We don’t necessarily have to be sitting at home to read a good book. In Berlin, when the weather is nice, you can either find a quiet spot in one of the city’s parks or make yourself comfortable in unique cafés —such as a former Shell gas station from the 1950s. Of course, the atmosphere is most authentic in a bookstore. But even there, you no longer have to limit yourself to just browsing the bookshelves. Because at Berlin’s largest bookstore, Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus, everything has revolved around the theme of indulgence since August 31, 2026.
Under the motto “Appetizer: Culture. Main Course: Indulgence,” this special food campaign runs through October 12, 2026, and combines literature and culture with culinary experiences. During this time, the well-known bookstore transforms into a veritable “paradise for foodies.” The campaign features numerous events and culinary experiences. Visitors can look forward to tastings, workshops, cookbook events, the latest food trends, and Berlin-made food products, among other things. In this way, Dussmann combines its core business—books, music, and culture—with an extensive culinary offering. So anyone browsing the various floors can combine their visit with food and drinks.
The restaurant Ursprung, located directly inside the Dussmann building at Friedrichstraße 90, plays an important role in this. As part of its current food campaign, Dussmann explicitly mentions lunch or dinner at Ursprung. The restaurant’s setting is particularly extraordinary: right next to it is the KulturKaufhaus’s famous vertical garden. The approximately 270-square-meter green wall consists of more than 6,000 tropical plants and creates an exceptionally green atmosphere right in the heart of Berlin-Mitte.
Culinary-wise, Ursprung operates under the “Planet!Based Food & Drinks” concept. This isn’t simply a purely vegan or vegetarian restaurant. Rather, it aims to combine sustainability, health, and indulgence. The menu features both plant-based interpretations and classic dishes, with parts of the selection changing regularly.
Among the dishes presented by Dussmann are, for example, “Waffles from One Thousand and One Nights” with eggplant, chickpeas, and ras el hanout, chicken fricassee, and the so-called “Catherine’s Cakes, ” whose recipes trace back to Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann. Drinks are also part of the gastronomic concept.
In addition to the main store, there’s now also the KulturKafé on the second floor of the KulturKaufhaus . There, too, the focus is on food and drinks. The menu features regional and organic products, homemade dishes, selected wines, and cocktails, among other offerings.
