Alex: Berlin Girl

The Grand Last night, I was fortunate enough to be invited to The Grand. It was one of my closest friend's 18th birthday and 10 of us celebrated there over dinner and drinks. Situated in the heart of Mitte, The Grand is well known for being a rather fancy restaurant. I was surprised to find that my expectations of an extravagant and elegant interior were wrong. Instead, The Grand's decor is an eclectic mix of classic chic and ghetto grunge. The walls are stripped bare yet decorated with gold lamps and delicate crockery. The beautiful, black piano in the basement stands in darkness but is surrounded by tiny candles. Most fascinating of all is the huge window from the dining area looking into the kitchen. It displays the fresh meat used by the chefs. It was quite an experience sitting under a large range of the hanging carcasses. The only way to describe this place would be high-dining with a grungy edge. The Grand has a great buzzing atmosphere and is known not only for serving the best quality meat but also for being a favourite among the celebs. We had: Caesar Salad Scallop cooked with mushrooms and butter, served in a shell on a bed of salt Risotto Chocolate fondant with cherry sorbet and crushed pistachio Accompanied by Sect and a gorgeous flowery white wine It was an absolutely delicious meal and the dessert was literally the best I've ever had. I wish I could go back in time and re-live the evening! If you see this Denise, thank you so much. I will always remember the beautiful evening! P.S You looked a million dollars! If you get the chance to visit The Grand then do! And order the chocolate fondant. That's an order! Love, Al X

http://www.hoardoftrends.com The gorgeous Magdelena is owner of this bi-lingual blog about fashion, health and her European adventures. She lives in Berlin but travels often. I love reading the weekly update she posts every Sunday morning. It makes me reflect on my own week. http://www.beautycrush.co.uk Sammy, famous Youtuber and soon-to-be fashion designer, posts about style, restaurant recommendations and sometimes about her home life with her boyfriend and her two adorable doggies too. This is where I go to for outfit inspiration. She puts looks together effortlessly and they're all pretty timeless too due to the classic fit and neutral colours of her clothes. Think a modern Jacky O! Check out her YouTube channels, BeautyCrush and TheSammiMariaShow, for daily vlogs, look books and even recipes. http://www.thelondoner.me Titled 'A British Lifestyle Blog', it should really be called a 'Dream Lifestyle Blog'. Rosie certainly lives the high-life but her blog is still pretty down-to-earth and full of witty puns. She writes about her favourite places in London, events she attends, her holidays, fitness and food. I love recreating her recipes. In fact, I've made almost all of them and there is not one which I wouldn't recommend. The 'slutty brownies' are to DIE for (yes, they're as naughty as they sound... Brownie mixed with cookie dough) but her healthier dishes are amazing too. On many occasions, I've made the avacado chocolate cookies (you can't taste the avacado, it absorbs the chocolate flavour whilst making the cookies super squishy and a lot healthier than using butter and eggs) and my best friend and I have demolished the whole batch, still warm from the oven, in about 5 minutes flat. http://www.helenhaben.com Helen Haben is a Swedish blogger who lives in London with her famous rapper boyfriend, Tinchy Stryder. Her blog is primarily about fashion but there are the odd life-update posts which are always interesting to read. This girl's style is on point. Looking for inspo for how to dress sexy yet appear so chic and effortless? Helen's got you covered. http://www.iheartberlin.de This is one of my more recent finds and I'm over the moon that I did stumble across it. It's written by a small group of Berliners and features reviews of events, galleries, music, Berlin-based companies and artists. Having different writers means that lots of different tastes and styles are covered. There's definitely something for everyone on this blog. My favourite thing about it is the calendar, which is literally updated every few hours. For a preview of events coming up in all over Berlin in the following days just check out the site and look to the right hand side of the page. The calendar stays there even if you're reading another article, it's very handy. What are your favourite blogs? I'd love to know! Love, Al X

Culture Sunday / Whiplash One of the things which I like about Berlin is that Sundays are for relaxing. The shops are closed but cafes, museums and cinemas are open meaning that Berliners only venture out of their homes to enjoy their time off. No one is rushing around or searching for anything specific (think the total opposite of English cities on Saturdays). Thus, Sundays entail peace and provide time for exploring the city and learning about some culture! Some of my previous 'Cultured Sundays' have included; visiting The Altes Museum which has a beautiful exhibition on at the moment about the Mauri, walking up to the top of the Teufelsberg and taking in the view of the city, and looking around the Fotographie Museum. Yesterday the weather was appalling and I decided that I would spend my Sunday at the cinema. My brother had (highly) recommended the film 'Whiplash', about a college student and his pyscho drumming teacher, and there wasn't a lot else showing at the cinema so I went to see it. Despite having heard it was good, I thought it would be the kind of film which one could only really 'get' if they were a musician (which I, unfortunately, am not). Boy was I wrong. I was sitting on the edge of my seat for nearly the whole film. I laughed, I nearly cried, I had goosebumps, I was shocked, in fact, I felt almost every emotion possible in the duration of 108 minutes. The actors are outstanding and the story is extremely well written and not like any typical, predictable romance or thriller. If there was a genre titled 'emotional roller coaster', 'Whiplash' would fit into it. What I think makes this movie so amazing is the way it's filmed. The close up shots of the instruments and the musicians' hands are done so beautifully and accompanied by the sound, it makes for a fascinating watch with an insight into life behind the music sheets. Undoubtably one of the best films I've ever seen, I recommend everyone to go and see it. And prepare to be amazed!

My happy place! My Mum and I stumbled upon this adorable cafe whilst she was here visiting me last weekend. Naturally, we were drawn in by it's name- 'What Do You Fancy, Love?' (which my curious Mum found out is a memoir to the owners cafe experiences whilst travelling from London to Australia). Decorated with funky portraits of celebs & kitsch furniture, playing Kiss radio and serving the most delicious goodies, this healthy-food bar can't help but make customers smile. Everything they sell is made with good quality, fresh ingredients each morning in store and let me tel you, the smell that fills the place (coming from their kitchen) is divine. From sweetly named juices (the 'Kiss Me' is very popular) to homemade bagels to fruit-yog-granola bowls, breakfast is this place's middle name. But that doesn't mean it's not a hit throughout the rest of the day. Why not try the peanut-butter & chocolate-chip cookies or the carrot cake? You might as well have a raspberry brownie whilst you're there, too. You know you want to. I'm in love with this cafe and so is the rest of Berlin. My area was in desperate need of somewhere like this. Looking for totally lecker (yummy) food at a good price (with free wifi!)? I'll answer that question with another one- 'What do you fancy, love?' !

Thai for lunch? Pho Sure! Living in Berlin has made me understand the saying 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'. The restaurants with the best food don't always have the most stylish exteriors or flash furniture. In fact, the yummiest places usually look the worst but it's probably because they put all of their time and energy into their cuisine. True, it can make it hard to know which restaurants to go to but I guess that's part of the fun of getting to know a new place. My advice is to ask around for insiders tips on where to go and, of course, just try as many places as you can! You might just find your new favourite! And if not, we live and learn from our mistakes, right? :-D Anyway. Enough rambling. I wanted to tell you about Sakorn. It may look like an Internet cafe from the outside but, as we've already discussed, looks can be deceiving! It is a Thai restaurant on Kant Straße, primarily open for lunch but you could grab an early dinner there if you wanted (it closes at 20:00). I went for the first time just before Christmas after a friend recommended it and I've been about 5 times since. Yes, there are plenty of Asian food joints in Berlin and yes, many are very cheap. However, it's very rare to find a traditional Asian kitchen with fair prices which natives love. I've been the only non-Asian customer in Sakorn a few times now and it backs up my opinion that it's top-notch. The Phos (Asian soups with noodles) are to die for and my favourite is the Seafood broth with chunky noodles (and that's not just because it's bright pink). The Pad Thai is also a hit and the classic Chicken Soup is so comforting during these cold, winter days. Oh and the If you aren't already swayed to look past it's not-so-chic appearance, Sakorn has the most friendly staff I've ever come across. I love going there on a Friday for lunch after school with my friends but I feel more than comfortable going on my own when I fancy some Thai (which is always). Check it out :-) Happy Weekend! Love, Al X

THE BEST SUSHI IN BERLIN I have tried my fair share of sushi restaurants in Berlin and I am confident that I have found the best one. It's called Tao and it's a 1 minute walk from Adenauerplatz U-bahn. What makes this place so special, you ask? Well: the selection of sushi is endless, the quality of fish is exceptional but the best part... IT'S ALWAYS HAPPY HOUR(?!) meaning that you pay for 6 sushi rolls (the prices of which are around 2 euros) and you get 12 instead! Tell me that's not a good deal. I recommend you try the California Inside-Out (avocado and salmon which has been fried on the outside) and the Philadelphia rolls (self-explanatory and oh-so delicious). 10/10 for location 10/10 for pricing 10/10 for service 11/10 for taste!

A little positivity goes a long way!

Yes, this is a post about a pot of tea and a biscuit but I am telling the truth when I say it could have been the best tea and biscuit I ever had. I love tea. All kinds of tea. I'm British, what do you expect? So can you imagine how happy I was when I stumbled across a cafe serving a million types of tea? I ended up on a random side road whilst roaming Mitte on my own looking for a good place to take a shopping-break and found myself at Green Tea Café Mamecha, a tiny Japanese delicacy shop/restaurant/cafe. It was a rather depressing, dark and rainy Friday afternoon in Berlin but Mamecha was full of locals catching up with friends over delicious tea and sweet treats. (They do traditional Japanese crepe CAKE. That's 10 layers of crepe. Yes, heaven is a place on earth.) I ordered myself their best selling tea (the name of which I have unfortunately forgotten but if you go there, just ask for their 'beliebtest(!)') which tasted like popcorn. It was amazing. And I just HAD to try their green tea biscuits. They did not disappoint. It was actually then and there where I got to know two new friends, one lives in Mitte and the other was visiting from Lisbon. Many great things have already come from me meeting these two lovely people. It just goes to show: going out on your own doesn't have to be a lonely experience and taking a side street can lead you to the best places. Oh, and tea-drinkers are usually very sociable. Love, Al X http://mamecha.com

GARAGE BERLIN Walk a few blocks down from Nollendorfplatz U-bahn station and in a converted basement on Ahornstraße, you will 'Garage'. To call it a second-hand shop would be an offence. It's the funkiest clothes shop on the Western side of Berlin, hands down. Selling everything from genuine fur to Adidas originals, Mod-style parkas to Levi denim, this place is literally vintage heaven. Whether you're looking for a particular item or just to have a fun time searching through their awesome displays and trying on the most eccentric garments you can find (guilty), Garage has you covered. I particularly enjoy checking out what their famous rabbit-head manakin is wearing, which I do both in person and through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GarageBerlinVintage Love, Al P.s Happy Hour is every Wednesday up until 1 so if you wanna grab yourself a discount, you know when to go!

The Palace Of Tears The Palace Of Tears (Tränenpalast in German) was the name given to one of the border crossings between East and West Berlin. From 1962 to 1989, it was used by travellers by S-bahn, U-bahn and train who wanted to travel westbound. I've always looked at the building when I've passed by and thought how ironic it is that such a light-filled, architecturally interesting and artistic place could have been used for the purpose of separating those from whom they loved and causing unthinkable hurt for so many years. It's very name is an oxymoron. Despite having always found The Palace Of Tears intriguing, I had never known that it was open to the public. After the fall of the Wall, it was used as a nightclub and stage but only until 2006. Last week, I was walking past when I noticed people going inside it. I followed them out of curiosity and to my delight, I found that it houses a preeminent exhibition about the history of the building called Haus der Geschichte and has done since 2011 when it was opened by Angela Merkel. It is fascinating and presented in such a beautiful way. There are mock border controls, suitcases showing what people brought with them, video clips of people talking about how they managed to escape from the East and, (my favourite part) a documentary feature on a Western Border Guard explaining how he checked the authenticity of the ID of those crossing the border. Something I learnt from my visit which I think is brilliant is that after 1966, elderly people were allowed to cross the border a lot more freely and they became smugglers for their family and friends, bringing yummy treats and quality items back with them from the West under their jackets and in their suitcases. Good old Grannies and Grandpas! The plaques are in both English and German and they have just the right amount of interesting information. I read them all and that's a rarity. And it doesn't cost a single cent to visit! It's definitely worth a look around. Love, Al P.s I hope you had a great weekend!

Just a quick post to let you all in on a secret... Heno Heno This is a tiny, Japanese restaurant on Kant Straße which is almost impossible to find. Now, when I say it's tiny, I mean it's teeny tiny. There's one room and everyone sits on bar stools around the kitchen while the two owners cook. The menu consists of just a few, traditional Japanese dishes (all available in vegetarian), such as Pho (noodle soup) and rice & egg. Perhaps this doesn't sound appealing at first, but just trust me, the food is absolutely delicious. I can't get enough. There's just something about it. Probably the combination of the authenticity of the flavours and textures and the love that the chefs put in to the place. If that hasn't won you over then the prices certainly will.. Each meal costs just 5 Euros. Getting a seat is sometimes difficult but oh-so-worth a little wait. Don't tell anyone else though, I like that it's being kept as a little secret! Love, Al X

There are a few new shopping centres in Berlin. One of which is called Bikini Berlin. It's on the Kudamm and it's home to a large collection of designer stores and brands, such as Vans, ..... In all honesty, I find Bikini Berlin a bit pretentious and I think it's prime location could have been used more effectively. However, there is one part of it which I love. It's called The Monkey Bar and, as you can tell from it's name, it's a bar. This isn't just any bar though, it's name gives you another clue as to what makes it so special... It's overlooking the monkey enclosure of the Zoo! In fact, you can see most of Berlin Zoo from this snazzy cocktail bar. I was lucky enough to be up there on floor 22 while the sun was setting and I witnessed Berlin's beautiful 'hour of blue light'. I've heard that the best time to visit The Monkey Bar is at night though because the city's lights shine bright and make the dark sky twinkle. There is also a balcony which is extremely popular in the summer. Inside, the decor is full-on-hipster. You sit on low, cushioned steps around small tables. It's a clever design because glass, roof top bars are usually cold and intimidating but this place is the opposite; intimate and busy without being crowded. It was a Sunday afternoon when I visited, not an ideal time for a cocktail, so I had a tea (how lame) but I will be going back because I've heard rave reviews about the drinks. I did, however, try the sweet potato fries with a mango chutney dip which they serve instead of boring crisps and my-oh-my, they were good. There is a restaurant called Nini's on the other side of the building which is supposedly top-notch so I'll try to find an excuse to go there soon and check it out. Bikini Berlin itself- not worth the hype. The Monkey Bar- pretty damn cool. Love, Al X