Bistro nights in Berlin: oysters, wine and one more course
Kippenberger paintings over steak frites at Paris Bar, crêpes Suzette in flames at Bostich, an oyster tarte flambée at Colette: five French evenings in Berlin.
Oysters at the bar, steak frites on red leather banquettes, crêpes Suzette flambéed at the table: these five restaurants offer quite different French evenings in Berlin, from brasseries to small oyster bars.
Paris Bar – a brasserie under Kippenberger’s paintings
Paris Bar on Kantstraße has been around since 1962. It became famous from 1979 under the Austrian Michel Würthle, who turned it into the canteen of Berlin’s art world. The walls carry works by Martin Kippenberger, Georg Baselitz, Maria Lassnig and many others, some of them traded for food. Kippenberger paid his bills with paintings.
Diners sit on red leather banquettes, and the kitchen is brasserie without detours: Fines de Claire, escargots, moules, steak frites, tarte Tatin. Half a dozen oysters to start and the entrecôte with béarnaise after that is the classic evening here. The kitchen is open every day until one in the morning.
Paris BarCharlottenburg · French
Bostich – crêpes Suzette in flames
“Bostich” is a song by the Swiss band Yello, and there is a bit of Switzerland in the kitchen too. Yllnora Semsedini and Simon Bühler, who also run Torbar in Mitte, opened the bistro on Ludwigkirchstraße in summer 2023. White tablecloths, pistachio-green walls, chandeliers, and stucco on the ceiling shaped like lobsters and oysters.
At the seafood bar up front there are Fines de Claire, Creuse de Bretagne and Gillardeau. The house speciality is Zürcher Geschnetzeltes of Brandenburg veal with rösti, and crêpes Suzette, flambéed at the table, close the meal. In summer the woven chairs stand packed together on the pavement.
BostichCharlottenburg · French
Bostich
See the Must EatBrasserie Colette – a brasserie with Tim Raue’s signature
On Passauer Straße, opposite KaDeWe, Tim Raue lends his name and concept to Brasserie Colette. The studio Bruzkus Batek designed the room to look like an old establishment: apothecary cabinets, benches from a French train, a mosaic floor, a bar with a brass top.
The classics get Raue’s play of sweet, sour and heat. The tarte flambée comes with oysters, caviar and cucumber, the prawn Marocain with pistachio, rose and lychee, the beef fillet au poivre with churro fries. Weekday lunch brings “La table dressée”: five small starters and a main arrive at once, followed by dessert. For a lunch without waiting between courses, this is the one.
Brasserie Colette Tim RaueSchöneberg · French
Brasserie Colette Tim Raue
See the Must EatVOLK – oysters by Weinbergspark
Margaux Arabian is the daughter of the two-star Parisian chef Ghislaine Arabian. With Oliver Chesler she opened VOLK on Brunnenstraße in January 2019, opposite Weinbergspark, as a tiny oyster bar. Today it is bigger, with coloured lights and white tablecloths. The two import their oysters, mussels, langoustines and wines themselves, and the menu changes almost daily.
Since February 2026 there has been a Marseille-style lunch plate: three Fine de Claire oysters, three prawns, mussels, fried potatoes and salad. And on the way to the toilet you suddenly find yourself in a vintage shop.
VOLKMitte · French
Bistro Gri Gri – under the chestnut trees on the Landwehrkanal
Café Gri Gri on Paul-Lincke-Ufer was around for decades. The daughter of the previous owner has reopened it under the old name as a bistro. Today the team runs the bistro collectively and develops the dishes together. On warm days you sit outside under the chestnut trees, looking out over the canal.
Bistro Gri GriKreuzberg · French
