New Food, Friends, and Fun: Best Berlin Eats from Our High School Students

The following blog was written by a student intern on a Summer 2026 CIEE high school abroad program. Read on for a first-hand account of what it's like on program in Berlin, Germany. 

As students adjust to a new country, city, and home for a few weeks, they also have the chance to experience a new culture and cuisine. While this can seem daunting at first, many of our students end up reflecting on how much they have enjoyed trying such a variety of new foods and drinks around our CIEE center. This summer, we asked our High School Summer Abroad students to share with us a few of their favorite foods, drinks, and restaurants that they’ve gotten to experience for the few weeks they were in Berlin:

Drinks

1. Apfelshorle: Apple juice mixed with sparkling water, a lighter alternative to sodas that is enjoyed all across Germany and Central Europe. In fact, when ordering juice at restaurants, you are often asked to choose between saft(still fruit juice) or schorle(fruit juice with sparkling water).
2. Club Mate: A caffeinated soft drink made from yerba mate extract. They have been produced in Germany for the last century and are a popular alternative to other energy drinks due to their lower sugar content. Many see this drink as an ‘acquired taste.’
3. Fritz Kola & Spezi: Fritz Cola was born out of a Hamburg dorm room in 2002 and has become a wildly popular alternative to other cola drinks. It differs from other colas with its use of natural ingredients, real kola nut extract, incredibly high caffeine content, and its exclusively glass packaging. Another super popular German cola drink is Spezi (or Schwip Schwap, Mezzo Mix, Paulner Spezi), which originated in the Bavarian city of Augsburg in the 1950s. Made by mixing cola with orange juice or orange soda(depending on the brand), the name is derived from the Bavarian dialect word for ‘good friend.’

Food

1. Döner: A sensationally popular street food popularized by Turkish immigrants in Germany during the 1970s. It comes in three forms, the döner kebab(meat served inside a pita with fresh vegetables and sauce), döner plate( =meat served alongside rice, french fries, or salad), or döner box(french fries topped with meat, sauce, and fresh vegetables). Due to its popularity, variations of döner have spread all around Central Europe. 
2. Currywurst: A German fast food dish consisting of a sausage covered in tomato sauce, dusted in curry powder and typically is served with fries and mayonnaise. It originated after World War II, in 1949 after Herta Heuwer traded with British soldiers for ketchup and curry powder. Herta then started selling the dish here in Berlin, in the Charlottenburg district, to construction workers. 
3. Gelato: Unlike the United States, where good, authentic gelato can be difficult to find, Berlin has no shortage of great spots to grab the cool treat. Especially during the heatwave this summer, students began exploring the variety of options all around CIEE’s campus. One of the most popular spots was the nearby Gelato Disco. Students have also gotten to try the popular German spoof dessert, spaghettieis, which is made with vanilla ice cream pressed through a potato ricer, topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and grated white chocolate, which is made to look exactly like spaghetti. 

Restaurants

1. SongSong Chicken: One of the most popular restaurants amongst our students, they are known for their double-fried chicken, coated in tasty homemade sauces like Sweet Chili and Soy Garlic. Served with rice and the optional kimchi or pickled radish, this restaurant has become a staple amongst students who are looking for a quick, tasty, and filling, meal. 
2. Tibet Haus: Just around the corner from CIEE, this Nepalese and Tibetan restaurant is very popular among our students. They are known for serving highland cuisine, specializing in hand-folded momos(dumplings), Himalayan curries, and fried rice and noodle dishes. The cozy atmosphere of the restaurant and ample outdoor seating make it a very popular place for friends to meet for a meal!
3. Brammibal's Donuts: Originally founded in Berlin around a decade ago, Brammibal's is Europe’s first all-vegan donut chain. The founders were looking to prove to customers that vegan and alternative food options could be just as decadent and delicious as traditional options, and they have succeeded! They offer traditional donuts flavors like cinnamon sugar, strawberry glazes, and Boston creme, alongside a rotating monthly menu with more unique flavors like Biscoff Cheesecake, Mango Tajin, Rhubarb Crumble, and Chocolate Hazelnut Bomboloni. 
4. Burgermeister: A taste of home for our students, this quickly growing chain focuses on American-style hamburgers using Irish beef, freshly baked brioche rolls, and fresh toppings. Students can stop by one of the many locations for a quick meal that is often compared to a better version of the American restaurant, Shake Shack. 

One of the best parts of traveling is getting to experience different foods from all over the world. Food is not only a form of artistic expression, but also the culmination of years of culture and history. While in Berlin, students studying abroad should be sure to enhance their cultural immersion by trying some of the items from this list!

Are you a high schooler interested in studying abroad? Check out CIEE's wide selection of high school summer abroad programs and consider applying today!