Der Goldene Hahn

This local’s stalwart combines the prevailing Kreuzberg taste for zany vintage with the more typical cosy trattoria look, and inside you’ll find a solid wine list and Italian favourites. The dining room veers between the twee (an antique apothecary with hundreds of little drawers looms behind the bar), the humorous (an artwork scrawled with ‘Bunga Bunga’ portrays a hirsute man exposing his black briefs) and the familiar (exposed red-brick to match the chequered tablecloths). Expect homely plates of gratineed scallops, caponata (Sicily’s cold sweet-and-sour aubergine stew), caramelised goat’s cheese and excellent fresh pastas with seasonal ingredients. For secondi there’s everything from lamb cutlets to grilled breams, ever changing according to the chalkboard menu. As is typical for the area, the restaurant stays open late on weekends, the record-player is turned up and regulars stay for the excellent cocktails. If the restaurant is full, hop next door to their wine bar.