Van Loon Restaurant Boat and Shipping Company in Berlin

Great place to have a drink or a meal in a relaxed atmosphere, the fish and chips are amazing!

It's a wonderful place, with a peaceful and friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and lovely company. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful atmosphere, great food and good service!

The Christmas brunch was excellent! The food was varied and of great quality. The salads, pastries, and desserts were especially good. A wonderfully cozy atmosphere!

We took part in the boat trip with brunch buffet on Boxing Day. The selection and quality of the buffet were excellent, and the staff was very friendly. The drinks service was also very good. It was a wonderful experience that we would gladly repeat!

There were eight of us for the Advent brunch, and what can I say? It was fantastic! The selection and quality of the food were top-notch; everything tasted absolutely delicious, and they kept replenishing it. The staff was incredibly friendly (both in the front of house – a special thank you to the two hardworking women – and in the kitchen). The fireplace, little Lindt chocolate Santas, and the tasteful decorations made the experience even more special! THANK YOU!!!

I gave the brunch cruise as a birthday present to my partner. The waitress was fantastic, the staff were generally friendly, and the brunch was absolutely perfectly organized and delicious. Plus, it was a lovely drive through Berlin with a unique perspective.

We had a wonderful Christmas brunch with 15 people and EVERYONE was absolutely thrilled!

Very friendly staff and a beautiful ship :) Highly recommended.

A lovely Christmas brunch during a beautiful drive through Berlin. Everything was perfect and it will remain a wonderful memory.

Nice atmosphere, appealing menu (lots of fish) and great brunch on weekends.

Best Christmas dinner ever!! I'll definitely be back!!! Super friendly service! Fantastic culinary experience!

Advent boat trip on the Spree - highly recommended

A medium-sized group of seniors enjoyed an Advent cruise on the Phillippa, singing "Es kommt ein Schiff geladen" (A Ship Comes Laden), complete with music, readings, and songs from songbooks, along with coffee and cake. The fact that it didn't depart from the Urbanhafen harbor was no problem. The crew was fantastic, as always. The captain knew exactly where he was going. Sabine had baked a delicious cake. Marian offered kind words. It was great fun again, and yes, we'd love to do it again tomorrow... THANK YOU!!!!

The Van Loon restaurant ship is idyllically situated on the Landwehr Canal in the heart of Berlin, where you can observe many swans and other waterfowl. Brunch is a wonderful experience and highly recommended, as the buffet is very diverse and plentiful. The ambiance is very pleasant and the service is very friendly. I will gladly return.

We were a group of 19 friends for Sunday brunch. A long table was set up near the heated fireplace. It was cozy and warm, and the drinks we ordered arrived promptly. The buffet was excellent, with something for everyone, which really lifted our spirits. We decided to do it again, perhaps even on the ship. Thank you to all the staff and Merry Christmas!

Excellent service, very attentive and friendly. Pleasant atmosphere and the buffet was fantastic. Would gladly return!

Once again a cozy atmosphere (fireplace), very good buffet, friendly and fast service, would gladly come again.

Very nice restaurant, good service, good food.

That was a culinary delight of the highest order: a magnificent buffet with a fantastic selection of hot and cold dishes. The standard is back to pre-Covid levels. The view from the glass-enclosed bow is a real bonus, as is the unobtrusively attentive staff. Kudos! We will definitely be back.

In winter, the bow is incredibly cozy by the fireplace, and in summer it's worth enjoying good food and a cold beer on deck while watching the swans and strollers. A definite recommendation, and combined with a walk and ice cream near the Admiral's Bridge, it's a great tip for a trip to the countryside right in the city.

Great location, very tasty food. I can't think of anything that needs changing.

A beautiful location on the water. Surprisingly, it was also very warm. The food was delicious and some of it quite unusual. A fantastic brunch buffet!

A hidden gem far from the city. A warm and intimate atmosphere. We had lunch and stayed for dessert and a final glass of wine. Delicious and beautifully presented food. Quality ingredients. Courteous and attentive staff.

Great food, great service, romantic atmosphere. We'll be back.

The buffet is excellent, the service is very nice, friendly, and attentive. The atmosphere is very cozy, especially at the bow. Thank you so much! ❤️

We hosted another storytelling evening in the bow room. We, the storytelling group, as well as the audience, were very pleased. The service was excellent and the atmosphere fantastic.

Delicious breakfast, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Highlight: View and fireplace.

We felt very comfortable, right next to the cozy, warm fireplace. A very comfortable place, with a view of the Landwehr Canal that made us forget the constant drizzle. Good, plentiful buffet, attentive, friendly service – I'll gladly come back when I'm in Berlin.

We joined us a family had a wonderful brunch with a lot of self made food. Very delicious. Sitting next to Swans, in an old ship In Berlin0 Urbanhafen.

Brunchylunchy, In summary: everything was great 🥳 Great buffet, very lovely and attentive staff, cozy atmosphere, Thank you so much, it was wonderful!

Good food and a lovely atmosphere. Especially wonderful in summer.

We went for brunch on Sunday and were completely satisfied. A wonderful breakfast buffet with a great selection. We will definitely come back.

The food and the trip were great, highly recommended. Just one minor criticism: If you sit at the very back of the ship, you can't hear a single word of the greetings or farewells from the staff. A microphone would be a welcome addition.

We were a group of six and came for brunch. The buffet was truly extensive. There were many delicious little salads, a fish platter, a cold cut and cheese platter, dips, desserts... I hadn't even tried many of the things before. I ate my way through the entire buffet and didn't find a single thing I didn't like! The price is absolutely justified! The ambiance and the view were great, and the staff were friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back.

Consistently a pleasant atmosphere, friendly, attentive service and tasty food.

Once again, it was a delicious brunch. The selection is plentiful, and there's definitely something for everyone. The young and very friendly team is a joy to be with... see you next time.

Cozy atmosphere, beautiful panoramic view of the water, simply fantastic for large and small celebrations, very friendly, welcoming staff, quiet, relaxing ambiance both inside and out.

Three of us went to brunch on the Van Loon – and it was simply fantastic! The breakfast buffet was incredibly varied and lovingly prepared. There was a large selection of hot and cold dishes, including many vegetarian options. From fresh salads, cold cuts, and cheeses to hot dishes, pancakes, desserts, cereals, and sweet treats – nothing was left to be desired. The service was excellent – ​​friendly, attentive, and warm. We were lucky enough to get a cozy spot right by the fireplace with a view of the water – simply beautiful! Everything was just perfect here: the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the unique experience on the water. We will definitely be back and can highly recommend the Van Loon to everyone!

I'm always on the lookout for a new, great brunch spot, and this time I chose the Van Loon Schiff. Everything was just perfect. A wonderful Sunday brunch with a great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.

Delicious Sunday brunch on the ship.

We had a wonderful experience with very good service, delicious food and great weather!

Service was slow and server was VERY RUDE. Two stars for good food.

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, we, some family members, friends, and acquaintances, celebrated the birthday of a fatherly friend (which had taken place the previous week on September 30, 2025) and my own birthday on the docked Van Loon ship. From the initial tour of the facilities to the start of the Saturday, everything ran very smoothly. The accounting also worked on time, as we had hoped. All of the attendees of our celebration found themselves in a very cozy atmosphere on the ship. Everyone enjoyed the varied and delicious brunch offered, spread along the bar below deck. The staff made every effort to fulfill everyone's wishes as quickly as possible, with a clear overview and without any rush. We would like to once again thank the entire Van Loon team for the wonderful hours on the ship and look forward to your next visit.

Beautiful ambience in the middle of the Landwehr Canal

Great location with a fantastic view, great food. Large selection, very tasty and fresh. We just missed some fresh vegetables. The service was excellent! Unfortunately, it was incredibly cold (the heating couldn't be turned on), and it was quite drafty, making it quite uncomfortable. We wanted to leave quickly. That was a shame. Otherwise, absolutely recommended!

After a celebration and cruise on the JOSEPHINE, I can only say: it was fantastic! The crew provided excellent service and was very relaxed and friendly, especially with the children. The drinks and menu were also excellent (even adapted to various dietary requirements). The boat is electric and sits a little lower in the water, offering a very special view of Berlin.

It was a fantastic event! My guests also had nothing but positive things to say about the crew, the food, and the tour in general!

The place is nice, i went with my girlfriend to drink a coffee and some cake. We wanted to sit but one of the woman working for service was so rude to us…. we didnt order anything and left. There are many wonderful places in Berlin but not this one. Never again.

One of the waitress was super weird and rude. We wanted to sit upstairs and she didn't let us because the empty tables were reserved but one minute later we saw the people from two other tables leaving and one of her colleagues wanted to give us a table but she said nein nein in a horrible way. I even told her she wasn't being nice and she told me that it wasn't true so we immediately left. Never again :/

A birthday party with 30 people, professional planning, a high-quality and extensive buffet, and very friendly and reliable service—all in all, a successful event in a beautiful setting. Highly recommended!

The buffet was really excellent and really varied, really recommendable

I went there alone for lunch and the service was incredibly rude. They just flat-out ignore even if you beg for being served. If I could I would fire a U-boat torpedo on that ship, for lack of teaching them proper manners.

Nice ambiance, but the service was unfortunately not up to par: After asking twice, it turned out that our dinner order hadn't been taken. What a pity...

The location, right on the banks of the Landwehr Canal, with all the swans around and a view of the water, was perfect for a leisurely brunch. The attentive service, the varied and delicious buffet, and the sun deck on the ship were perfect for spending several hours there.

The buffet was okay. It looked nicer than it was. Otherwise, it was a lovely evening.

It was an all-around successful and fantastic trip, including the catering. Several guests also shared this feedback. Thank you very much.

We were there for the first time with 12 people, everything was good, we were unlucky with the food, the zander fillet strips were just crumbs, not strips, the baking crust was too small and too crispy for you to cut into with a fork, our plate for two people with different types of fish was the same, lots of small pieces that were so crispy that you couldn't taste the fish, what a shame, but we won't be coming back.

You're sitting on a boat with at least 100 swans, magnificent weeping willows, no traffic noise, the occasional excursion boat chugs by, and the sunset is yours! The food is wonderful; we had a bit of everything: vegetarian, meat, fish, vegan... Our group of 30 people was looked after exclusively by one person (wow!), and the drinks came quickly; the buffet was so tastefully arranged.

We went for brunch. The selection is diverse, with something to satisfy every dietary need.

A wonderful location with excellent food and good service, hard to beat given yesterday's weather. The value for money is reasonable.

Whether inside or outside, it's always nice to go there.

We had a lovely afternoon with very friendly and attentive service and, of course, delicious food. You can't afford it every day, but once in a while it doesn't hurt. Everything was top-notch!

The ambiance by the water is fantastic, the service friendly and attentive - the food was perfectly fine, but nothing I will remember for a long time

Nice evening event with a great 4 course menu, top service and staff and the evening cruise fits in with it

This is my favorite boat restaurant in a riverside park. I only had a beer today. It was a hot, sunny summer day, but the afternoon breeze was pleasant. It's a shame the riverside isn't very clean.

Chill area, beautiful lake, great food and friendly staff.

We held our wedding reception here and couldn't be happier! The venue is beautiful, with a very special atmosphere, and everything was perfectly organized. A big thank you to Saskia – she's a fantastic event manager who guided us with heart, professionalism, and attention to detail. Our guests were also thrilled. We highly recommend this venue and the team!

Very bazaar experience. The restaurant was not that busy. I sat and waited for a long while but none of the staff would acknowledge me even when I persisted to get their attention. I haven’t experienced this before.

The ambiance is really nice...unfortunately, there were a lot of wasps. You had to be very careful while eating and drinking. The wasps fit perfectly in a straw 😳 Service and staff were really top-notch. The food was good. It's a shame the bowl dishes didn't come in a bowl. That's a different kind of food. There probably weren't enough dishes... Nobody liked dessert. We had waffles, cake, tiramisu, crème brûlée...none of it was particularly good. The drinks are excellent.

Service and brunch were great. The location is beautiful but if you sit outside and want to eat sweet things there will be a lot of wasps. Didn't like having to choose a tip option when paying but that's becoming the case everywhere.

Extremely unfriendly and unsympathetic management staff! Since my original review of our authentic experience in July 2021 was recently deleted – a full four years later – due to alleged "defamation," I would like to recount the incident here with all relevant details. My wife was a patient at the adjacent Urban Hospital at the time and, due to major leg surgery, was wheelchair-bound, unable to stand up. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when visits were limited to a maximum of one hour per day. In front of Van Loon, there was a small snack and drink stand belonging to the restaurant. There, I ordered a drink and a snack for my wife and me each. To be able to sit down at eye level for a conversation, I asked the employee at the stand if I could borrow one of the nearby chairs for about 10 minutes. He agreed. Several women in civilian clothes were standing nearby with drinks in their hands. Because they weren't wearing work clothes, I assumed they were guests. A younger woman, approximately mid-to-late 20s, with a noticeably tanned complexion, suddenly approached me in an extremely harsh and loud tone, asking what I intended to do with the chair. I calmly explained that I had already clarified this with the employee, took the chair, and walked over to my wife. Just a minute later, the same woman approached us, walking quickly and obviously furious. Without warning, she loudly demanded that I return the chair immediately. When I asked who she was, she introduced herself as the restaurant manager. I explained the situation again, referring to my wheelchair-bound wife, whom I could only see for one hour a day, and that we would consume the food and drinks we had bought at Van Loon before I returned the chair immediately. She brusquely rejected this, saying that it didn't matter to her at all—she herself hadn't given permission. She repeated her demand several times in a loud tone, threatened to call the police, and emphasized that she needed the chair immediately. To avoid escalating the situation further, I finally returned the chair. On her way back, further inappropriate remarks were made. The entire incident—especially the manager's loud, aggressive, and seemingly unsuitable demeanor for an upscale restaurant in this exceptional situation—was so disturbing to us that we decided never to return. In my opinion, a restaurant that allows its management to behave in this way deserves no more than one star. This is not an attack, but rather a description of a real experience. Anyone who wants to avoid such assessments should place particular emphasis on empathy, social skills, and appropriate communication when selecting and training management.

Beautiful location on the ship, delicious food and friendly service.

Great evening cruise and bridge tour through the heart of Berlin!

We had a wonderful bridge tour brunch cruise! The buffet, which offered everything from a delicious breakfast to dessert, was delicious, varied, and plentiful. Particularly noteworthy was the attentive and friendly service, which always provided us with new drinks on time. The atmosphere was dreamy and perfect for a special occasion. The only minor criticism is the noise level on the ship, but it didn't detract from the experience. We'd love to come back!

We had a great time and will definitely do the brunch cruise again! Many thanks to the crew!

A wonderful evening with great food and a dedicated team! Highly recommended!

It was a truly wonderful evening...great staff...nice ambiance...great food...Thank you

The rosti with chanterelles was delicious! Lovely view of the lake and all the swans.

The fish and chips were SUPER TASTY 😋 😍👍I'll come back if the prices stay the same!!!

We held our summer party there—what a fantastic location! The team had a fantastic time. The food was delicious, and the service was very polite and prompt. We definitely recommend it!

We've been to Van Loon several times—on brunch cruises, evening cruises, and brunch on the permanent ship. It's always fantastic: great food, a great selection, and very friendly, fast service! Highly recommended!

I've been coming here for 15 years. The brunch is great (lunch is so-so, by the way). EVERY time, my friends and I get extremely annoyed about the brutally lousy "service." We asked for our drinks four times yesterday. They came when we were finished eating. Zero friendliness, no pleasantries, it's simply TERRIBLE. The location and brunch have "balanced" things out so far, but I'm so sick of it...

The food was plentiful, varied, fresh, and very attractively presented. The all-inclusive price of €69.50 is quite high, but completely justified! The staff were exceptionally friendly and attentive, fantastic! I celebrated my birthday there and was delighted with everything! My guests enjoyed it too; there was nothing to complain about. The three hours went by far too quickly. All in all, highly recommended!

Small but tasty menu, friendly service, nice ambience

Always a great place for a great meal. And we had fantastic service.

A really nice place to sit and enjoy the view, good service, but the food is only 3 stars.

...a beautiful view of the Landwehr Canal...great ambiance and friendly service...it's always worth a visit-:)

The buffet was incredibly delicious. However, it was very warm in the bow, and there seemed to be no ventilation. Upon request, we were promptly offered another seat.

High qualitativ food at appropriate prices. Dining on the ship is pretty nice too. I enjoyed my stay and would recommend the restaurant.

We celebrated a milestone birthday on the Josephine. The entire crew was friendly, and the service and food were excellent! All of the guests were thrilled with the atmosphere and the party!

It's a shame we used to have brunch here more often. But I don't think it's okay that you can only book online and pay a deposit that way. We would have paid in advance, but in cash, of course. Well, that was it for us! Not exactly customer-friendly, so I wouldn't recommend it.

Great place in Berlin Kreuzberg to chill and enjoy good fish. Very friendly staff.

Here you can sit comfortably, watch the swans, and eat and drink. The cakes look quite good, and the main courses were delicious. It would have been nice to have more than one tattered menu for three people. The wait for food was quite long.

A particularly beautiful spot on deck of the Van Loon in the Urban Harbor, with delicious fish specialties and friendly service!

Too expensive for this type of location

I reserved a table for a group event, and the communication was excellent. The restaurant was flexible and allowed us to order at different times to accommodate the group. A great view of the water and good service.

Nice and friendly staff, fast service but a bit over-enthusiastic. Every five minutes, you were asked if everything was okay. Plates and cups that you just needed were cleared away. That was a bit unpleasant. A boat was attached to the restaurant ship. Unfortunately, this time, this didn't offer a great view of the outside. The ship rocked a lot, and as soon as you looked out, you felt sick. It was usually nicer, as you usually had a great view of the water and the waterfowl.

I invited a few friends to brunch for my birthday. Everyone loved it. Unfortunately, the bad weather prevented us from sitting outside, and the air in the back room (with the fireplace) was very stuffy. Hence, the one point deducted for the ambiance. Otherwise, I was completely satisfied and would go back anytime!

We had a Family event on board of Josephine. The organization was flawless, food and service really good and the atmosphere of casually drifting down Berlin’s waterways and seeing amazing landmarks was marvelous- despite heavy rain!