In recent years and decades, Friedrichshain has developed into one of Berlin's most attractive districts. Wilhelminian-style buildings meet an exciting nightlife and cultural scene, a wide range of restaurants and cafés and many young, creative people.
Cafés, bars and boutiques are lined up around Boxhagener Platz in particular. This is where the neighborhood comes together to relax, play and enjoy the weekly market on Saturdays or the popular “Boxi flea market” on Sundays. The RAW site is just a short walk away through the lively neighborhood. The self-managed socio-cultural center is home to various concert halls, studios, clubs, restaurants and sports facilities. A large flea market is also held here on Sundays.
If you walk from the RAW site across Warschauer Straße towards the riverbank, you will reach the Oberbaumbrücke, which connects the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The bridge is not only architecturally exciting: street artists often perform here and you can watch the sun set over the Spree in the evening.
Karl-Marx-Allee runs through the middle of Friedrichshain. With its extraordinary width and the impressive magnificent buildings and towers that line both sides of the street, it was built in the GDR according to the Soviet model and for marches and parades, among other things. You will find a much greener and quieter setting in the nearby Volkspark Friedrichshain. The almost 50-hectare park offers plenty of space to relax and stroll. A particular highlight is the fairytale fountain, which features ten groups of figures from the Brothers Grimm fairytales.
If you like to throw yourself into the nightlife, you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for in Friedrichshain. It is home to the most famous club in the city and even one of the most famous techno clubs in the world: Berghain. Opened in 2004, Berghain has played host to a whole host of internationally renowned DJs and musicians over the past 20 years. But beware: not everyone can get past the bouncers and queues can sometimes last several hours.
The former eastern district also has a lot to offer in terms of gastronomy: On Simon-Dach-Straße, you can enjoy homemade Chinese noodles at Wen Cheng - a fast food trend that Berliners are happy to queue for. In the neighboring district of Kreuzberg, just behind the Oberbaumbrücke, you will find what is probably the most famous branch of the Berlin chain Burgermeister. Burgers, fries and drinks are now sold from a converted 19th-century urinal under the overground subway tracks.
US-style pizza is available at Salami Social Club on Frankfurter Allee. The crispy pizzas are spread with garlic butter and come with exciting toppings such as black pudding or pumpkin. Modern European cuisine for brunch, lunch or dinner is served in the stylish bistro Estelle Dining in the neighboring eastern district of Prenzlauer Berg. And, especially important in the summer months: ice cream! This is available at Chipi Chipi Bombón, for example. The small, charming ice cream parlor on Warschauer Straße makes all of its own ice cream and offers exotic flavours such as pineapple and parsley or sweet potato alongside the classics.