Sometimes you don’t even have to go to a club in Berlin to experience a trip back in time. There are places in the city that look almost like they did in grandma’s day – cozy, a little plush and full of stories. Especially when it’s gray and uncomfortable outside, that’s exactly what you’re looking for: a warm place and a really good piece of cake.
If that’s exactly what you’re looking for, then you should make your way to the Moabit district. There, at Bartningallee 29, you’ll find a real Berlin original: Konditorei G. Buchwald. It’s not just any old café, but an institution and the place where perhaps the city’s most famous Baumkuchen is made.
Time travel with taste: the “king of cakes” in Moabit
Konditorei G. Buchwald has been around since 1852– that’s almost 200 years of baking history! The whole thing was founded by Gustav Buchwald, who originally started his trade in Cottbus. But he obviously did his job really well, because he was soon appointed purveyor to the royal court. Just imagine, kings have eaten this cake. Today, the store is run by the fifth generation and heritage is very important here.
When you step through the door in Moabit, it really does feel like a little trip back in time. The café is full of art nouveau wallpaper, old photos, display cabinets and memorabilia. It’s incredibly cozy and familiar, almost as if you were sitting in grandma’s living room. There’s none of the cool hipster aesthetic that you often find in Mitte or Neukölln. Instead, there is authentic, old-Berlin charm. You immediately notice that this is about tradition and quality.
The undisputed star of the house is, of course, the Baumkuchen, which is reverently called the “king of cakes”. And what makes it so special: It is still baked to this day according to an old secret recipe. In the video, you can see how the dough is applied layer by layer to a rotating roller (a spit) and baked over an open flame. This is real craftsmanship that you rarely find anymore. You can literally taste this tradition.
Of course, the cake also had to be tasted. The Baumkuchentorte (with chocolate coating, for €6) and a classic Baumkuchenspitze (for €4) ended up on my plate. And what can we say? The hype is real. Both pieces were incredibly fluffy, soft and pleasantly sweet. Not dry at all, which can easily happen with Baumkuchen. A real treat.
Even if the huge, meter-high Baumkuchen from old photos may no longer be in the café today, the cake is available in many practical sizes to take away. The counter is also full of a huge selection of other cakes, chocolates, pastries and even ice cream. So if you’re ever out and about in the Tiergarten, perhaps after a walk through the Großer Tiergarten, this is the perfect detour. You might also be interested in the nearby Arminiusmarkthalle for even more culinary discoveries in Moabit.
Everything you need to know for your sweet journey through time
📍 Location: Konditorei G. Buchwald, Bartningallee 29, 10557 Berlin (Moabit/Tiergarten).
🍰 Specialty: Baumkuchen (since 1852, “King of cakes”).
💸 Price example: Baumkuchentorte (piece) for €6, Baumkuchenspitze for €4.
✨ Atmosphere: Traditional, cozy, art nouveau (“just like grandma’s”).