Cafe am See Schäfersee in Berlin

The charming little café by Schäfersee has been under new management since April 2025. Super friendly service, delicious fresh food and drinks, as well as coffee and cake. Everything is top-notch! Definitely recommended!

Cash only. A small cafe with very friendly staff.

Since the café was renovated, it's very nice and more modern.

We sat outside overlooking the lake. It was clean and comfortable, but not particularly decorated, which was perfectly fine. The service was very friendly and the food delicious. We'd be happy to go back :)

If you're a group of 10 or more, please make a reservation. The food and service are truly top-notch. The prices are reasonable, too.

Nice place to enjoy coffee and foods in Berlin.

The cheesecake is super delicious, absolutely worth the money. The coffee, however, could be much better, and instead of real milk, they only serve mini-packs of coffee cream, so it loses points. The view and atmosphere are lovely, and the service is friendly and quick!

Delicious and cozy. Staff was friendly.

Things haven't changed for the better since the change of management. I'm surprised by the posts praising the previous owner so much. The whole place was, and still is, unfortunately, dirty and unhygienic; the food is barely edible because a lot of it is still frozen.

I'm sorry, but the coffee didn't taste that good. It was somewhat watery and lacked flavor. Perhaps the machine wasn't set up correctly, or the coffee was too old. I hope it will be better next time. In conclusion, I can't give a better review. The staff was otherwise nice.

Extremely dirty and not clean... I can't recommend it... This used to be the case, but it seems to have changed hands. I don't know... It used to be a nice place...

The food was inedible. The schnitzel was very greasy, the mushrooms were canned, and the sauce was truly disgusting. The salad was terrible. The currywurst was swimming in tomato sauce; it had nothing to do with a Berlin currywurst. We were served by a woman in an undershirt. You should make sure you dress properly, even in a restaurant. We went to the restroom later; if we had seen what it looked like beforehand, we would have left immediately. The restaurant was very messy. There are some really good restaurants in Berlin, but this one definitely isn't one of them.

A beautiful idyll by the lake...unfortunately the latte was cold...breakfast was very simple and very unloving...and everything seemed a bit dingy...a real shame ☹️ Please be a bit more expensive...but decorate everything a bit more lovingly...breakfast caps are so old they're already dull, etc. *It's definitely worth having such a nice place to sit...

Awesome atmosphere and sooo tasty food

Anyone familiar with the café from the past will be very disappointed. Nothing remains of the appetizing, clean, and cozy ambiance. Unfortunately, the restaurant in this beautiful location now looks rather run-down and untidy. Even though the girls who work there are friendly and helpful, this unfortunately doesn't improve the overall atmosphere.

I'm currently sitting here in the "Café am See" and thought I'd read the reviews of this hospitality. Of course, it's not a 4-star restaurant, which is something to keep in mind when judging it. I ordered a farmer's breakfast, which was quite enjoyable. More important to me was the peace and quiet by the lake and the view. What I can't understand, however, is that someone would give a bad review based on conversations at the next table. Firstly, what does the conversation at the next table have to do with anyone? And secondly, what does the location have to do with it?

Very nice location, standard food and not a bad price per person. The problem is they didn't let us pay an 86€ bill with a credit card, we had to pay cash, which was very inconvenient.

I can't really recommend this cafe as a place to eat. The staff doesn't speak German, and everything takes a long time. The food is pre-cooked, warmed-up food. It's dirty. If you're looking for a place to sit down and eat ice cream by the lake and have plenty of time, that's fine...

Nice spot overlooking the lake serving German cuisine mostly

Everything is delicious and fast. Quiet and calm place. Average bill 15-20 €

For people who enjoy rustic German food. The terrace offers a great view of the lake. Not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

They put together a wonderful luncheon for ten of us and everything was perfect!

It's a nice place to sit outside, with simple but clean decor, and delicious drinks... Very good value for money! Unfortunately, it's currently surrounded by construction sites...

Yes, the restaurant is good, there is just construction work all around, it will be very nice there. It was missing in the area

Very beautiful in itself Food delicious Unfortunately it's very loud inside due to the small room when there are a lot of people there. Highly recommended when the weather is nice outside

I just read a newspaper report about the previous long-term tenant who is leaving the café. Despite my bad experience about a year ago, I actually didn't want to write a review, but the pity number in the article pissed me off. I was there about a year ago and was really disappointed in every way. No card payment possible (luckily I had cash with me), ingredients of discounter quality, I also had hair (from the dog?) in my food, the coffee drink tasted strange, the hygiene (including in the toilet) was questionable - I basically had the best of the negative reviews here. In addition, at the neighboring table, which was currently being served, the staff and guests were inciting hatred against "all the refugees and recipients of citizens' benefits" and were talking disparagingly about "all the foreign nonsense". Something like that comes from something like that.

A nostalgic place for a rustic schnitzel or a Sunday coffee drink. Very good value for money and relaxing location on a small lake. A restaurant for everyone and everyone.

Only good part was the friendly server. We live in 2025 with people visiting from all over the world and you can’t pay with card? Such a shame to have a location like that with poor service coming along with it. One small sign in the door what tells you cash only, no good if you sit on the verandah like us.

No! Simple orders are not served properly. Unfriendly! Toilets very dirty.

Was really very disappointed. Location great, service terrible and the ice cream chocolate was a cocoa with spray cream, the 2 scoops of ice cream were not available! Outrageous to sell something like that for 5:90 euros! I used to love going there, yesterday was my last visit there.

Good place to stop by for a coffee and a cake

It's a pleasant place, especially in spring and summer

Quiet location despite being close to 96. Service a bit difficult due to non-German service. We got the wrong cake. Staff didn't know the varieties. Toilets not particularly inviting.

Very nice terrace with beautiful views of the lake

...first time back here after 40 years... great...

We ordered two Latte Macchiato with Oatmilk. What we got was filtered coffee and and plant milk that was either in the fridge forever or just had the weirdest taste ever. We payed and let the waiter know that something was wrong with the milk, only comment was “it was new”, no sorry, no discount. Milk was charged 80 cent extra btw. Not again, thanks.

Bad service, very rude and lazy. Better look for another job. This way you can also drive away guests...

Yesterday we were in the cafe by the lake and wanted to enjoy the beautiful sun outside... we had to get the menu ourselves because after 10 minutes there was no service... then a waiter came, without saying hello, cleaned the ashtray without asking if we wanted something😡 then my friend went in to order herself, was rudely rejected because it was cold and there wasn't any service outside, even though she was Another lady was sitting outside🤷‍♀️who apparently was being served It's a shame that the staff is so unfriendly and not the first time, I won't come back, I'd rather sit on a bench to enjoy the lake

Top recommendation, very nice staff and good food.

Simply furnished We came just before closing time for cake. Peach Melba had exactly 2 pieces left. It tasted good. Prices ok.

I always really enjoy going there.

The first time we went backwards because the service was very unfriendly. Two years later we tried again. The capuccino we ordered was a filter coffee with milk foam. The food tasted like cafeteria. The facility is reminiscent of a retirement home. But all of this at prices that you would also pay in Mitte. It's a real shame that this fantastic location is taken over by such a lousy shop.

Very nicely located on Schäfersee. Breakfast buffet is very tasty.

The food has gone down quite a bit. Schnitzel was only served half cooked. The waiter stood in front of the counter and played with his cell phone the whole time.

To relax a bit from everyday life. You're in good hands here. The path around the lake is still being renovated. I can only recommend it.

I rarely write a less than good review, but unfortunately this experience was disappointing. At first glance, the terrace of the café right on the lake seemed like the perfect place to enjoy the last of the beautiful autumn weather and I was really looking forward to my appointment there. You can really endure it outside, but as soon as you enter the interior the atmosphere diminishes - It's reminiscent of an old, dingy pub. The staff seemed rather annoyed. Normally I always give a tip, but since we weren't even asked at the end whether we wanted to split the bill or pay together, I unfortunately couldn't do that. Cake and coffee were OK but not outstanding - To be honest the cheesecake at the Lidl around the corner is of a similar standard. I'm not sure if I'll come back again.

Went there for breakfast on Sunday, the employees were super nice and we felt really comfortable. Very messy.

Directly on Schäfersee with a view of the water. Very friendly staff and good cuisine.

Beautiful garden restaurant on Schäfersee, nice service, delicious food

Breakfast is cheap but that's not possible! Quark was bad, blistered and everything else was very strange. It was warm but that's not possible at all. I think I've never seen a worse breakfast. The inside should be renovated properly!

Cozy seaside cafe with warm cuisine. It would just be nice if the lap dogs weren't allowed on chairs.

A table for a family celebration was very well prepared. Coffee, sandwiches and cakes were delicious and the service was very nice and quick. The ambience outside was somewhat affected by construction work on the lake, but no one in the small café can do anything about that.

Dirty interiors, dirty dishes, microwaved food. Absolutely not recommended. The only plus, original Berlin service.

Food wasn't fresh and didn't taste good at all, plates and glasses were very dirty. Prices too high.

Everything was just perfect… delicious beer and wine in a nice atmosphere… friendly service… and the meatballs couldn’t be missed… Absolutely recommended and we would be happy to come back…

The interior could still be improved a lot. Food was delicious. The service is very quick!!!

A nice place by the water, nice restaurant. The service is really fast and the employees are super friendly.

Although I enjoyed my food, it was fried a little too much in fat. The schnitzel was frozen and the fried potatoes were a bit bland. The atmosphere was very relaxed, we had a good spot with a view of the lake. The service was friendly. Overall, a good performance and worth a visit or two.

Very cute cafe, cute little terrace to linger at the moment, only a construction site between the cafe and the lake is very quiet during my visit

Fast and friendly service, large selection of cakes! Very nice, quiet location by the lake. But currently construction site on the bank. Therefore only 4 stars for ambience. Otherwise it would be 5.

Small café with a beautiful view of the Schäfersee.

Nice cafe. Solid prices. Nice service

You wouldn't believe how cozy and quiet it can be in a shopping street in the middle of Berlin. Go through an archway and then there is pure peace ;))

Staff was friendly. The cheesecake was delicious. The café is very old-fashioned and uncomfortable inside. The women's toilet smelled of urine. You can sit outside very well with a view of the lake. There is still construction work there at the moment.

We felt like sitting nicely by the lake. My mother ordered a Swedish mug, it couldn't look lovelier. I ordered chanterelles with scrambled eggs, the plate looked unappetizing and at first glance it was clear that the scrambled eggs were old and so it was fried. I asked the friendly waitress in the kitchen to complain about this, the plate was half empty, I didn't get the plate back nor a fresh scrambled egg, kitchen staff were so upset that they "didn't give a damn". I got 20% off, ridiculous, for a few fork bites I ate. The owner doesn't give a damn...if you're not satisfied, you don't have to come anymore. That's their motto... eat or die... in the end we paid €44 and went home with a bad taste in our mouths, we were looking forward to a nice hour with our mother... Not recommended...

The location of the Cafe am See is actually really not bad and we spontaneously decided to have lunch there while taking a walk. Unfortunately, the price-performance ratio and the quality of the food are really a disaster. My wife had the potato pancakes, where three frozen ready-made potato pancakes were served with two pieces of watermelon and applesauce, for a whopping €8.90. I had the Wiener Schnitzel, which also looked and tasted like a finished product, with fries for around €13. There was no ketchup or mayonnaise. Although it is called a cafe, there was no alternative other than regular milk, not even lactose-free. Unfortunately, all in all very disappointing and with better cuisine the cafe could really do better.

Breakfast was great, I just had something to drink today

Delicious cakes. Nice service. Everything great

Unfriendly service, ambience loveless and run down! Everything only started getting ready when the guests were waiting. Dog runs through the kitchen and there is hair and onions on the butter. Cups are dirty and cheap baked rolls. If you don't eat anything, you still have to pay! No food separation, nothing for Muslims. Staff walk around the kitchen in their sleepwear without hairnets. The health department should take a look.

Unfriendly staff, baked rolls, carelessly prepared... Animal hair on the butter... We paid and refused food.

Food refused and paid for! No words needed!!

The good start, the lake view, the breakfast is not recommended, baked rolls, as well as hair on the butter and dirty cups

We were looking forward to breakfast, but unfortunately we had hair in our butter, dirty seat cushions, dirty coffee cups, baked rolls from the supermarket. In my opinion it's not worth going there to have breakfast. I personally don't like the ambience and hygiene.

The Schäfersee is beautiful so far, but there has been a lot of construction going on for years. I think it's all very good, but it takes far too long. There's little view of the actual lake. One can only hope that the construction work will come to an end at some point. I've been living here for 15 years.

Pleasant atmosphere even on hot days.

Nice location right on the lake.

Extremely loud waitress unfriendly

Very nice atmosphere to sit down in a sunny afternoon, it seemed to be a very neighbourhood atmosphere full of locals, seems to be the place where neighbours meet. Nice views of the lake with a nice service. The beers, milkshake and sandwiches were very good. Same for the coffee.

Eat pure frozen goods. Schnitzel was molded meat. Cutlery didn't match. Everything looked dingy. The operator's family/friends were obviously sitting in a corner, having a drinking and smoking session. Very disgusting. The view of the lake is and remains beautiful, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant.

Unfortunately the area is full of junkies and dealers... of course the café can't do anything about that but you can't ignore the surroundings.

Very nicely located, quality of food good, but very expensive.

Very friendly service, the boss has good taste in decorating. The front garden has a beautiful view of the Schäfersee

Super friendly staff, but unfortunately a bit outdated (toilets)...

it was very nice there. I met my class teacher there after almost 50 years. sat outside with a view of Schäfer Lake and toasted my birthday. was a very nice day. the only drawback was the service. Had to get our drinks ourselves in between.

The guests there are open-minded and the service is in a good mood. The cake is super fresh.

Yes, it's nice, unfortunately the path to the lake is closed at the moment, everything is probably being restored.

Very nice breakfast with buffet and sitting in the sun, wonderful

Because of the construction site, the situation is not very pleasant, but sitting in the green under the tall trees like chestnuts is pleasant. The view over the Schäfersee is a bit tight from the terrace.

Friendly staff, delicious food and a view of the lake.

I'm generally very accommodating and tolerant of mistakes when things go haywire or an order gets mixed up, etc., but unfortunately I can't, with the best will in the world, give a good rating here. The service was not at all customer oriented or considerate. You literally had to run after her to be able to order something and friendliness was a foreign word here. I understand when there's a lot going on, but as a waitress you should still look to the left and right when walking in and out to see if anyone wants something. Generally getting the feeling that you are not wanted is of course absolutely out of place in the catering industry anyway. The breakfast buffet was a joke. Absolutely the cheapest of the cheap and the selection was more than limited. There was actually hardly any reason to answer it a second time. But the toilets were awesome. Some of these were defective or you were told that you shouldn't wash them. So the whole thing had the charm of a dixiklos where everyone does the business of the previous visitor. You can't make this up! Like many other reviews, I can only say that it's a real shame about this prime location. I think the only reason the shop still exists is because enough walkers, etc. get lost there. This would not be acceptable anywhere else.

Despite the many bad comments, we wanted to try the café because it is in such a beautiful location. But it was absolutely underground! The service was so unfriendly, you've never experienced anything like it. There was no welcome and no menus either. We weren't allowed to order either. When we asked, we were given tickets and after half an hour and several rude comments we were allowed to order drinks. The drinks came in dirty glasses/cups. Actually we should have left straight away, but now that we were there we wanted to give the buffet a chance. But here came the next disappointment: at first I thought it was the table for the dirty dishes. But no, the buffet just looked so dirty and rumpled. The selection was limited and consisted of cheap baked rolls, molded meat and cheese. There was no cutlery and we had to use our fingers to help ourselves to the plates. Here too, the fresh dishes were dirty and I had to look for a clean fork. So when we wanted to go to the toilet, the women's toilet was out of service. I went into the dirty and smelly men's toilet and was very rudely told that I shouldn't have flushed because everything was coming up. An absolute case for the health department. In the end we charged a flat rate for 8 people, even though only 5 had eaten. When we pointed this out, it was commented on in disbelief, but corrected nonetheless. We were probably lucky that the waitress was completely overwhelmed, otherwise she would probably have continued to argue. It's a shame that this dream location is occupied by such a failed location. From now on you can only go to Schäfersee for walks and mini-golf.

Very nice there and right on the water

Great place at Schäfers and so many dishes on the menu. When we are back in Berlin, we will go out for a good home-style meal. Service is very nice and quick. Keep it up.

I was there yesterday, it was nice,

We came spontaneously with our 90-year-old aunt “in our luggage” just for a cup of coffee, but we were greeted in a very friendly manner and a reserved table was even “freed up” for us. Thanks! Great!

For me “little Tegel”. Beautiful lake view, just the right place to relax with a shandy and a schnitzel! Keep it up! 👌

We celebrated a friend's birthday here with several people. Food and service was good, the ambience is a matter of taste. You could still get something out of it.

It's very nice to sit there in the outdoor area, the service was very friendly and the food was very good. After your meal you can enjoy the Schäfersee and simply unwind. (At the moment there is construction going on around the Schäfersee - but everything should be fine again by summer)

Ambiance (when the permanent construction site is gone) full 4 stars. Located on one of the most beautiful “main green hiking trails” in Berlin (18), making it an ideal rest area. Good food and friendly, attentive people there. 👍

Always very comfortable there and the service is very nice ☺️