Berlin

Coffee In Berlin

February 17, 2014 • BerlinFood and DrinkTravel

there are many things i look forward to when traveling to berlin, but the cool coffee bars definitely are number one on the list. it doesn’t matter how often i go there, every time there are about half a dozen more places that serve great espresso. and the best part of it? they’re all really different. they’re not just taking a page from the ‘how to open a hipster hangout’ – these places have their own identities, and seriously cool ones to boot.

the australian owners of silo have done such a great job creating a space that feels warm and cosy, with lots of nooks and places where you can sit with friends or get some work done. i love the contrast between all of the wood and the bare brick walls, and between the overall muted color scheme with little pops of red. i would have loved to spend a lot more time there.

concierge coffee is another newcomer on the berlin caffeine scene. it is literally a hole in the wall kind of place, where you take your coffee to go, or sip it sharing juicy gossip with your friends who live or work in the neighborhood – at least that’s the impression i got when i was there.

one of its owners recognized me from instagram (always so fun to meet insta contacts in real life!) and took me on a tour in the space behind the coffee shop. at the time they were planning to open a larger lunch place that would also moonlight as a local design showroom. come summer there’d also be a large terrace outside to enjoy the sunshine. i can’t wait to return and check it out – but if you go or have been there in the meantime, let me know how it turned out!

Casa Camper Berlin

January 20, 2014 • BerlinDesignTravel

it’s not a secret that i’ve been dying to stay at the casa camper in berlin ever since i first heard about it. though the spanish label’s shoes are not everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to deny camper’s branding is pretty genius. their stores all around the world are architectural gems, and they never miss an opportunity to infuse even the smallest details with their signature, happy trademark style.

that’s why i was super curious to find out how they’d apply their vision to a hotel, and i was delighted to find out casa camper in berlin could host me for one night during fashion week. i’m not a huge fan of paris or milan during fashion season, and always prefer to traipse around berlin or copenhagen to visit the trade fairs, showrooms and pop-up concept stores in order to get a feel of what is next in fashionland. to me, it seems like these cities are way ahead of the rest and much more in tune with what ‘normal’ people like to wear. you know, those of us who aren’t fond of wearing exotic parrot hats or seventeen layers of chiffon.

berlin is one of the very few cities that always leave me dead tired but so incredibly inspired. as i hopped from trade fair to showroom, i managed to squeeze in a few visits to new coffee places and shops, which i’ll be sharing on here soon. and i was so happy to be able to start the day in the cosy environment of my hotel room. i was especially enamored with the bathroom area in my room – i loved the clean lines, the gorgeous tiles and the subtle, sleek design details. perhaps the room had a tad too much red to my personal taste, but i have to admit camper’s hotel branding is pretty successful, in that i felt entirely enveloped by their quirky style.

a few extra things that stuck with me – i will never get tired of those tolomeo lamps – every hotel should have a buffet lounge instead of minibars inside the rooms – i need those transparant muji compartments in my life – i regret not hiring one of those cool bikes from the hotel to ride around the city – next time i really want to have dinner at the dos palillos restaurant on the ground floor.

photos by stephanie duval


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my name is stephanie duval, and i am a storyteller. this blog is where i share my favorite stories about design, travel, fashion and the nice things in life.

 

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