Berlin

The best way to get to know a city is with a local by your side. And now, thanks to Plus One Berlin, that knowledge is for hire. This new twist on the guided tour, which opened for business in March 2012, includes accommodation in a plush, eco-friendly studio in ‘Kreuzkölln’ – an up-and-coming neighbourhood between Kreuzberg and Neukölln – and the opportunity to be the ‘plus one’ of a well-connected local who will take you along to their favourite hideouts.

Here, founder Clare Freeman shares some of hers.

What’s up Berlin?

Break The Fast
Bullys Bakery serves yummy homemade pastries and cupcakes. Hudson’s is good for a Full-English and Sing Blackbird has a great clothes shop right next door.

Get Some Air
Viktoriapark boasts its very own waterfall and a great view over the city. Sit by the riverbank in Treptower Park. Cycle or walk further on and you get to Spreepark Berlin, an abandoned amusement park that’s beautifully derelict.

Grab A Bite
Five Elephant café make the best coffee and homemade cakes, and on the corner of Warschauer Strasse and Stralauer Alle lies Scheers Schnitzel, the best place to get tasty affordable grub in Berlin.

Buy Stuff
Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain is home to two great markets. On a Saturday you can sample local food like macarons, jams and other delights, and on Sundays a great flea market pops up in its place.

Get Cultured
If you’re into contemporary art check out The Boros Collection housed inside a converted 3,000 square-metre bunker in Mitte. Tours only take place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and you need to book in advance. If it’s a sunny Sunday, head to Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, grab a beer and enjoy the live Karaoke. It’s fun, free and the atmosphere is great.

Eat Again
Good dinner spots include: Nansen, a laid-back, intimate restaurant on the canal in Neukölln; Kimchi Princess, a great Korean restaurant that’s ideal for larger groups; and the small and charming Little Otik, run by a lovely couple from New York who serve up delicious, simple dishes using local produce.

Party
On a summer’s evening head to Club Der Visionäre for sundowners by the canal. Weserstrasse in ‘Kreuzkölln’ is a good spot for interesting drinking holes like Tier, Schilling and the new Gelegenheiten bar. Das Gift, a bar run by a Scottish couple with a good selection of drinks, is also fun. Then head to Loftus Hall, a hidden club on Maybachufer run by three young Irish guys. The crowd is always fun, and the parties can go on well into the next day. Be warned – it can get very hot and sweaty!

You can find out more about Plus One Berlin on their website.