Trim the price...London

This new category aims at offering you the best snips and bargains there are, because traveling does not have to be pricey. 

So, as I just went to Londontown, the first will be about flying to, sleeping in and eating at the exciting capital.

All right, first things first: the flight. If you really want to save money and don't really care about comfort, chose Ryanair. If you like to have more space and free meals, chose either AirBerlin or Lufthansa.

If you want to go for a weekend, there are some really amazing offers. You can fly from €38 from Berlin to London Stansted with Ryanair and from €99 with Lufthansa to Heathrow.

Arriving in London, if you land in Heathrow you can chose between three different ways to get into the city: by tube, with the Heathrow express or with a taxi. It's £4 with the tube, which takes around an hour or 90 minutes, £18 with the Express and takes around 20 minutes and around £50 with taxi taking 35 minutes out of your time.

There are loads of cool hotels that don't take all your money and are really well situated. If you don't want to spend a lot on hotels, I recommend the Astors Hotel. There are several in London from which you can chose: there is one in Victoria, at Hyde Park, in Kensington, at Piccadilly Circus and in Queensborough Terace. Prices for a double room range from £30 to £50 a night, which is really reasonable, especially in a really pricey city like London. Eating out in London can also be rather expensive, but there are also loads of possibilities to eat at low prices. If you like Italian food I can recommend "Bella Italia" near Oxford Circus in 25 Argyll Street. It has great food like pasta and pizza, so real italian dishes. Furthermore, there's Jamie's Italian, Jamie Oliver's chain, which is also really really good. There are loads of indian, japanese and thai restaurants which are all very good and reasonably priced. Check out the Covent Garden area and The Strand as well as Camden. I just went to a Belgian restaurant called Belgo centraal, near Covent Garden, where I had really good mussels with tomato sauce. As you can really argue about taste I'll leave you to make your own choices, but if you have any questions just mail me.

So, all in all, with flight hotel and food for three days you can have a wicked weekend for just around £170. Mind you, that's the kind of money you can spend on a room in an exclusive hotel...for one night!! So why not just try to make the most with very little. That's "Trim the Price...London edition"!

Overview:

£  40,00 - flight

£  16,80 - public transport (£5,60 for a day Zones 1 and 2 for and adult off-peak)

£  60,00 - 2 nights in a double bedroom (breakfast included)

£  20,00 - lunches

£  30,00 - dinners

----------------

£166,80

Travels to...London: Style

So, as London is one of the most stylish cities imaginable, you have to adapt to it, of course without losing sight of your own style. As I went for a casual weekend, I mostly chose comfortable clothes, that would take me throughout the entire day, suitable for day and night. The only exception was the dressier attire for the Tea at the Ritz, which was directly after Camden Market, so I just changed shirt and trousers. Fortunately, the weather was supposed to be really good (which it was, actually), so I didn't really need thick jackets or coats and I could go out with just a tee and a blazer (well, and trousers, of course)

 So, this is my London style.

Portobello Rd. Market with
grey trousers, white V-neck tee,
braces, brown boots
and black jacket

Airport style, with grey blazer
with buttons, gray jeans and boots

At Camden Market with jeans,
navy suit, V-neck tee and
brown boots

Tea at the Ritz with navy suit,
black shirt and trousers,
red tie  and brown boots

Shopping on Oxford Street with
black jeans, military jacket and
brown boots

Customise your stay

Introducing a new topic, "Customise your stay" aims at improving your stay and make the best of your travels. Instead of only doing the "usual touristy" things,  I will give you useful tips, information and advice to make the most of your travels. You can find cool pubs, awesome shops, great restaurants, interesting museums and hints to have a brilliant night out to in each city that will make your journey absolutely unique. The first post will be out soon, so have a look and get inspired!

Travels to...London: Souvenirs

When traveling I always bring back gifts for my mates. I always try to keep it simple and coming from the heart as I don't think it's important that you bring something big and expensive but something personal.
This year for example, I brought a bracelet for my mate, with three coins on black leather, a leather book for another friend, bracelets and handmade candles, DVDs, toffee, tea, a silk kimono from Camden Market with matching earrings for my girlfriend and a big box of Ben's Cookies.
But of course, I always buy something for me, as especially London has such a vast variety of brilliant stuff.
So here's an overview of popular things right now.

- The Inbetweeners Season 3
- a vintage British military jacket from WW II from Camden Market
- red and white braces from Covent Garden
- a golden and leather spyglass from Portobello Road Market
- 2 for £10 Tees from TOPMAN
- a feather ring from Covent Garden
- EMPIRE magazine
- HMV's 3 for 2 CDs and DVDs
- an Abercrombie & Fitch sweater
- I <3 Camden Buttons

I especially love my new military jacket! It's absolutely awesome and it was really really low priced!
So, whatever it is you like to bring from your travels just post them!

Travels to...London: The Markets

So, a thing I'm really excited about London are the markets. I'm really torn to name a favourite. I used to like Portobello the most, but with time another market started to grow on me very very much and that's Camden Market. Covent Garden is also completely brilliant, but I think you can't really compare the markets, as each market is entirely different. Portobello is all about antiquities and food, Camden is about the crazy stuff, like military jackets and gas masks and Covent Garden is rather posh with the best cupcakes store in the world (and I'm not particularly fond of either chocolate nor sweets!).

So, if you want to spend you entire day going to the markets I'd recommend you to start with Portobello Market. Now, I don't know where you're traveling from but I'd say that if you go by tube, Notting Hill Gate is the one. Look out for possible interruptions in the Central Line, especially at the weekends, as the town council is improving the tube for Olympia 2012. This time I'll be staying at the Quality Maitrise Hotel Maida Vale (which I will talk about later). The nearest tube station is Kilburn Park, just around the corner, so I take the tube to Paddington, either with Bakerloo, Circle or District line and from Bakerloo I either take the Circle or District line. It takes me 20 minutes. I prefer getting up really early (well not THAT early, but still too early for some people to cope), so I'd say around 8. I have a quite bite to eat and then I start thus early to be at Notting Hill Gate around 9.45 am. From there it's just a short walk to Portobello Road. Another possible tube station is Bayswater, it doesn't really make a difference. So, I like to go there early before all the tourists come and havoc breaks. One thing you HAVE to do, and that's why I'd recommend you exit at Notting Hill Gate is a man and a woman with their little vending machine, where they make the best Iced Lemonade in the world! It's absolutely brilliant! Do go and try some! At the market I just like to stroll around, buy some rasberries or pineapples and eat them while browsing through some old furniture displayed in the shops around the street, which must not be missed! I also like to buy some street plates as gifts for my mates (you know, the street signs that say "Portobello Road", "Oxford Circus" and stuff). If you want to go all touristy, you can also buy a jumper with "I LOVE LONDON" embroidered on your chest.

If you haven't had any breakfast yet and if you have a sweet tooth go to Hummingbird Bakery and try one of their cupcakes they are really good. And if you like to buy some original souvenirs or if it's just for yourself go to Lush, where you can purchase all sorts of soaps, bathing bubble balls, shower gels and jellies (but do NOT try to eat them! I know, they look ridiculously like food, but don't have a bite, believe me, I tried..)

All right then, off to the next market, Camden Market. At Notting Hill Gate, you take the Central line either via Hainault or via Epping. At Tottenham Court Road you change to the Northern Line via Charing Cross. After a 29 minutes ride you arrive in Camden Town. You can also exit at Chalk Farm, but I mean, if you go to Camden Market you also have exit at Camden Town, common sense, easy as that. As you exit the station you simply follow the masses (well you can be lucky, there aren't ALWAYS that many people there). If you're into shoes check out the Dr. Martens store on the way, they have a great collection of boots in all form and sizes.

All right, Camden Market, here we come. Entering the market is like entering a completely different world. There are some places where you feel that you've just entered something completely new, like the New Year's Fair of Surprises on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's Old Town. You have several markets combined in one: there's the Lock Market, the Stables Market, the Canal Market, each with their individual style. I particularly like the Stables one, they have really amazing stuff there (and also slightly crazy things, too). The military jackets are awesome and I'm not too sure I won't buy one this time.. just saying. The gas masks, as I've already mentioned, are really cool and a bit creepy too..but you can also buy "normal" stuff like jumper and shoes, clothes in particular. DVDs and records, CD's and books, scented candles (don't know if they apply as normal, though) and all kinds of esoteric things. Right at the canal, there are several little booths where you can buy your lunch. There's chinese food, turkish, indian and spanish things you have to try because they're really good! You can spent here as long as you like as it doesn't get boring at all, but that's just me. 

So, if you want to continue the "market crawl", it's off to Covent Garden. From Camden Town you take the Northern Line to Leicester Square and from there you take the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden. It takes approximately 23 minutes. The market's right around the corner. It's posher than the other two, but equally great. As already mentiones, try the cupcake store, it's really good. Other than that, there are little booths where I once bought a great pair of shoes for just 4 Pounds and I still have them, so the quality can't be that bad. You can get bargains and rarities everywhere here, so just keep your eyes wide open while strolling around. I promise you, you won't regret it.

So, whether you're a Portobello type, a Camden crazy or a Convent Garden lover, in London, there's something for everyone. You just have to go out and explore.

Travels to...London: Introduction and City Sightseeing Hop On/Off

All right, so the first thing I do when I'm planning a travel (and when I do, I do it to the extreme) is being organised and have a plan! 

In contrast to my real life, where I'm rather spontaneous and laid-back, I need strict and elaborate plans for my journeys.

Usually, my plans consist of a chart, in which I say:

Date, Time, Plan, Duration, Price, Street, Tube, !!!! (for important information). 

I like to have every little thing checked, so that I can make the most of my travel.

Take my next trip to London, for instance. It's the 3000th time I'm going so I wouldn't normally do the stuff I am doing this time, because I've already seen a really great deal of it, but as I'm traveling with other people and they don't know London at all (yeah, I know, strange..) I had to work out a plan that includes the standard London things, like the Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, but which also includes my all-time favourites like the Portobello Road Market, Camden Market and Covent Garden, the British Museum and a little shopping on Oxford Circus (which will be discussed in a later post). 

So, to be able to see all the interesting sights for tourists I decided to take the City Sightseeing Hop On/Off Red Bus Tour, which covers pretty much the entire centre of London, which can be seen in the City Sightseeing Hop On/Off Map.

We will take the bus at Haymarket, near Trafalgar Square. When I go with people and I have to do the "London essentials", how I like to call them (and which I'm slightly fed up with, like London Eye), and we go on the Hop On/Off, I would always recommend the Red Line. It starts at Haymarket and the first thing you see is Trafalgar Square, which I personally really like, because there are so many memories connected to it, like sitting on one of the lions, splashing water from the fountain with friends and a mate getting told off because she got into the fountain and just walked around. Great place. 

The bus continues via Whitehall, where you can see Downing Street, where the PM, lives, to Big Ben and the Parliament buildings. From there it goes to London Eye, Waterloo Station, St. Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and back to Big Ben via Embankment. From there it's Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station, Hyde Park and Marble Arch. The last leg of the tour consists of Madame Tussaud's, The Sherlock Holmes Museum, the Telecom Tower and Oxford Circus. After this you're back at Haymarket. I think this tour covers pretty much every interesting sight of London tourists might enjoy.

Travel Quote of the Day

I think that travel comes from some deep urge to see the world, like the urge that brings up a worm in an Irish bog to see the moon when it is full.  
~Lord Dunsany

New Category: Travels to...

This is a new category, first introduced, well, today. It focuses on my travels, basically, and as I'm off to London on Friday I thought it appropriate to start it today.
It includes parts of my itinerary, the clothes I'm wearing (always important to keep in mind while traveling) and the stuff I do.
So, the first post is due soon.

Hotspot of the Day

Hard Rock Café Roma
Hard Rock Cafe Roma
Via Vittorio Veneto 62
00187 Roma, Roma

@: Hardrock Café Roma

Apologies

Dear Reader,

My apologies for not having been around lately, but I had so much on my plate, that I haven't been able to blog. Now, with a little extra time I will blog on a more frequent basis.
And as I will be travelling a lot in the next time there will be loads of new things to read you can be looking forward to.

Frost

Travel Quote of the Day

"Travel is fatal to prejudices, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

- Mark Twain

Lucca Stone House, San Ginese, Italy

Have you always wanted to spend your holidays in Tuscany, with it's beautiful scenery and cypresses and with nothing but quiet peace all around you? If so, this could be interesting for you:
Just outside of Lucca, not being a very big town itself, there is the small village of San Ginese, which you will only be able to find with the newest GPS systems (and maybe not even with them). There is not much to see in this village (I can't even say I was very much impressed by Lucca), except for a few little restaurants that happened to be closed all at the same time when I stayed in San Ginese, a post office and, well, that's probably it. So you might think this place has got nothing to offer you. Wrong!
All you need to do to spend one of your most peaceful holidays ever in San Ginese, is to book a room in the "Lucca Stone House". 
"Lucca Stone House" is a lovely little accomodation, run by an Englishman and his Italian wife. You can choose between the rooms or the apartments. If you decide to take a room, you will have to share the bathroom with other guests, whereas the apartments have an their own bathrooms and a kitchen. 
As I have only stayed in one of the apartments so far, I can only tell you about them. If staying in one of the apartments, you need to take care of all your meals yourself, which is no problem because there is a supermarket nearby, where you can buy everything you might need. The apartment size is sufficient and the kitchen is fully equipped. There is no air conditioning, which could be a problem in the summer, especially in August, but you can't miss the chance of staying at the Lucca Stone House because of this. The house itself is really, really pretty and there is a big courtyard with a place to eat sit and some deck chairs. There is also a huge garden with a small swimming pool, which the guests are welcome to use. 

Sitting in the courtyard you might quickly find yourself in company of a one or two cats and the owners' friendly dog. The Lucca Stone House is the perfect location if you just want to relax, enjoy the scenery and the sun, read a book or two or just do nothing at all. Can you really think of anything more peaceful? 
It might also be interesting to visit the Stone House in the winter, which is possible, because the apartments can be rented all throughout the year, while the rooms are only available from April till the beginning of November. 
So please make sure you visit Lucca Stone House during your next tour throughout Italy.


Lucca Stone House
Via dei Centoni
55012 Capannori LU, Italien
338 7429012


@: mpaolapar@yahoo.it
Home: http://www.luccastonehouse.com

Prices:

Rooms: 50 Euro per night

Apartments: 75 Euro per night for 2 persons. 

There are special offers, if you want to stay for a whole week, depending on the time of the year.

Announcement

Dear Readers,


there are many new categories like the "Bloody Hell, Don't!" and "The Bottom 10" one as well as new posts coming to Wonderland, so stay tuned for the latest!!
_

Songs you need to listen to while travelling...

...from Barajas Airport, Madrid to Salamanca:

"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan

Dublin, Ann's of Howth

 Compared to London, Madrid and all the other European capitals, Dublin seems like a town rather than a big city. However, it’s by far Ireland’s biggest and most exciting city.

Only very few visitors will fear getting lost and some might even miss the noise and the traffic they are exposed to at home.

But instead of recommending the most crowded or central hotels, I would like to advise you to choose a very nice accomodation in an even smaller village outside of Dublin:

A little B&B called „Ann’s“ in Howth.

Howth is a little fishing village, about 15 kilometers from the city centre and it is just extraordinarily beautiful with hiking paths along the coastline, its amazing view over the sea and most of all, the cosy little harbour where you can even see seals waiting for the tourists and locals to throw them some fish.

And there it is, just right next to the coast and the harbour: Ann’s B&B, owned by a very nice couple and their cute and equally friendly dog, Bess.

There are four cosy bedrooms with a view over the harbour and WiFi-connection. The bathrooms are ensuite and you can find a TV in each room (which you will probably not need, because you might rather choose to spend your evenings strolling around the village or visiting Dublin city).

To get to the rooms, you can either use the stairs or, if you are carrying heavy luggage, you can take the tiny elevator, which is also some kind of adventure.

Next to the B&B there is a little kiosk, which is also run by the B&B owners.

I myself have never had breakfast at Ann’s because I’ve always had to be in the city centre very early, but I’m sure it’s fantastic and it’s served from 8.00 – 9:30. There are also special offers for vegetarians, if you inform the owners in advance. Included in the full Irish breakfast you can have eggs, fruits, toasts, juices and more.

It’s not a big deal to take the bus or the DART (train) to the city centre, as it just takes 30 minutes and you will certainly enjoy the exciting ride on the bus. I won’t tell you too much here, as I don’t want to spoil the experience for you. Let’s just say the driver’s tend to drive a little venturously.

To complete your stay in Howth don’t miss the Burgers at Caffè Caira (see seperate blog entry). 

home: http://www.annsofhowth.com

Room rates:

Room rates:

Double/Twin €40-€50 pps

Single €60

Venice, San Clemente Palace and Resort

On the island of San Clemente in the middle of the lagoon lies a pink hotel. Its name?

San Clemente Palace and Resort.

The hotel praises itseld as a luxury resort with spectacular views of Venice, its lagoon and Giudecca Island. But it has so much more to offer.

Well, to start of, the obvious has to be stated first. San Clemente is an exclusive 5 star luxury hotel with a rather unique location in the middle of the lagoon, an ideal position and destination for weekend get-aways or full length holidays. On 65.000 square meters it lies between Giudecca and the Lido of Venice. An intriguing part of the hotel is the old church and graveyard, built in 1131 of which parts that haven't been destroyed during several wars can still be admired and visited.

After an enjoyable drive with one of the motorboats either from Piazza San Marco or Marco Polo Airport you arrive on the yeti on San Clemente Palace and Resort. Several butlers and concierges are at your disposal to help with your lugagge. The first time I arrived on San Clemente was in the late afternoon, the sun was already setting and the lights were on. It gave the hotel a romantic, yet eerie atmosphere. From the yeti there is a long alley lined with trees that leads to the main house. While passing the centuries-old park you notice several banks where you can sit and read and listen to music. It's all very comforting and relaxing. The interior is very luxurious, with a very welcoming foyer and a little reception room on your right. Once given the keys I went up to my room and was pleasantly surprised. It was very bright, capacious and very flash. The view was the best part, though: it overlooked the lagoon. So, it made a very great first impression.

The hotel has two really good restaurants, the Le Maschere and the La Laguna, offering food in a Mediterranean culinary tradition. Breakfast is being served every morning in the feudal venetian atmosphere of the Gli Arazzi dining halls.

The bars are absolutely top class with a wide selcetion of the finest drinks imaginable. Being really low maintenance myself and always sticking to Vodka and Ginger, I didn't have any problmes, but even if you are about the more outlandish drinks you won't be let down.

One of the best things regarding the restaurants is the terrace directly at the lagoon, where you can enjoy your afternoon tea or a snack. The only setback was that I am now scared for life in regards of listening to "Hotel California" as it was played over and over again over the speakers, making me promise to go anywhere BUT Hotel California.

The swimming pool is located in the wide centuries-old park of San Clemente. Opened from mid-May to mid-September, you can bathe from 10am to 6.30pm or have a snack at Le Conchiglie Bar.

As Spa treatments must not lack in a luxury resort, the "La Perla della Laguna", San Clemente's health and Spa center, is the perfect relaxation area. Overseeing the lagoon, you can choose between fitness exercises, massages or ust being pampered. The center is opened from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 7.30 pm.

If you have a meeting or conference on the island as I did when I was there, there are great and capacious meeting rooms with food and drinking possibilities and really good service. It has an elegant Congress Center with 6 meeting rooms able to accomodate up to 300 guests.

But the thing I like to do most on San Clemente is to simpyl wander around. Really, there isn't anything better than to stroll around the old park, sit on the banks of the patio or to climb on the little hill with the most amazing views of the lagoon. I remember reading Hemingway on the hill, appropriate, as I thought, as he was a great lover of Venice and had even written some of his stories there. So I wanted to know what he felt like while writing them. I have so many happy memories there, it's just amazing what the thought of something can trigger in your mind.

As San Clemente is a little off Venice, approximately 5 miles from Piazza San Marco, you can only travel by boat but that should not stop you from exploring La Serenissima. A shuttle service that operates frequently to and fro Piazza San Marco takes you to the city where you find yourself immediately soaked up in the daily routine of the city, with the gondolas, the gondoliere, the Piazza, the Doge's Palace...there are plenty of things to see in Venice and you should see them all. Or you can just stay on San Clemente and enjoy life.

San Clemente Palace Hotel and Resort 
Isola di San Clemente 1, San Marco
30124 Venice, Italy
Tlf: 0039 041 244 50 01
Fax: 0039 041 244 58 00


@: sanclemente@thi.it
Home: www.sanclementepalacevenice.com
Reservations Office: booking-sanclemente@thi.it
Concergerie: concierge-sanclemente@thi.it

Travel Quote of the Day

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money. "

- Susan Heller

Hotspot of the Day

Harry's Bar, VENICE

Calle Vallaresso, 

S. Marco 1323

30124 Venezia, Italien

Tlf:041 5285777

@: harrysbar@cipriani.com

Home: www.harrysbarvenezia.com

Opening Hours:

Open daily from 10.30 am to 11.00 pm

Proprietor: Arrigo Cipriani

Most notable guests: Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Truman Capote
Most notable invention: The Bellini

_

Barcelona, Top 10

1. Casa Batllo
2. La Sagrada Familia
3. L'Aquarium de Barcelona + IMAX Cinema
4. The Cathedral (La Seu) 
5. Museu Picasso
6. Poble Espanyol de Montjüic
7. Parc Güell 
8. Las Ramblas and Mercat de Boqueria  
9. Barri Gotic 
10. La Pedrera - Casa Milà by Gaudi

Chester, Funky Cow Milkshakes

If you ever get the opportunity to visit the great town of Chester, there is one venue you must not miss (well, apart from that public lav nearby the shopping centre with its irrestible smell, simply delightful!)
Located just opposite Chester Cathedral in 31 St. Werburgh Street, there is a funny little shop that immediately grabs one's attention because of its comic style cow and the purple writing on the sign over the door (and no, I'm neither a girl nor a 9 year-old). It's the "Funky Cow Milk Shake Shop", which offers a large selection of the most unique milk shake variations you've ever seen or tasted. Although you can find similar places in various English cities, I'm sure many of my non-British readers have never seen anything like this shop in their countries before. At least, during my travels, I have never encountered a Milk Shake Shop like this one outside of England (well, apart form America, but..meh..)

The Funky Cow Milk Shake Shop is easily the best milk shake selling venue I've ever been to. The staff is friendly and the shop itself, although rather small, is full of the most delicious, peculiar and also disgusting ingredients. To try every flavour you will have to return to Chester more than 150 times or drink several shakes in one day and explode.

The shakes consist of vanilla ice cream, milk and whatever flavour you like. To be on the safe side, you might want to add a chocolate bar or M&Ms. If you think of yourself as the brave kind of person, you won't back away from the TicTac or even the Marmite flavour (an explosion of your taste buds, I tell you) just as everyone else would (and rightfully so). The staff even counts the people ordering a Marmite Flavour. I think, when I visited the shop, there have been fifty-five brave people so far (or fifteen, I really couldn't make out the handwriting, it had been crossed out so many times..)
So, whenever you're in Chester go and try it out!

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday from 10:00am-5:30pm,
Saturdays from 10:00am-6:00pm
Sundays from 11am - 5pm.

It doesn't have its own website, but you can visit the Funky Cow's Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chester-United-Kingdom/Funky-Cow-Milkshake-Bar/140358837174

Craziest Thing Of The Day

LOONY DOOK


Diving into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth on New Year's Day in fancy to weird dresses.

http://www.theloonydook.co.uk/

Songs you need to listen to while travelling...

...from Howth to Dublin City Centre:

"Free Falling" by John Mayer

Berlin, Café Fleury

On a rainy February morning I visited Café Fleury for the first time and I was immediately convinced that it had the potential of becoming one of my favourite cafés. Situated in Weinbergsweg 20 in the Prenzlauer Berg District, this little place is simply ideal for Saturday or Sunday morning brunches.

The first thing you see of Café Fleury is the little terrace in front of it with approximately 10 tables and chairs where you can eat outside in the sun, although right now, there is construction work going on at the building next door, so if you don't like your croissant being served next to a rubbish container, I'd strongly advise you to go inside. 

Once inside you find several tables with comfortable chairs, dimmed light and a very pleasant atmosphere. You can either sit near the counter or you can choose one of the cosy tables next to the windows. 

The menu consists of sandwiches, little french snacks such as quiches and croque-monsieurs, fromages and charcuterries, salads as well as cakes, tarts and gateaus and a vast variety of hot and cold drinks. But as my main reason to come here is for breakfast and brunch I'd like to specifically point out the delicious possibilities to start your day.

Breakfast is divided into five different choices:

Français

1 Croissant or 1 Pain au Chocolat, Baguette, butter, jam

€5,50

Fromage

french cheese specialties, fruit, jam, butter, breadbasket

€7,80

Mixte

french cheese specialties, french salami, ham, rilletes de canard, fruit, jam, butter, breadbasket

€7,50

Campagne

Pâté de Campagne, 2 types of ham, french salami, turkey breast, rillete de canard, mayonaisse and mustard of Dijon, Cornichons (little gherkins), butter, breadbasket

€7,50

Grand

french cheese specialties, french salami, ham, rilletes de canard, 1 boiled organic egg, small fruit salad, jam, butter, breadbasket

€11,50

Cereals with milk and fresh fruits €4,00

Yogurt with fresh fruits €4,00

Fruit salad €4,00

2 organic eggs in a glass  with toast and butter €3,50

Hard boiled organic egg €1,00

Nutella €0,50

In addition, you can choose between several freshly made fruit juices (try out the orange juice!) and the best Café au Lait I've had outside of France. Furthermore you can add to your breakfast a Cappuccino, Latte Macchiatos, Espresso au Lait, Hot Chocolate, Ovomaltine, Frappés or simply a normal cup of coffee and several tea flavours. The waiters, mostly female, are really friendly and helpful. 

Once you've decided what you want you simply go to the counter and order your breakfast with one of the waitresses. After having paid you return to your table and wait until the waiter brings you your food. Usually, you don't have to wait long, as they are really quick in preparing your meal, even if the café's full. I was there in the summer time on a sunday morning and it was really cramped, but the food didn't take more that 5-10 minutes to come.

I usually eat the Français with a pain au chocolat, a baguette and strawberry jam and I am completely addicted to the Café au Lait. I like to sit in the far corner next to the shelves with all the different types of tea, it's very cozy and seperate to the rest of the café but you can still watch the other visitors.

At the end of my stay I always go to the counter and take a goody back to go, with little chocolate cookies (3 for €0,50) or marble cake cookies (3 for €2,10).

So, have a look and find out what breakfast is your favourite, but above all, enjoy!

Location

Café Épicerie Fleury

Weinbergsweg 20

10119 Berlin (Mitte)

Tlf: 030 44 03 41 44

Tube: Rosenthaler Platz

Opening Hours:

Mon-Fri: 8-22pm

Sat/Sun: 10-20pm

Hotspot of the Day

Ed's Easy Diner, LONDON

19 Rupert Street
London
W1D 7PA
Tlf: 020 7287 1951
@: trocadero@edseasydiner.co.
Home: www.edseasydiner.com
Menu: www.edseasydiner.com/menu

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: Midday-11pm
Fri/Sat: Midday-Midnight
Sun: Midday-10pm

Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Payment Methods:
No cheques, but Visa, Maestro or Master Card are accepted