Hearty, warm and traditional food – just the thing now that the temperatures are dropping in the fall. There are, of course, plenty of excellent restaurants in the capital: from culinary hotspots on Kantstraße to the city’s classics and Michelin restaurants – everyone will find something to suit their taste and preferences in Berlin. But Berlin’s gastronomic scene not only has impressive food to offer, but also restaurants full of history – the best example: “Zur letzten Instanz”. Berlin’s oldest restaurant was founded in 1621 and is still a popular place to feast, where traditional Berlin cuisine meets the demands of the present. If, according to legend, even Napoleon couldn’t resist – what are you waiting for?
The last resort
Waisenstraße 14-16 in Berlin-Mitte is home to a building from the 13th century that has been restored several times over the centuries, most recently after the destruction of the Second World War. In the 16th century, a brandy tavern was built here, which has had several names over the years. Today, it has become the rustic restaurant “Zur letzten Instanz”, which serves traditional German cuisine. The menu combines classic Berlin dishes with modern accents and sustainable ingredients. Head chef André Sperling focuses on regional products in collaboration with herb specialists from Wolkensteiner Hof and the Müritz fishermen for fresh fish.
For the autumn season, the menu includes pumpkin cream soup with thyme brioche, Königsberger meatballs with potato and parsley mash and grilled knuckle of pork with spiced red cabbage and potato dumplings – dishes that warm the stomach and make you happy all round. To round off the meal, there is the classically delicious red fruit jelly with vanilla sauce. The original names of the dishes are particularly charming: the grilled knuckle of pork is called “injunction”, the Berlin-style veal liver “cross-examination”. Details like these turn a visit into a culinary experience full of history and humor.
All around, “Zur letzten Instanz” offers a historic ambience in the listed building with a baroque spiral staircase, an old tiled stove, two cozy dining rooms, a separee and a beautiful beer garden with a view of the medieval city wall. Among the celebrities who have dined here are Loriot and Jack Nicholson. Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte was also a guest here. This may have something to do with his stay in Berlin in 1806 after the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt. The restaurant, which was founded in 1621, already existed at this time, so it is very possible that Napoleon himself or members of his staff ate here.
With its impressive history as the oldest restaurant in Berlin, the restaurant “Zur letzten Instanz” has become the central place to go for traditional dishes in the heart of the capital. You can always rely on good food, reasonable prices and pleasant company here!