Checking out the chocolate scene in Berlin is a special excursion that adds a unique experience to any holiday to this worldly capital. Conveniently located in the city's central district of Mitte, three chocolate shops, holding iconic names in German confectionery, are waiting to be sampled. A day of shopping and sightseeing in the city centre can be easily rewarded with the sweetest of life's pleasures.
Fassbender & Rausch—Stepping Back into the Past
Nestled in the shadows of the German Cathedral in Berlin's most beautiful square, Gendarmentmarkt, this well-known, family-run chocolatier from Berlin has been tempting tastebuds since 1863. Stepping across the threshold is a return in time to the days when chocolate shops were an art in itself. In this time capsule amid the hustle and bustle of Berlin, the fusion of hardwood floors, brass, glass and tradition have created a welcoming feeling.
Look but don't taste! Oversized chocolate models of symbols of Berlin, such as the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate are showcased in Fassbender & Rausch's large shop windows. Along with white and dark slabs of chocolate, resembling broken pieces of flagstone, the overwhelming selections, from pralines to truffles, entice shoppers from behind glass cases. Together with every sort of boxed and bagged confection, bars of chocolate made with cocoa beans from as far away as Madagascar and New Guinea are also within easy reach.
The second-storey café and restaurant, whose culinary dishes are also enhanced by the use of cocoa and chocolate, provide an excellent view of the historic buildings that adorn Gendarmenmarkt.
Leysieffer—From the Traditional to the Exotic
After a spot of shopping along Berlin's busy and exclusive Friedrichstrasse, entering into Leysieffer's atmosphere of deep colours of warmth is an inviting intermission to daily life.
This German, family-run confectioner has been pleasing many with timeless chocolate treats since 1909. The multitude of choices of the sweet-tasting, packaged pleasures, in varying hues of chocolate, stock the shop's wooden shelves, along side small packs of varied tees, coffees, marzipan and fruitspreads. An arrangement of chocolate bars, created from cocoa beans in far-flung plantations from around the globe, have been creatively complimented with daring ingrediants from spicy wasabi and chili, to hints of elder blooms and lavander. Easily piquing curiosity, the alluring assortment makes it hard to resist the temptation to unwrap these divine chocolate delights.
Wafts of coffee beckon patrons over to the cozy café, where cakes and other goodies can be relished in this pleasant atmosphere. Through the shop's grand windows, the busy street resembles a stage of passers-by, who can be seen going about their daily lives, in one of the city's most up-scale shopping areas. Sipping a latte over jovial conversation with friends or reflecting on a perfect day in a world-class city, Leysieffer offers a pleasurable respite in Germany's cosmopolitan capital.
Ritter Sport—„A Colourful Chocolate World“
„Square, practical, good“ is the well-known slogan of another family-run chocolate maker in Germany since 1912.
Ritter Sport's chocolate shop in central Berlin, located on quiet Französischestrasse, between lovely Gendarmenmarkt and lively Friedrichstrasse, opened to the public with open arms in January 2010. Stark white walls and bright colours tease the optical senses once entering this energetic location.
Adding a special touch of ingrediants, chocolate enthusiasts can place their own personal order at the „Schokokreation“ counter. During the concoction process, slices of cake and cups of foamed milk with melted chocolate flavours, such as mouse and peppermint, can be savoured while anxiously waiting for the square-shaped confection to appear.
A special feature for families is the „Schokowerkstatt.“ Parents can sign their children up to take part in this fun, hands-on learning experience. The 75-minute workshop begins by explaining how the delicious sweet comes to life, then ends with a wonderful opportunity for kids to make their own chocolate tablet.
While browsing the „Schokoshop,“ amid the dazzling array of merchandise, chocolate aficionados are taunted by the dizzying floor-to-ceiling selections of colourfully-wrapped packages of tasty treats. Ascending the escalator to the second floor, visitors arrive at a small exhibition that shows the production of this cocoa sensation. Once reaching the end of this adventure in confection, the „Schokolounge“ offers visitors a break amid the livliness of this one-of-a-kind family outing.
German confectionery has been enriching life with their dreamy drops of chocolate creations for over a century. Indulging in this sweetened art is a special joy that should not go amiss when visiting the heart of Berlin.
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