Succulents. Overpriced trinkets displayed in a rustic-looking general store (à la San Francisco,…read moreLos Angeles, and Brooklyn). A mid-century modern aesthetic catered toward the modern Instagram success.
Yep. Chances are, if you've seen pictures of a dimly lit hipster interior design Instagram account, you've probably seen all there is of a place like Hallesches Haus. It's nothing novel, but if your Instagram bookmarks are full of photos that look just like the restaurant interior, you'll happily eat up everything this place has to offer--food and aesthetic.
Right on the canal, Hallesches Haus is a short walk from Hallesches Tor (surprise, surprise). The restaurant has two entrances, so you'll either find yourself stumbling straight into the general store or into the back area, where you'll have to walk past diners and a coat rack to make your way to the counter to order. It's an absolute nightmare finding a place to sit on weekends, as you'll either be constantly bumping elbows with the people sitting next to you or awkwardly hovering above people, hoping that they'll get the memo and hurry up. In other words, ignore what it says on Yelp about Hallesches Haus being "good for groups." (Unless you're a group of at least six, because then you can reserve a table.)
Luckily, the prices are fairly reasonable for such a hip place in Kreuzberg. You can get away with breakfast and a coffee for under €10 AND be able to pay with a debit card. Small victories, I suppose, because you'll probably be waiting a while for a table AND your food.
The brunch menu changes every weekend, but I've ordered some variation of their French toast every time I've been here. Kudos to the team for experimenting with interesting flavors. One of my personal favorites was the Banoffee French toast, complete with banana, whipped salted caramel (which is to die for), vanilla cream, a butter biscuit hazelnut crumble, topped off with ginger syrup. For €8.90?! Well, that's one thing that this place doesn't have in common with its stateside doppelgängers...