Vegan Normalization
"Berlin is the vegan capital of Europe—you don't need to hunt for vegan options, they're standard everywhere. From dirty punk bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, vegan dishes are clearly labeled, plentiful, and delicious. The city has dozens of fully vegan restaurants, vegan döner shops, vegan ice cream parlors, and vegan supermarkets. You never have to ask 'is there meat in this?'—it's always labeled."
Logistics
Moderate
Vibe
Progressive, normalized
Duration
Varies
Best For
Vegans
The Backstory
Berlin's vegan scene exploded in the 2000s-2010s alongside the city's counterculture and environmental movements. Kreuzberg and Neukölln became vegan hotspots. The alt-right punk scene, animal rights activism, and environmental consciousness converged. By 2020, Berlin had 60+ fully vegan restaurants. It's now normalized—not niche or hippie, just standard.
Local Secret
"Vegan döner at Vöner (Kreuzberg) is indistinguishable from the real thing. Every supermarket (Edeka, Rewe) has entire vegan sections. Restaurants mark vegan items with a 'V' or leaf symbol. Even traditional German restaurants offer vegan schnitzel and currywurst. Veganz is Berlin's vegan supermarket chain. You'll never struggle to find options."
Gallery
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Döner Kebap
Döner
Döner Kebap is Berlin's #1 street food, invented here in the 1970s by Turkish immigrants. It's shaved rotisserie meat (lamb, chicken, or veal) stuffed into toasted flatbread with fresh salad, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and garlic yogurt sauce. A 'Gemüse Kebap' (vegetable döner) adds grilled vegetables and feta cheese. It's fast, cheap (€4-6), and consumed at all hours—especially post-club at 4am.
Berlin Beer Culture
Wegbier
Beer in Berlin is like coffee in Italy: cheap (€1-2 from Spätis), everywhere, and consumed casually at any time of day or night. It's not ceremonial or special—it's utilitarian. A 'Wegbier' (road beer) for the walk home or to the club is culturally normal and legal. Public drinking is accepted and common. The most popular local beers are Berliner Pilsner, Berliner Kindl, and Schultheiss.
Currywurst
Currywurst is a Berlin icon: steamed then fried pork sausage cut into bite-sized slices, drowned in curry ketchup and sprinkled with curry powder. Served with fries or a bread roll. It's fast food, invented in post-war Berlin, and still a cult classic. The sauce is sweet, tangy, and mildly spiced. It's eaten at Imbiss stands (snack stalls) standing up at tall tables.