This place is an extra special treat if you’re living in Berlin. The love and care that has gone into restoring and designing this glamorous 1920‘s coffee house is extraordinary. Freshly opened at the beginning of December 2012, we visited just before Christmas with friends, and we left enchanted. Every detail, from the plates, trays, cups, chairs, cutlery, artwork, ornamentation, and even the serving uniform, has been lovingly thought out and charmingly executed.
This grand old building, the lower part of the newly restored Haus Cumberland, has 8 metre high ceilings, cream and dark wood art nouveau decor, marble flooring, a stunning old clock at the entrance, and is framed throughout with tasteful paintings from (among others), esteemed Berlin artist George Grosz, after which the restaurant is named. Grosz was famous for caricatures of life in the 1920’s life in Berlin, and this restaurant pays tribute to those glorious times, but perhaps without the caricature. Charismatic music and the buzz of activity (it was completely full one week after the official opening) created a vibrant and sophisticated atmosphere, and the waitpeople were fast, efficient, and friendly to boot. Every waitress wore a slightly different version of the black and white frills so typical of waitstaff in the 20’s, every waiter was suave and well-groomed.
And then there was the hot chocolate. And the coffee. And the desserts. We may have baulked at the prices, but we were won over when it all arrived. Two generous balls of homemade chocolate for melting into an enormous pot of milk kept warm by the flame of a candle. There was enough hot chocolate in one serving for around three people, and it took a good hour to get through. This hot chocolate is not for the faint hearted.
Take your mother in law here, take friends who are visiting, take anyone you’re trying to impress, take your partner for a romantic (and slightly classy) dinner, or a Sunday afternoon coffee and cake after a stroll down the Ku’damm. Google George Grosz and read about his life and death – it’s fascinating stuff. The Kaffeehaus is expensive, but it’s high quality and it’s worth it, definitely one-of-a-kind. I personally cannot wait for another chance to take a guest to Kaffeehaus Grosz.
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