Van Loon Restaurant Boat and Shipping Company in Berlin

Wonderful location with excellent food and good service, hard to top given yesterday's weather. Price-performance ratio 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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

Small but tasty menu, friendly service, nice ambience

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!

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...

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

Superbly varied breakfast buffet. Fantastic and friendly service. Nice location on the water. Parking isn't so easy.

I hadn't heard of this restaurant ship before, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The food was very good, and the price/performance ratio was right. Before or after, the area is perfect for a stroll.

The ship itself is a fantastic location. The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic. It's perfect for both spontaneous dining and private events.

This was such a special and beautiful tour. The staff was so genuinely friendly, caring and thoughtful!!!!! They seemed to all enjoy their job which makes it a great atmosphere. Thank YOU! The Food was delicious. I could have had more. I cannot recommend this special Evening Tour highly enough. Super nice guests on board too. Hopefully we will be back soon with some more friends.

It was a very nice experience. Friendly and attentive service. Good food with a good wine pairing. I wish the portions were larger so I was really full at the end. The atmosphere on the boat was lovely. Despite the 3-hour ride, it was almost stressful between the food and the view of the city :)

We held a farewell party on board. The food was delicious, the service excellent. The arrangements we made in advance were executed perfectly. The delicious desserts, in particular, were the icing on the cake for the entire meal. All in an idyllic setting. A thoroughly successful evening. Thanks to the van Loon team.

Super nice location. Great little buffet. Not everything was always in stock, but they keep restocking. It's very nice to sit outside on the water.

Our birthday party had a wonderful time. The Van Loon team took wonderful care of us. With the warm temperatures last Saturday, the table up on deck was perfect and beautifully decorated. Thank you so much for all your hard work and support. I had a wonderful birthday on the Van Loon.

A very nice spot on the Landwehr Canal. The food was delicious, but the menu was limited. No meat dishes and no ice cream. The staff should be better trained in keeping track of guests, so that you don't have to wave and call repeatedly to be served, even if you were seated beforehand. Perhaps it was also due to the heat.

I celebrated my birthday there with 46 people as a brunch and was extremely satisfied. Both the preparation and coordination as well as the event itself were excellent. The service was attentive, courteous, friendly, and very helpful – outstanding in my opinion! The brunch lunch is also delicious and highly recommended! My guests were thrilled, and I had a wonderful celebration!

We took a beautiful and personalized cruise on the "Josephine." A wonderful ship, with a great crew and excellent food. Because the ship is electric, a very pleasant and peaceful atmosphere prevails throughout the entire trip.

I booked the Van Loon Restaurant Boat for a birthday party, and it was a wonderful celebration! The ambiance right on the water is unique, the service was excellent and super friendly. The food was fantastic; the grill buffet offered something for everyone, including vegetarian and vegan options. The rack of lamb, the shrimp skewers, and the ribeye were particularly delicious. Everything was perfect, five stars, and a huge thank you!

Fantastic place for lunch of dinner, the food was good and the service is fantastic. We were there for lunch gets bit hot on the roof but has a plenty of seats indoors.

Great buffet and great atmosphere!

Unfortunately, small dishes are disappearing from the menu more and more. There used to be vegetable sticks or gratinated goat cheese. All gone. If you just want a bite to eat, you've got a problem. Otherwise, the service is charming and terrific, the ambiance on the water in the cozy urban harbor, surrounded by swans, is unbeatable – and they can cook, too. I would only advise against the sweet potato fries; I'd recommend ordering the regular chips instead.

Fantastic weather and a fabulous seat on deck with a view of the Urbanhafen and the swan colony

In der Portion Fish&Chips waren gerade mal drei Stückchen Fisch. Traurig bei einem Preis von 8,50€ Kann ich nicht empfehlen, ansonsten netter Service.

We attended a wedding here. Everything was great – super friendly and attentive staff.

We attended a wedding here. Everything was great – super friendly and attentive staff.

We were there for brunch this weekend. There's a small buffet with a wide selection and great things to eat. Everything was delicious, lovingly prepared, and of excellent quality; everyone gets their money's worth here! The weather was great, and we were able to sit outside on the deck. Parking is available nearby (though you have to look for it), the service is good, and the restrooms are clean. We'll definitely be back; it was really, really nice!

Eat on the water amongst the swans. Very nice. Chilly location

Top-notch service! Tables are always kept clean. The staff is very attentive and extremely friendly. The buffet is a dream, with so much attention to detail! Simply unique. We'll be back again and again!

A very nice location and very friendly service. The food selection was fantastic, including many vegetarian and vegan options. I'd definitely go back!

Great food, very friendly staff, and an atmosphere like a mini-vacation! The strawberry waffles are especially recommended.

I highly recommend it...especially for smaller birthday parties. Very nice crew...good value for money! My guests were thrilled with the tour, the atmosphere, and the food and drinks.

It was our first cruise, and we're thrilled. Everything was perfect: a lovely atmosphere, a great buffet, and attentive service—it couldn't have been better.

An absolute insider tip in Berlin. Whenever we're there, we go there and are pleasantly surprised.

Beautiful. We sat at the very front of the ship with delicious food and great service. Always a pleasure.

Delicious food, friendly service, and a lovely atmosphere. We'd gladly return.

As an event agency, we regularly host groups at the van Loon Restaurant Ship. The food is consistently delicious, the service on the day itself is super professional and always friendly, as is the contact prior to the event. And the ambiance on the water is always a dream. We'd love to come back.

It had always been my dream to celebrate at VanLoon. So I decided on a milestone birthday. Everything worked out wonderfully. I received excellent advice right from the reservation stage, was able to adjust the number of participants right up until the last minute, and then the actual brunch. All my guests were delighted with the extremely varied, delicious, and consistently fully stocked buffet. And we enjoyed impeccable service. Thank you so much! I'd be happy to come again...

This is the second time I've celebrated my birthday here in a small group on deck. The likelihood of it happening again is quite high, because I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the food. Thank you for the wonderful time.

A favorite spot in Berlin – views of the water and the swans, friendly staff, delicious, lovingly prepared food that's truly special in its combination. I've celebrated there several times and have always had a great experience with my reservations for larger groups. Good to know, though: They close at 10:00 PM, which feels too early in the summer.

A great combination of brunch and sightseeing of Berlin's city center from the water. Everyone loves it and it's always a hit.

Delicious dishes, nice service, great atmosphere ;-)

At brunch, high-quality products, a great team and beautiful furnishings.

What a fantastic location! We were there for business – fantastic, friendly, professional service, incredibly delicious food, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Cozy atmosphere on a former excursion boat, with a beautiful view of the water and the elegant swans.

Everything was perfectly arranged for my son's confirmation. We felt very comfortable. The food was excellent.

On a balmy summer evening in the countryside by the water (Landwehrkanal, Alter Urbanhafen) in the heart of Berlin, there's no way around the atmospheric ship restaurant "Van Loon." A small but very fine menu with delicious fish specialties, served by exceptionally friendly, attentive staff. Highly recommended.

We went for brunch on Sunday. Great selection, everything I tried was delicious!

Great food. Great view with swans....

The food is good, the location is beautiful—you eat right on a boat, which certainly justifies the prices. The menu is a bit too extensive; I would have preferred fewer dishes, but more refined and more related to the lake. As it is, an excellent example of a successful business model. Overall, 4 stars.

It was cool, the team was very nice! Super delicious food The kids had a great time too! Waterproof boat tour!

Dear Van Loon team, we had a wonderful evening with delicious food and drinks and very attentive and friendly service. The tour through the Landwehr Canal and the Spree River was also fantastic. Highly recommended!

We've been here several times, like every time, super delicious food, great drinks and great service. Thanks

Yes very. It's a very relaxed brunch and a different breakfast in the fresh air. The staff is also very friendly and committed. Everything very freshly prepared. We'd love to come back.

We were there today for Mother's Day brunch and we really enjoyed it again. The service was very nice and accommodating and the buffet is always replenished and is very tasty

Beautiful ride, very nice service and thanks to the solar power, you can have a wonderful conversation. Thanks to the Van Loon team!

One of the most beautiful corners of Berlin for summer. A must and highly recommended

I was there many years ago, back then as a company dinner. I had fond memories of it and therefore suggested to my friend that we go there during our stay in Berlin! As I remembered, it was really great! Beautifully located, delicious food and good service! If I'm ever in Berlin again, I'll come back!😊😍

Excellent restaurant. Excellent service, delicious food and great atmosphere.

We had a very nice time on board. I can only recommend it.

If you like fish, this is the place for you. But there is also a sufficient non-fish offering.

We come here every now and then to have breakfast in a great atmosphere The service is great!! Very attentive, sometimes perhaps even too attentive

It was a great breakfast experience, great staff.

Had the all-you-can-eat brunch for €20 and loved it. Great mix of healthy options like salads and fruit, along with indulgent treats like pancakes, eggs and bacon, and mozzarella sticks. Perfect way to spend a weekend morning. Plus, dining with a view makes it even better! Reservations recommended. The inside seating was quite stained and old but otherwise great!

Everything was beyond perfect! Thank you so much to the whole team 😊

Nice and quiet ambience. Friendly and relaxed service!