Bar Raval

The economic struggles of many European countries has seen a steady stream of young migrants coming to Berlin in recent years – and the upside is a palpable surge of energy in the local culinary landscape. Nowhere is this more visible than in the ‘New Spanish Wave’ of restaurant openings, with tapas, Basque and Catalan cuisines well represented. At the helm is Bar Raval, owned by actor Daniel Brühl, of Goodbye Lenin and Inglorious Bastards fame. Half-Spanish and a Barcelona tapas expert, Brühl teamed up with an old friend, restaurateur Atilano González, to show Berlin how it’s done. In a modern canteen-like setting overlooking Görlitzer Park, the pair imported tiles from Spain and filled their cellar with excellent wines (you’ll find plates paired with excellent cava, a crisp Albariño or fragrant Manzanilla sherry). The open-plan kitchen serves classics such as Spanish omelette, salt-cod fritters and succulent Bellota hams. They do a weekly paella night and regional monthly specials, such as Valencian monkfish in paprika sauce or Basque veal cheeks in red wine. Come during Barcelona FC matches where the place gets really lively and try working your way through their extensive gin menu.