****  Valery left Café Bravo a few years ago. Ever since it has constantly changed and is quite a very different place, today. ****

Another venue which inspired this blog in a rather personal way is Café Bravo in the heart of Berlin-Mitte. It is situated in a unique glass cube in the backyard of Kunstwerke (KW), a former margarine plant now housing a museum of contemporary art at Berlin’s famous Auguststraße, with its many galleries, cafés and fancy small shops. Bravo just celebrated its 5th anniversary on March 1, 2014, with an all-night party.

Valery Hagenbourger, who runs that lovely place, moved from Lorraine to Germany long ago. He had been working as a consultant when he discovered this nugget and decided to turn it into a day  café, both for the visitors of the museum and a growing number of regulars who come by on purpose. The small kitchen makes exquisite soups, salads and sandwiches. In case you are late for breakfast – Bravo serves you from dusk till dawn.

If you have a sweet tooth here is the place where you find your piece of cake in the afternoon – there is a great variety, and all homemade of course. The coffee is excellent, too, and both together are always a good reason for me to come here. Sometimes just to browse through the abundant choice of newspapers and magazines. And there is the bar – so if you already had your breakfast, you might as well go for a drink.

But my favorite place is outside. From early spring till the last sunny days of fall there are plenty of tables on the cobble stones under the old walnut tree and at times, the atrium is a quiet and peaceful oasis. A true escape in bubbly Berlin.

Auguststraße 69
10117 Berlin
T 030 23457777
www.bravomitte.de