Cafe Berlin

The stretch of Laugavegur between Bankastraeti and Hlemmuris lined with cafes, bars, and shops competing for attention, and Cafe Berlin holds its own through a simple formula: be open all day, serve decent coffee and food, and provide a comfortable place to sit. It sounds elementary, but in practice, consistency is harder than it looks.

Morning to Afternoon

During the daytime, Cafe Berlin functions as a straightforward European-style cafe. The coffee is good, the pastries are fresh, and the atmosphere is relaxed enough to read a newspaper or plan your day's sightseeing. The location at the quieter eastern end of Laugavegur means slightly less foot traffic than the bars and shops further west, which is no bad thing when you want a moment of calm.

The morning crowd tends to be a mix of locals grabbing coffee on their way to work and early-rising tourists fuelling up before a day of exploration. The pace is unhurried, and the staff are friendly without being overbearing.

Evening Transition

As the day progresses, Cafe Berlin shifts from coffee house to something closer to a bar. Beer and wine appear, the lighting softens, and the atmosphere becomes more social. It is not a nightlife destination in any serious sense, but it serves as a pleasant pre-dinner or early-evening stop for those who want a drink in a relaxed setting.

The Food

The food offering is modest but adequate. Sandwiches, salads, and light meals cover the basics. Nothing is going to surprise you, but nothing is going to disappoint you either. It is cafe food done competently, and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

The Appeal

Cafe Berlin's strength lies in its versatility. It works for a morning coffee, an afternoon break, or an early evening drink. It is centrally located, reasonably priced, and reliably decent. In a city full of cafes that lean heavily on concept and design, there is something refreshing about a place that simply focuses on being a comfortable spot to sit, drink, and eat at any time of day.