turning it into a thriving hub that’s – let’s be honest – a little more on the aesthetic site than the Eastern part of town. And luckily, where money flows, appetite isn’t far. With so much going on in West Berlin, it’s good to have an eye on the culinary development. We’ve compiled a list of the latest restaurants and shops to keep you (and us) up to date. Westside is the best side!
Colette Where do seniors, food junkies and fine dining gourmets come together? Sounds like the beginning of a joke – luckily it’s not. Colette restaurant in Charlottenburg is the latest installment of the Colette series, which has been exclusive to Hamburg and Konstanz so far. It’s located on the ground floor of a retirement home for wealthy seniors and owes its superb taste to Tim Raue’s famous foodoo magic. If you genuinely enjoy french cuisine, this brasserie should be the next address on your food map.
Chicha Have you ever had Peruvian cuisine before? No? Then pack your bags and go check out Chicha restaurant in Kreuzberg. Its lovely interior is complimented by an amazing menu, offering the next big hype in Berlin: Ceviche. They’ve already proven that their food tastes amazing at a pop up market stall at infamous Markthalle 9, where they’ve grown their loyal fanbase. You’ll want to book a table in advance, Chicha has already taken foodies’ hearts by storm.
Bourbon Dogs Could there possibly be a better combination than Hot Dogs and American Whiskey? Yes, thought owner Max Paarlberg, and rounded off the love-triangle with a good portion of craft beer, to be had at Bourbon Dogs. With more than 10 craft beers to choose from, a selection of Bourbon-based cocktails and some of the best American Hot Dogs we’ve ever had, we’re glad this little gem is now part of the city. Welcome!
Le Petite Royal Le Petite Royal is world-famous Grill Royal’s West Berlin spin-off. Sitting down, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a penguin standing on the counter, the lyrics of Talking Head’s “Psycho Killer” painted on the wall and a drawing by Yves Saint Laurent, depicting a lad with an exquisite bum. Essentially a smaller version of Grill Royal, Le Petite Royal boasts french cuisine and a great atmosphere. Don’t miss out!
MyMuesli Berlin loves cereals. In the ever-growing food hype, exotic blends of morning cereals – Germans call it “Müsli” – are the latest trend. In Berlin-Steglitz you’ll now find the second MyMüsli shop, where you can get samples of dozens, if not hundreds of different cereal sorts and mix them together to your liking. Selfmade still tastes best.
Tulus Lotrek An absolutely lovely new restaurant in Southern Kreuzberg. Owners Elona and Max, who’s also the chef, used to work together in another restaurant. There it took them the best part of 3 years to fall in love and finally become a couple. Their new restaurant is a modest, artsy, alternative concept to all those venues who brag about regional food sources à la “100% Bio. So organic. Regional food. We’re so cool.” Not to say Tulus Lotrek uses low quality ingredients – the opposite is the case – but they don’t put it on their banners. Instead they take it for granted for an aspiring upper class restaurant. We approve!
Goldhahn & Sampson Unlike most markets, Goldhahn & Sampson feels like a cozy getaway from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The smell of wood, bread and coffee lingers in the air as you stroll through the carefully arranged aisles, where you’ll find anything from top notch ingredients to cooking books and wine. What you won’t find is the usual mass-processing at the counters. Instead there’s friendly and competent staff and – given the prices – relatively few customers. In the early evening you can even attend cooking classes and learn how to get all the taste out of your ingredients. Cooking has never been so delicious!
This month’s interviewee is Eric Wahlforss. Eric is co-founder and CTO of the Berlin-based company SoundCloud, known for their online music streaming service with 175 million monthly visitors. Just yesterday (10.05.2016) SoundCloud has launched their new subscription service SoundCloud Go in the US, UK and France which allows you to stream millions of songs from all the major labels ad-free!
Q: Hey Eric. Pleasure to have you here. So, you and SoundCloud, huh? How did that all start?
A: Me and Alex Ljung met in Stockholm in the early 2000s. We both played music and Alex had this studio where we started hanging out. We did some projects together and at some point decided to solve a really obvious problem. There was no dedicated online platform for musicians to share their music with people who wanted to listen to it. We realised how huge the demand was when we made SoundCloud public after 2 years of testing. The user numbers went through the roof. Today we have 12 million creators, 175 million listeners per month and more than 125 million tracks online. In comparison – Spotify and Apple music have about 30 million songs.
Q: Almost 10 years into leading a company – you must be stressed out!
A: You learn to cope with the stress. These days I try to disconnect as often as possible. My girlfriend Sophie is a big help for me. She’s also running a company and we’re amazing at being lazy together.
Q: You’re a musician. Do you still find time to play?
A: Well, I released an album in 2012. It’s made from the sounds of strings, organs and choirs. For the percussion I used only wood, stone and metal. The album took 3 years to produce and with SoundCloud going stronger than ever, I don’t really find time to play often these days. But we’ve had this concert at Berghain a few years back and me and Alex played at Burning Man last year. That was intense!
Q: Ever feel tempted to feature your own songs on SoundCloud’s homepage?
A (laughs): The most important thing is that the right music finds the right people. So… no.
Q: Just a trick question. What drew you to Berlin?
A: I first came to Berlin for the love parade in 1997. It was a total game changer. I had the most amazing time and went to clubs like Tresor even though I was only 17. For SoundCloud we also considered London, Vienna and Barcelona but were drawn back to Berlin in 2007 because we found an investor here. Berlin has grown up since. But it’s still rougher and crazier than other places. Compared to London or New York, Berlin is very chilled out. The energy is on a whole different level.
Q: What do you not like about the city?
A: The service is terrible. TERRIBLE. Maybe it’s worse in Russia or Poland, but Berlin isn’t far behind. Especially when you want to bring new people to Berlin. They either have a great time and instantly love it, or they’re unlucky and have a terrible experience with human interactions here. Shouting cab drivers, unfriendly staff in restaurant, the whole service sector.
Q: Cool things you’ve experienced in Berlin?
A: Last summer Sophie and me drove around on our bikes. We heard electronic music in the distance and spontaneously decided to check it out. It was this amazing open air festival at Rummelsburg, located right at the Spree. After a little dancing we saw people swimming and thought what the hell, let’s go swimming! A few minutes later we were sitting in a small boat, drinking beers with strangers while listening to techno music. That’s the vibe that makes Berlin special and that it has always kept over the years.
Q: Your favourite place in Berlin?
A: I live between the office, my flat and Soho House, where I work out. I also really love the Piano Salon Christophori. It’s this super rough piano factory, like an old warehouse, and they also give concerts with great pianists.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Probably still in Berlin. Maybe with a family… 🙂
The formerly run-down soviet seaside town Sopot might not exactly have been number one on jetsetters’ top-travel lists for a long time, but in recent years Sopot has become an increasingly fashionable seaside destination. Today it easily competes with the famous rivieras in Spain, Italy and France – at about 1/10 the price of its Mediterranean rivals. Poland’s summer capital is rich in tradition and history and was considered “Monte Carlo of the Baltic” ever since its rise as a fashionable resort in the 19th century. Sopot became Europe’s ruling class’ beach destination and was in full bloom as the most popular resort of the Baltic sea for the best part of a century.
However, after the mayhem of World War II the Soviets did not care much for reconstruction and the Polish lacked the funds to do so – until recently. In the last 10 years the smallest member of the Tri-City (consisting of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot) has once again become a hip and happening town. Its sandy beaches, top class spas&resorts, elegant villas and vibrating nightlife scene make it a one-of-a-kind experience.
Highlights
The picturesque sea side resort offers a whole range of fascinating views. Apart from the longest Pier in the Baltic region you’ll also find stunning architecture, historical places and some of the best party options in Poland. Here’s a quick overview of the places that we consider a must-visit!
The Pier – with 511m it’s the longest pier in the Baltic region. Stunning views of the sea!
Lighthouse – located right next to the pier entrance. A spiral staircase takes you to the 25m viewing platform, where you can see Gdansk and Gdynia in the distance
Crooked House – crooked, crazy and absolutely amazing. Design that melts brains
Esplanade – 10km path right past sandy beaches and a maze of trees – leads all the way to Gdansk
Forest Opera – an amphitheatre in the forest built in 1909
State Art Gallery – exhibition space for contemporary Polish artists
The Grand Hotel Sopot (Sofitel) – originally called the “Grand” or “Kasino”. Around since 1927, one of Sopot’s most defining features
Restaurants
Before its return to glory and glamour, Sopot was mainly frequented by party-hungry Poles. The restaurants weren’t exactly sophisticated at that point, but with the development in the city in recent years Sopot now has a fair share of high class restaurants to dine in style. From Polish cuisine to international, from fusion to Italian or Chinese – quality food has conquered Sopot!
White Marlin (TOP PICK) Excellent location right at the pier. Elegant Scandinavian interior meets great service and marvellous food. Easily the best restaurant in Sopot.
Caly Gawel Stylish cantina coffee shop serving food from local and regional sources: lovely breakfast, few mains and creative burgers. The place has been around since December 2015 and is already frequented by urbanites, hipsters and young families.
Avocado In this fusion restaurant you’ll find Asian food combined with European influences. Fresh lobster as a specialty. It’s located on the main street of Sopot and boasts a wonderful outdoors terrace, great atmosphere and definitely the best sushi in Tri-City!
Image Very cozy, small restaurant. International kitchen with some inspirations from Polish Cuisine. Beware: the paintings on the sealing are only for adults.
Bocian Morski Author kitchen specializing in local products and fish. Cozy place with a warm brick interior. They offer a big variety of wines only one turn from the main street.
Galeria 63 International cuisine, everything from traditional Polish dishes to pasta, fish and steaks. The deco is modern, on some evenings a DJ plays discreet chill out music.
Rucola Inspired by the world’s diversity, Rucola offers Polish specialties and innovative combinations, exotic meals, an extraordinary wine list, only local, fresh products and fresh fish from the local fishermen. Located in the famous Mont Cassino Crooked House.
Toscana Authentic Italian cuisine. 10 min walk from the hotel – delicious sea food and pasta.
Zatoka Sztuki
Multi-level cultural centre with art exhibits, resort, beach restaurant & club.
Party Destination Sopot
Ask anyone in Sopot where the parties get the wildest and you’ll only hear one answer: Monte Cassino. A lively mix of people from all over the Tri-City rush into Sopot’s main drag at night, where the concentration of clubs, bars and more sophisticated drinking establishments is so high that even Chuck Norris would get drunk. The strip’s intense charisma is crowned by the fairytaile flair in the air, radiated by the Crooked House – basically a house that looks like it’s been taken straight from Alice in (Sopot) Wonderland. Just.. this Alice goes full-blown party mode. With a nightlife as unique and pulsing as Sopot’s, make sure to hit up at least one or two of the famous night clubs as well. But beware of lightly dressed ladies, they’ll dance the money out of your pocket in no time.
Bars
Wtedy (TOP PICK!) – new happing place with industrial charm
Zatoka Sztuki Beach Club (TOP PICK!) – “THE” beach club on the Riviera of Polen. Party animals keen to soak up that hedonistic Sopot summer vibe won’t want to pass up on the Beach Club culture – This is undoubtedly one of the places to be in the Tricity! Situated on a prime spot of Sopot’s beach, it’s easy to believe you are on Ibiza as you sip a cocktail, watch the sunset and enjoy the open air parties.
Sofitel The Grand Hotel – There is a big private beach out front making the Grand Hotel a top-class beach hang-out during the summer.
Tropikalna Wyspa – People are raving about their food but come here to drink outside with the sea lapping less than a stone’s throw away
Scena Klub – Restaurant, bar and beach lounge with cabañas overlooking the bay.
White Marlin Beach Bar – Enjoy the laidback vibe in Marlin´s own beach bar, a true summer location!
Clubs
Libation (TOP PICK!) – The fashionable location is owned by the Polish metal band Behemoth’s lead singer. Their motto: “decadent atmosphere of pre-war Paris and Berlin, strongly inspired by the theatre”. With a more select crowd, leather sofas and somewhat pricier drinks they’re definitely not far from it. Well done!
Spatif – One of the enduring wicked legends of Sopot´s nightlife. Heavy selection at the door. Theoretically a private club, so don’t get upset if they don’t let you in without a membership
Sfinks – Advanced clubbing with an international DJ line-up
Hotels
Obviously Poland’s #1 seaside resort doesn’t have to hide when it comes to housing. You’ll find something appealing near the center in all price ranges – from hostels and pensions to luxurious hotels, Sopot has it all covered. Better book in advance as the demand for rooms goes through the roof in the main season!
Sofitel The Grand Hotel (TOP PICK!) – Formerly known as the “Grand” and “Kasino”, The Grand Hotel has a long history in Sopot. Its marvellous location and the lush surroundings are nothing short of spectacular and unmatched in the whole of Sopot. Get comfortable in one of the 127 charming, elegant rooms and you’ll soon feel the hotel’s class and luxury. When you’re done being pampered at the Grand Spa, do take a visit to its in-house Art Deco restaurant and taste creative French cuisine with a Polish twist!
Mera Spa Hotel – highlight: infinity pool on the roof with stunning view of the sea
Fisher House – highlight: Scandinavian styled resident hotel set next to the beach of Sopot
Sheraton – highlight: private beach area overlooking the bay
With two beautiful cities like Gdansk and Gdynia just a stone’s throw away, they’re the perfect choices for your next day trip. You can hop on the train in Sopot and 20 minutes later you’ll already enjoy a cold drink in the shade of one of Gdansk’s many attractions. Optionally you can always choose the easy way and order a cab, which will cost you about 50-60 Zloty (about 13€) to either Gdanks or Gdynia.
The Hanseatic Pearl looks back on more than 1000 years of tumultuous history. Gdansk is a marvellous medieval city permeated with the currents of different cultures, nations and believes. Both beautified and scarred by history, Gdansk looks like no other Polish city. Cobbled streets with imposing buildings, distinctive cafés and a selection of amber shops create a crossroad of old and new and make it the perfect destination for dwelling in Europe’s architectural history.
Gdynia used to be a little fishing village near Gdansk and Sopot. With the end of World War I, the Polish state was reformed and in desperate need of a port, since Gdansk was still controlled by the Germans. So – within just 5 years – a new city and major port had been built, going by name of Gdynia. Today the city has a population of over 250.000 and one of the most flourishing economies in the country, while still managing to look like a relic of the Soviet era. Start your day trip at the harbour area with its museums and theatres and then work your way towards town, where you’ll find restaurants and cafés to suit your culinary needs.
The buzz in Berlin never stops. We’re proud to present the latest issue of… Henrik’s World of Glamour!
Colette West Berlin’s rise on the fine dining radar is unstoppable. Capital’s favorite chef Tim Raue opened the french brasserie Colette near Zoologischer Garten and it’s bound to blow your taste buds to heaven. The fine dining venue is located on the ground floor of a retirement home and funny enough, the opening event’s food mainly consisted of dishes that didn’t require a lot of chewing. We’re sure Colette will please wealthy seniors and culinary connaisseurs alike.
Olaf Heine – Do Not Disturb Olaf Heine is best known for his impressive star portaits. The close bond the photographer creates with the likes of Rammstein, Iggy Pop, Snoop Dog, Max Herre and countless other stars shows on his unique pictures, a selection of which was on display at his vernissage at Berlin’s first music hotel nHow (rockstars are expected to leave their rooms demolished). The edgy showroom located right at the Spree is the perfect fit for anything artsy and THANKFULLY wasn’t overcrowded. Quality over quantity.
Platoon Platoon Kunsthalle was one of Berlin’s hottest pop up venues over the last years. Food, art, parties, workshops, discussions, chess boxing, exhibitions – you name it, it’s probably been to Platoon. But all good things come to an end and now Platoon is moving on. After coming to Berlin from Korea a few years back, they’re now making way for Mexico, where Platoon will spend the next couple of years. Their closing party was one for the legends – unfortunately our camera battery gave up the fight after the first hour.
Umami Umami has opened a new outlet for their delicious Asian treats in West Berlin. The opening event on culinary stronghold Bergmannstraße was studded with celebs and fueled by an astonishing amount of Saigon Mules. The place was bursting at the seams and the influx of guests just wouldn’t stop. Usually the attendance rate for openings in Berlin is between 60% and 80%. Umami managed to achieve a casual 110%. We left shortly before all the air inside was used up.
Tiger of Sweden
Finally Tiger of Sweden is conquering Berlin! Their new store in Mitte boasts a calm and clean design on 120 sqm, where you’ll find both suits and Denim wear for men. We ate our way through some illegaly tasty Swedish finger food while listening to Hugo Capablanca’s music, who welcomed the Tiger to Berlin in style. Go Tigerrrrrrr!
