In the mood for a real foodie adventure in Berlin again? Then you can pretty much always count on finding new culinary highlights in the city. From all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream to Thai tea bingsu —wandering through Berlin with a bit of an appetite is almost always a good idea. And if you’re in the mood for a new taste experience, we have this tip for you: Nona Manis stands out from typical Berlin specialty coffee spots primarily thanks to its Indonesian and Southeast Asian-inspired flavors.
On the dessert counter, ingredients like pandan, coconut, palm sugar, and ube come together in modern dessert creations. These flavors, in particular, have been rather rare in classic Berlin cafés until now, making Nona Manis an exciting addition to the capital’s café scene.
One of the highlights is the Klepon Cake for 4.50 euros. Klepon is actually a traditional Indonesian dessert made from glutinous rice or glutinous rice flour. It’s shaped into small green balls, which are traditionally filled with palm sugar and then rolled in shredded coconut. Pandan provides the characteristic green color and distinctive aroma. At Nona Manis, this traditional flavor combination is reinterpreted and served as a cake that highlights the flavors of pandan and coconut in particular.
Another extraordinary creation is the Ube Mochi Cake for 5.50 euros. Ube is a purple yam that’s frequently used in Filipino cuisine, particularly for sweet dishes, and gives desserts their striking purple color. Mochi cakes are typically made with glutinous rice flour , giving them a particularly soft, elastic, and slightly chewy texture that’s quite different from classic cakes. At Nona Manis, the Ube Mochi Cake is also paired with a cream cheese component.
In addition to the unique cakes, the café also offers a variety of drinks. Since Nona Manis is still relatively new and the menu is subject to change, it’s worth checking the current selection before you visit.
You’ll find Nona Manis at Karl-Marx-Allee 110 in Friedrichshain. The café is located right on one of East Berlin’s most famous streets and is a wonderful stop on a stroll past the impressive architecture of Karl-Marx-Allee. The café is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ; it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
