No sleep till Berlin.

posted by Michael Williams

If you haven’t ever been to Berlin (or haven’t been in a some while), then you need to do yourself a favor and visit. The city has gone through such a dramatic transformation and development over the past few years, it is remarkable. The city also has an energy that, to me, is unmatched on the Continent. The food is good, the museums are good, the style is good, and the place is semi-affordable (even with the Dollar exchange pain that we Americans are used to).

I had the pleasure of spending last week in the expansive German city and below are some of the sights from my trip. In addition to what you see here (and a substantial bit of these photos have been appearing on my Instagram @acontinuouslean), I also visited a few shops and will report more on that shortly. If Europe is in your future travel plans, be sure to spend some time in Berlin, you won’t be sorry.

To be fair, this was in Newark, New Jersey. But I bet it came from Germany.
Early morning coffee at Soho house.
Americana in Berlin.
ProTip: Use the MyTaxi app to hail a cab. Makes life easy.
1966 Chevy C-10.

Manufactum gets my vote for best store in Berlin.
Schnitzel
You can tell if you are in East Berlin when the crosswalk men wear hats.

Comments on “No sleep till Berlin.”

    FAME on July 13, 2011 11:04 AM:

    Great photos. I only wish we have a similar app to MyTaxi up here in Canada!

    StriversRowUSA on July 13, 2011 11:20 AM:

    Great photos — Berlin looks amazing. And the Red Wing Shoes ad is awesome as well.

    egon on July 13, 2011 11:24 AM:

    I love the hats on the cross-walking gentleman!

    Brian E. on July 13, 2011 11:51 AM:

    Just went to Berlin in May with my sister. Unbelieveable city. Unparalleled energy as Herr Williams noted.

    If you are a history buff, hit up the Red Berlin tour with Mike from http://www.newberlintours.com. Fascinating way to see the city and learn about the legacy of Communism.

    For neighborhoods, hit up Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, and Neukolln for nightlife and food (Turkish, Indian, and Thai especially). Also, rent a bike.

    Grampian Mountains on July 13, 2011 11:56 AM:

    Hah! I noticed the hats last time I was there but never knew why, cracking. I’m flying to Berlin tomorrow and have been before but there’s so much to see… any chance of a quick list of other recommended stores and places of interest, my trust in you and my Google Maps will do the rest.

    Ramalhoni on July 13, 2011 12:27 PM:

    Great pics.. I also love Berlin, I’ve been there a couple of times, but it was too long ago. I’ve heard about the great transformation, and I’ve been meaning to go there fore some time now. With you comment, I’m thinking this september I’ll be there.
    Were the pics taken with the Fuji x 100? They look so nice!…

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 12:30 PM:

    All photos taken with the Fujifilm X100!

    jiheison on July 13, 2011 12:51 PM:

    That schnitzel pic is testing my vegetarian resolve.

    Ramalhoni on July 13, 2011 12:55 PM:

    Thanx for the answer Michael.. I gotta get me one of those! Good thing I got my birthday coming up ! ;) lol

    Chris on July 13, 2011 2:20 PM:

    Michael, are you an interhouse member of the Soho House group?

    or can the public walk into the Berlin one?

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 2:22 PM:

    I’m not a member of Soho House, but my friends are. So you need a member to take you in Berlin (just like the other clubs). But I think you can stay in the hotel without a membership (which seems like the best way to play it).

    Robert Marshall on July 13, 2011 3:15 PM:

    Awesome pictures! I need to get to Berlin soon!

    Peter on July 13, 2011 3:51 PM:

    Manufactum has a great web site, too. Not sure if they ship to USA, though. Lots of stuff you didn’t know you needed…

    ShaneBlagg on July 13, 2011 4:01 PM:

    I really like your photo’s, they have a “look” to them.

    Mat on July 13, 2011 4:27 PM:

    Love the place!

    If you like your track bikes—Keirin Berlin
    http://www.keirinberlin.de/

    and art books and self published printed matter:
    Motto Berlin
    http://www.mottodistribution.com/site/?page_id=1020

    for your contemporary photographyC/O Gallery is worth a visit:
    http://www.co-berlin.info

    Firmament
    http://www.firmamentberlin.com/

    I’ve used this twice for apartment search for the stay… pay on arrival.
    http://www.ferienwohnung-zimmer-berlin.de/index.php

    Ray Hull on July 13, 2011 4:38 PM:

    Red Wing “Purpose-Build”…they got the hyphen right, but blew it on the verb tense.

    And speaking of hyphens: Connect those dotted lines on the first shot….soooooo well Teutonic engineered (to death).

    Was just reading today that the new Portra 400 is the hot all-purpose and imminently SCANNABLE film that will make you want to pick up your film equipment again…and what better place to employ my Rolleis than Berlin? Thx. for the tour tip.

    Sir Fopling Flutter on July 13, 2011 5:06 PM:

    Manufactum isn’t just the best store in Berlin, but one of the best stores in the world. Really an excellent place. If you’re not in Berlin, they have stores in a few other German cities and also a great catalogue.

    Speaking of shopping, did you make it to the Ampelmann store? An entire store based on the little man wearing the hat on the traffic lights.

    lisa on July 13, 2011 5:49 PM:

    your redwing photo reminds me of this store here in japan
    http://www.madeinworld.co.jp/

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 5:51 PM:

    Made in the World is pretty amazing.

    http://blog.redwingheritage.com/2011/05/16/deadstock-heaven-made-in-the-world/

    pr on July 13, 2011 6:10 PM:

    I take it you have been to every city in Europe?

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 6:11 PM:

    Every city worth visiting.

    Jon Callum on July 13, 2011 7:15 PM:

    @Michael

    Really like the iPad wallpaper. Is the image online? Or did you make it yourself?

    Thanks

    Bradley Thompson on July 13, 2011 7:16 PM:

    So jealous of your visit to Manufactum! Pick up anything notable?

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 9:13 PM:

    The wallpaper is a map i bought on eBay and scanned.

    Michael Williams on July 13, 2011 9:14 PM:

    No, I didn’t buy anything there, but I wanted a bunch of stuff. Awesome store.

    Joy on July 13, 2011 10:22 PM:

    Thanks for whetting my appetite. I loved this.

    Dana on July 14, 2011 12:23 AM:

    Bearlin, Leanin, Comein, Squalin, Somethin, Wheatthin. Anyway, could’ve been better.

    Brohammas on July 14, 2011 2:23 PM:

    “Beat a body down with a ‘luminum bat”

    kylephillips on July 14, 2011 3:38 PM:

    Just left Berlin today. Now in Prague. What a city!

    Alyce on July 14, 2011 6:45 PM:

    Did you know that this week’s NY Mag is also featuring Berlin? I guess great minds think alike.

    Haute Americana on July 15, 2011 10:18 AM:

    I feel in love with Berlin when I was there in 2006. I was there for the Love Parade which was definitely an experience all on its own.

    Sir Fopling Flutter on July 15, 2011 1:40 PM:

    The NY Times also has a feature on the greatest cities in Europe, with a lot of people pushing for Berlin.

    David Wright on July 15, 2011 4:49 PM:

    Spotting the ex Nazi bulidings is interesting eg the Air Ministry, Propaganda Ministry, Tempelhof. Shame the flak towers in the parks were demolished. And a visit to the ‘Topography of Terror’ on what was Prinzalbrechtstrasse to put in perspective what odious f-ks the Nazis were.

    Daniel on July 15, 2011 8:55 PM:

    Great pics and Manufactum is really great. They’re focussed on vintage stuff produced in a traditional manner, e.g. from abbeys, freelance farms, tailors or winemakers and stuff. Worth a visit, also in Hamburg (which is even more beautiful than Berlin)!

    Alexej on July 16, 2011 10:45 AM:

    Good stores:
    14 oz (Quality clothing, selvage denim, footwear)
    Burg & Schild (Biker-americana, high end japanese denim, american made clothing)

    If you’re in Hamburg, visit Rudolph Beaufays, who sells great vintage clothes from england. Highly trad. Check websites for adresses.

    Aaron on July 19, 2011 2:34 PM:

    Every city worth visiting? I take it you’ve been to Copenhagen then?!

Comments are closed.