Schwarzes Cafe in Berlin

Food was delicious, but bring euros because credit cards are not accepted.

Very delicious food, especially the cakes; a bit pricey, but friendly service and no long wait.

A very authentic experience. Rude service, good food at a bad time, and totally filthy toilets. Always good evenings.

I don't understand how this restaurant justifies its prices. A simple schnitzel costs €28 – and they only accept cash payments? In 2025? For amounts over €30, that's a definite red flag. This might be understandable for a small café or kebab shop, but not for a restaurant that offers this kind of price range. The price-performance ratio is completely out of proportion. Not recommended.

I can't comment on the food or the atmosphere because we simply sat outside and ordered drinks. Unfortunately, they didn't have a "Hütchen" (a type of Austrian pastry) or Fanta Korn (a shot of schnapps) on the menu, but thanks to the incredibly friendly waiter, we still got our Fanta Korn.

Delicious breakfast in a very relaxed, "student" atmosphere. We'd love to come back again and raise the average age a bit. 😉

This waitress wanted to hit my brother for no reason and incited hatred against him.

A little pricey and irritating it’s cash only, but we keep coming back for the relaxed atmosphere. Staff are usually nice but overwhelmed as it gets extremely busy. So expect to wait quite a while to order and pay.

The atmosphere of this place was amazing! I really enjoyed drinking a beer and chatting with my friend. But I have to say, it was very expensive. I wouldn’t go there to eat!!

The breakfast wasn't inspiring. We only came here because of the lack of options. My breakfast would have been even worse without the added slice of ham. The ham was delicious. The atmosphere was like a typical German bakery. The menu is very simple and not fancy at all 👀 There's no music. Cash only…

Love this place, love to go there after midnight, very nice place

Everything was perfect! Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere (including the restrooms), and incredibly delicious cake!

An institution of Berlin's evening and nightlife scene. It's good that this place still exists—and remains vibrant.

very friendly staff, nice atmosphere and very good soup! the latte macchiato was also one of the best i tried, a new favorite in berlin!

How often I have been to your place for breakfast, to emulate the party, or to sit on the balcony in the evening before going out to party ;-) and eat and drink

24 hours? Breakfast, hangover soup, and a drink before heading home are all available. Cash only.

The hot chocolate is incredibly delicious! The atmosphere is rustic but pleasant! The seating is comfortable :) It's just a bit loud, which I like, but it's not for everyone :)

The rooms are very stuffy, and the smell of food is too strong, making it hard to relax. The apple strudel was hard and had hardly any flavor. I don't recommend it.

I don't know if it was actually Bowie's hangout, but it sums up what Berlin is like even today.

It used to be a hype, but now it can go away.

Very old cafe in Berlin. Good vibes, great building, you can't smoke inside.

I'm Japanese. I went there late at night. Cash only. There is no table charge, but tipping is not included, so it's a good idea to prepare a 10% tip. I visited this place looking for a place that was open until the morning, and I was very satisfied with how cozy it was. The staff member, who had a shaved head, tried to understand my English and was very kind. I didn't eat there, but the Riesling was a nice, casual choice. The cafe had the delicious aroma of fresh bread, even late at night. I was able to communicate in English only.

Unfortunately, it's only open all day on weekends, but the breakfast is still very good. It's interesting to note that the music still plays from cassette tapes.

I was quite brave and soon returned to the Schwarze Café. And lo and behold: everything was back to normal. This Kaiserschmarren (smothered pancake) is amazing, and the lunch menu is always recommended. In the 80s and 90s, the Schwarze Café was my second home. Every visitor to Berlin was dragged there with great joy. The quality steadily declined over the years. "Cash only" signs greet you at the entrance, allowing you to take an unintentional trip back to the 80s and 90s. This morning, a somewhat overambitious waiter sealed my impression. The latte was served as "milk soup," and the plates were handed over at mouth height. Extremely unpleasant. The breakfast was somewhat unimaginatively presented, and the toppings were more of a discount quality. A latte macchiato spoon was served to eat the egg (very runny yolk). The bread, on the other hand, was very pleasant and of the highest quality. The latte was less like a milk soup than a watery soup. What a pity. Farewell, dear Black Café. There's nothing between us in this lifetime.

The food was kicker, the service could be improved 😉

Only cash and only table bill are not necessarily trust-building

Do not go here unless you have cash!!! Apparently in Germany you need to have cash-behind the times🤨

My go-to spot in the heart of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, so close to the Arcaden, yet so far removed in style, atmosphere and coziness. Nothing is forced or pretentious in this place, you pay reasonable prices (last time I checked in) for amazing dishes and drinks (the only place that has a respectable Eisschokolade in all of Berlin)

The only one place opened so early in this area. Very efficient and English-speaking staff. They have a very tasty breakfasts and very good coffee. The plating of the food is outstandig, my "Tiffany breakfast" was so beautiful that I didn't know if I should eat it or admire it:) Agnes'is omlet was also very "beautiful". I highly recommend it!!!

Especially good for night owls. It's practically always open, there's always something to eat. And everything's good, too.

The café is iconic. You can get something to eat anytime, even in the middle of the night. I had schnitzel with potatoes at 3 a.m. It tasted pretty good. 👌🏻

The waiters were very friendly, but the food itself was unfortunately nothing special. We had Kaiserschmarren, a "Moskito" (sweet pancake), and hot chocolate. The "Moskito" (sweet pancake) wasn't tasty, and you could taste the hot chocolate, which was bought and sold as their own. Well, we only tipped because of the lovely waitresses. Unfortunately, half of the Kaiserschmarren stuck to the bottom of the plate.

18.09.25 Farmer's omelet was very tasty and thankfully not salted—at least not in my case. I was able to add more salt to taste. The service was excellent, and I had been there in March, which was just as good and the food was the same. The staff was the same, too. At least I saw the people who served me back then. That was in March 2025.

Such a cool atmosphere. And a wonderful club sandwich.

We were there on Saturday and the waitress was the nicest :)

The atmosphere is clean. The food is always delicious. A black coffee is always a hit.

A Berlin institution. The ambiance is authentic, the breakfast is OK for what's on offer, and the service is friendly. Unfortunately, they only accept cash, which generally results in a point or a 5% deduction for me, as it's not up-to-date in 2025.

No idea. Too loud and I've never been served quickly or anything, but I still come here often.

A very nice restaurant that's open all day. The food was delicious and the atmosphere unbeatable.

Unfortunately no longer open 24/7 but still very charming

The Kaiserschmarren changed my life

Cozy ambience, friendly service and great offers

Small mistakes are corrected immediately and the staff always remain very friendly.

Merlin is the best man. Friendliest service 10/10 We felt well looked after and will definitely be back because of him.

Cash only. Extremely slow service (think France). Smoking and non-smoking are mixed so you smoke whether you want it or not. The food is good, albeit quite pricey for the “experience”.

Very scenic, LGBTQ hub, but also cool for straight people....

I've been coming here for over 30 years, and it's always a must on every visit to Berlin. I must have had over 100 lattes by now... oh... simply wonderful.

Had breakfast there once. People were so nice and the atmosphere feels like a grandma's home <3 in the best way I wish they worked with BEVUP, so I could send treats to my friends there...

The bar with the best price-performance ratio in the entire area, always hot food, legendary opening hours. Excellent service. High-quality food and drinks, something the competition can't match. Highly recommended.

I heard from multiple people that I had to come here since I'm a big fan of traditional German food. We were in the area so I finally had my chance! We decided to sit in the back patio area, which is technically half-smoking/half-non, but honestly, you can't really avoid the smoke, though it wasn't too bad. I ordered the Kalbschnitzel of course and my date got the spinach Käsespätzle. Everything came out pretty quickly, which was good because we were hungry. The Schnitzel was decent. Not amazing, but solidly prepared and it hit the spot. The Käsespätzle was HUGE. My date could only finish half of it (with my help), so we had to take the rest to go. And it does re-heat well at home! For dessert, I'd heard great things about the Kaiserschmarrn, so we asked the waitress for it and sat in anticipation since it sometimes takes a while to make. We noticed a few other tables got Kaiserschmarrn before us and ended up waiting about 45m before asking the waitress if it was still on the way. It turns out it was forgotten somehow so we waited another 10m for a fresh one to be made. And while we were a little grumpy from the wait, we were both in ecstasy after digging in. The pancakes were so fresh and slightly undercooked (not sure if that was because they were trying to get it out so fast, but it made it more delicious), and the plum sauce (maybe actually cherry?) was great. While I wouldn't say it's worth an hour wait, I would definitely come back just for dessert and to give them another chance. Also, the vibe is really great throughout. It feels very authentically German while having a hipster vibe. I definitely recommend it if you're in the area!

One of my favorite cafés in Berlin! The outdoor area is especially beautiful in summer 🦋

Highly recommended for breakfast.

Whoever said Parisians were unpleasant never came to this bar....

Good option for both a short break and a long meeting with friends, plus a wide selection of drinks and dishes

I’m super picky with tiramisu and the matcha tiramisu here is incredible. Light and melts in your mouth.

Very loud and a long wait to order. The baguette was okay.

You can do that. So, the breakfast is very good for the price! But I think the atmosphere is much better in the evening if you sit downstairs, by the window or outside. It's not cozy or lovingly decorated in my opinion; the light upstairs seems cool, and the tables are close together. The service we had was quite nice, but nothing more. The restroom downstairs is incredibly dirty. So, Berlin vibes are there if you like them. I would definitely come back again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

The place is excellent, and of course famous for being a go to spot for David Bowie. The service is very German and a bit abrupt without being unfriendly

We've been here several times – it's fantastic. Good breakfast, very friendly service, very attentive and truly accommodating – even with special requests. Great! Highly recommended!

A sumptuous breakfast. The omelet was excellent, but the sausage and cheese were unspectacular. Service was friendly and quick. The ambiance was unusual. The downside: cash only!

Deyan is the best waiter. It was a lot of fun here. I highly recommend coming here.

Dejan is the best waiter and Alexander

In Berlin, people are happy to have a cafe that serves breakfast in the morning or all day

Table reservations can only be made via email and should be made at least two days in advance, according to the website. They also state a response time of around 32 hours; it can take longer on weekends. I also requested a table for 7 people two days in advance, and of course on the weekend. The response came just under 44 hours later, just 2.5 hours before the requested time. With 7 people, this was all too hasty for us, and in the meantime we had decided on another restaurant that could be reserved online with just a few clicks. No matter how good the location is, this process is completely outdated for all seven of us.

Very tasty vegetarian food (and I'm actually a meat eater) and the cocktails are terrific.

We came here for breakfast. A very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, friendly service. An ideal meeting place in the old west of Berlin. Everything was perfect. We'd gladly go back.

Friendly staff, convenient location near Savigny Platz. Beautiful little garden in back where we enjoyed coffee.

The food was mediocre and was served with a strip of plastic about 2 cm long and 2 mm wide, golden yellow, which I didn't get into my mouth until the end. As an apology, they only offered a coffee. On top of that, they only accept cash. That was it for me.

A really nice little place. Will be coming back.

a bit dated, but very authentic, very friendly staff

So, it's Thursday evening, and yes, the place is packed. Five of us are sitting at the table and we order five drinks. Mine doesn't arrive even after reordering. So I, the only one without a drink after 25 minutes, order another one and also an apple strudel. This time, the drink arrives after about 10 minutes, but the apple strudel takes at least 30 minutes to arrive. I know people who have worked here and was used to something different, so this experience was all the more of a low point. Maybe someone was missing, we don't know, and unfortunately, apart from a casual apology, nothing came. Too bad…

I used to love this place. Unfortunately our last visit wasn't so pleasant! Both my and my partner's food was not tasty at all. I don't know what happened to this "great" place?

On our second visit, we had to get up when we noticed that customers who arrived after us were being served despite a 20-minute wait. Even though we had ordered, the food never arrived.

A great place. With really nice people. But eating in the backyard with about seven people smoking weed around you isn't so fun—not to mention a no-go.

45 minutes for the process of ordering and receiving a beer. Strong

Got such a lovely and fun service despite visiting with three preschool aged hungry kids. Our five year old wanted Kaiserschmarrn, so the waiter took him to the kitchen to order it directly from the chef, which he did and was so proud the whole day. Highly recommended!

Super cute cafe, delicious and affordable food. Highly recommended.

Amazing food and open till VERY late, had good beers and the pasta with shrimp was amazing , didn’t expect it to be hot and was perfectly balanced. Definitely a must and became one of my favorite places in Berlin. Will come back definitely. Don’t miss this place! Just No card pay, bring cash ;)

Good food and attentive service. Points deducted for the lack of card payment options.

Very tasty food, fast and friendly service, and reasonable prices. The clientele is diverse and pleasant.

It's open until late at night and serves cocktails and hot meals throughout the night. The staff were very quick and very friendly. The overall atmosphere is quite good. The food was excellent and more than satisfying. The cocktails are also highly recommended. The prices are also quite reasonable. Overall, a very pleasant experience and definitely recommended.

An unrestored interior with a morbid charm, something you rarely find these days. I really liked it. I can happily recommend it.

This time we were here for breakfast, and it was delicious and filling. Friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere.

I've known the Schwarze Café for at least 30 years. If you're looking for a romantic or quiet evening, you're in the wrong place, as it's always very loud. The ambiance isn't my cup of tea, as the ceilings and walls are crumbling, but that seems to be the trend. It's not my taste. And yet I visit this café for one reason: The Kaiserschmarrn here is usually incredibly delicious. Usually because it's not always amazing. It can be deliciously light and fluffy one day and dry the next. I especially like the extra caramelized crust! I haven't been able to find a better Kaiserschmarrn, even in Vienna. Since the portion is very large, I recommend sharing it with another person.

Average food Stinks of weed. Does not take card. Was €1 short as I wasn’t aware they did not accept card. Waitress forced me to handover my ID card before allowing me to go to the ATM. If it was €100 or even €10 I would understand.But over €1 is just ridiculous

Absolutely recommendable!! We went there for breakfast and could hardly decide because the menu is so varied and everything sounds simply delicious. You can actually stay there from morning to night and eat your way through the menu. The staff are very friendly and attentive, everything is very casual, and the ambiance is that of an old Berlin apartment, which looks in need of renovation here and there, but that's what creates the special flair. Reservations recommended. We'll definitely be back 👌

My friend from Berlin goes here. His family during uni went there. Good student Café and restaurant, with good prices. Cash only. A place with tradition that survived 🔥 Great coffee and omelette.

It's quite okay. Like many things in Berlin, it's a bit overhyped in my opinion, but cult is cult, right?!

In the evening, the restaurant transforms into a bar, with excellent beer and a super-pleasant atmosphere. Whether you're a larger group or just the two of you, it's a great place to visit. Since the place is very well-known, it's best to make a reservation in advance.

Everything was great, great institute, thank you!

Super delicious food in a rustic and cozy atmosphere. Super friendly waiters and a wonderful location. Definitely not my last visit.

A Berlin original with a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for late breakfasts or drinks. The diverse offerings, from savory to sweet, and the charming courtyard invite you to linger. A must-visit on Kantstraße to enjoy the authentic Berlin flair.

Only went in for a beer, ended up staying till they closed great vibe and good service. The beer on tap was great. Will definitely revisit when I'm in Berlin again.

Service wasn't really attentive. Drinks orders (cocktails) came very slowly and only after repeated reminders. Food was good and a decent portion, came quite quickly.

I don’t recommend this place. The waiter did not inform us that payment was cash only until after we had already placed our order, at which point it was too late to cancel. When we raised the issue, he did not take any responsibility and simply said, “Sorry, it’s already ordered.” This was very unprofessional. He only started informing other customers after our situation, which shows a clear lack of accountability. Additionally, the menu is only in German, so a person from abroad would not understand that payment is cash only.

Food here is great. Have English menu. The portion is big too. Highly recommend. It’s 24/7. Came in the morning around 730am

It's actually a pretty nice café, but when I hear that they only accept cash payments, I wonder what century the café's owners live in. Hopefully, our future government will make such a thing impossible. The coffee was too hot and therefore bitter.

It was 15 years ago that I often visited Berlin and got to know and loved the Black Café For the extremely delicious food, the friendly service and a feeling of having arrived in a shabby chic, unpretentious and relaxed atmosphere. It's nice that I felt the same way today as I did back then. Bravo to everyone who works there and thank you.

Good place to eat with fruits and natural juices. Nice option on the patio. Greetings

I think it's really crazy that in 2025 there will still be bars where you can't pay with a card... actually a really cool atmosphere, the music is actually really chilling too, but you can't pay with a card? It's crazy