Berlin’s culinary scene truly leaves nothing to be desired. In addition to restaurants of all kinds, you can discover the latest food trends from around the world in one place at both traditional and modern food halls. From a 2,200-square-meter food hub with 24 restaurants to a massive, two-story, London-inspired food hall —the city’s modern market halls have long stood out as unique destinations in their own right. And that’s exactly why we’d like to introduce you to another one today: Kantini Berlin, one of the city’s most stylish food halls.
The modern market hall is located on the first floor of the iconic Bikini Berlin, right next to the Zoologischer Garten, and combines international casual dining with extraordinary architecture and urban design. Kantini is particularly well-known for the fact that you can not only sample food from all over the world there, but also enjoy a direct view of the Berlin Zoo .
The food hall was conceived as a so-called “design food court,” setting it apart from traditional food courts. The Berlin-based design studio Studio Aisslinger, led by Werner Aisslinger, was responsible for the extraordinary interior. The entire space covers approximately 1,800 square meters and combines colorful installations, open seating areas, modern materials, and creative spatial concepts. Particularly striking is the large loggia with a massive panoramic window, from which you have a direct view of the zoo’s aviaries.
Architecturally speaking, the location is also one of Berlin’s most exciting food spaces. Bikini Berlin itself is a historic building complex from the 1950s in City West and is now considered Germany’s first concept mall. Following extensive modernization, the historic building was transformed into a mix of design, fashion, dining, and event spaces . The combination of post-war architecture, modern concept stores, and creative dining gives the entire complex a very international and almost New York-like atmosphere.
Culinary-wise, Kantini focuses on international diversity rather than classic fast-food chains. In the food hall, you’ll find a wide variety of concepts—from Korean street food and Hawaiian poké bowls to Mexican tacos, Israeli cuisine, pasta, tapas, and modern vegetarian and vegan dishes. Many vendors change regularly, as parts of the concept are based on pop-up dining. This is precisely what keeps the offerings constantly evolving and makes them feel significantly more modern than typical shopping mall restaurants.
Another highlight is the atmosphere itself. With colorful seating areas, designer furniture, plants, open kitchens, and large windows, Kantini feels more like a stylish urban hangout than a typical mall food hall. Its location right next to the zoo, in particular, creates an unusual setting right in the heart of the city.
