The smell of toast and coffee fills me with an incredible sense of warmth. It carries the promise that this day will start off right. It always has.
As a child, I begged my parents endlessly to let me try their coffee. When they finally gave in and allowed me a sip, the disappointment was crushing. It was bitter, harsh and nothing like the comforting aroma I had imagined.
I didn’t touch coffee again for a decade.
I can still picture my parents’ satisfied expressions, convinced they had won a small victory in parenting.
That was long before baristas in suspenders started crafting latte art, before we could choose from five different kinds of milk, before tiny backyard roasteries began popping up in hip urban neighborhoods.
But one thing has never changed - my love for the smell of coffee.
I’m rarely the type to march through the supermarket, checklist in hand, darting from aisle to aisle like a woman on a mission.
More often, I meander through the shelves, half-lost in thought, on the lookout for inspiration.
That’s probably why the shopping cart of the lean marathon runner catches my eye - tofu, low-fat cottage cheese and a suspicious number of eggs.
It reminds me of a story a friend recently told.
In his office, an employee asked to speak with him urgently, in private.
Oddly, the man had skipped both his direct supervisor and that supervisor’s boss, going straight to my friend - the boss’s boss…
“Do you have anything gluten-free? So, no milk?”
“You mean lactose-free?”
“I’d prefer vegan.”
“Well, we have a fruit salad or some of our sandwiches can be made vegan. There’s also a bagel with…”
“I’ll take the scrambled eggs.”
“Ah. Okay. I thought you wanted something vegan?”
“No, just gluten-free. I always say vegan for that.”
“Alright, so we’ll leave out the toast with the scrambled eggs to keep it gluten-free?”
“No, that’s not necessary. Toast is fine.”
Anyone thinking this conversation is made up couldn’t be more wrong.
The late nineties had faded into the past and the enthusiasm of the new millennium was beginning to wane.
I had graduated from the Technical University of Munich as an architect and decided to stash my Buffalo platforms along with the low-rise jeans in the attic.
But slipping into the black turtleneck of the architecture guild in my late twenties didn’t quite feel right.
The creative spark of my studies had fizzled out in the dusty routine of office life, bogged down by liability clauses and dull government regulations.
I couldn’t muster much excitement for the idea of arguing with the building authority.
So my husband and I surprised our parents with the plan to open a café with a concept store.
I love that scene from Shrek where Donkey tries to cheer up the grumpy ogre.
„We can stay up late, swapping manly stories and in the morning I'm making waffles!“
That works just as well after a girls’ night out and always makes me cheerful - waffles for breakfast!
Hot and buttery is exactly how André and his husband serve them at Café Helma.
Helma is a place for long, leisurely breakfasts, rotating lunch specials and homemade cakes paired with carefully selected teas in the afternoon.
And if the night is young? A Yuzu-Prosecco and a cheese platter make for a perfect start.
We wouldn’t mind spending the whole day here in cozy Helma.
We could hardly feel more at home in Amsterdam than when we step into Café Wilhelmina.
In the Helmersbuurt neighbourhood in Amsterdam's Oud-West district, you rarely encounter excited tourists.
There are wide streets with large old trees and 19th-century townhouses just north of the beautiful Vondelpark.
Wilhelmina itself is an unpretentious place with a friendly team that remains calm and composed even when the few seats are in high demand.
The changing menu is small but spot on.
Actually, we can have breakfast, lunch, a small snack with an aperitif or a delicious dinner here.
This small neighborhood restaurant boast just a few seats and each one is highly coveted.
If you want to experience the refreshingly nonchalant yet elegant cuisine of Daniel Räms and Tom Sjöstedt, be sure to book in advance.
While you might snag a shoulder-to-shoulder spot at the counter with a view of the kitchen, the best seats are at the large window in the cozy dining room, styled like a French bistro.
Being cooked for by friends, in a familiar atmosphere, with that extra touch of love that only dear ones can infuse into their food, is always a rare delight to find outside one's home.
At Amy and Julius's restaurant JA such a cozy feeling washes over you the moment you step into the charming space with its open kitchen.
It is here that we learn fine dining can indeed be incredibly familial.
Kevin orders an entire pie when he’s home alone and John Travolta folds two slices together, devouring them on the go through the streets of New York in Saturday Night Fever.
Every time a classic New York film features this iconic food, our cravings kick in.
A crisp crust, thin base, simple tomato sauce, and plenty of melted mozzarella - those are the essentials of a true New York pizza.
It sounds simple, but tastes delicious.
New Yorkers insist that their city’s mineral-rich water is the secret ingredient no replica can match.
But we’d argue that Slice Society comes as close as it gets.
Whether enjoyed at home, on-site or while strolling through Berlin, we’re big fans of the small restaurant on Torstraße.
Tucked away in the light-filled courtyard of the elegant Gampenrieder Palais, Aimy offers a hidden retreat where we sit outdoors in summer, enjoying imaginative cocktails and dumplings.
In winter, we cozy up in plush chairs under the warm red-gold lighting, savoring spicy green curry or glazed beef with sweet chili jam.
Viet Hai Pham and his team are devoted to using the finest ingredients, crafting a remarkable fusion of traditional Thai dishes blended with Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and even Western influences - a combination that never fails to delight.
The Oxford dictionary defines a box as a “rectangular container” – which might sound a bit too uncharismatic to describe the small cubic space of Coffee Box in Haidhausen.
However, the example provided: “…a practical box for your lunch break…”.
That feels much more fitting for this cozy spot.
Located just a stone’s throw from Wiener Platz, the Coffee Box is indeed tiny.
Yet, within its few square meters, wel find everything a coffee lover could wish for during a break – perfectly creamy cappuccino, delicious sweet and savory pastries, homemade lemonade and a generous dose of warmth and hospitality.
I know people who have a coffee table book filled with photos of puppies. On particularly dreary days, they flip through the pictures of fluffy bundles with big eyes and floppy ears to lift their spirits.
For me, my mood brightens instantly when I look at Juno the Bakery's Instagram.
I immediately feel the anticipation that comes with patiently waiting in line in Juno's front yard. The joy I feel while stuffing a much-too-large bag with appetizing pastries is almost tangible. I can almost taste the vanilla custard in the yeast bun, and just like that, my spirits are lifted.
“Not for vegetarians” - that might be the first thought when you catch sight of the glass-fronted aging cabinet filled with mouthwatering cuts of meat.
But that wouldn’t be quite fair to Theresa Grill.
Sure, we mostly come here when we’re craving a proper rib eye steak.
But some of our absolute highlights are the smaller plates - dishes so good, it feels wrong to call them “sides“ - grilled cauliflower with passion fruit, parsley and egg yolk or spinach with caramelized cream and crispy fried onions or our all-time favorite - sweet peas à la Parisienne with butter lettuce and breadcrumbs.
Joanna Alm, Managing Director of Drop Coffee, has swept up every award the coffee world has to offer. Today, she is a board member of the Specialty Coffee Association, which is dedicated to ensuring quality, sustainability and fair trade in coffee.
Back in 2009, she co-founded Drop Coffee with the simple idea to serve really good coffee.
The company has since then grown to a successful roastery of organic, fair-trade
beans.
The tiny spot by Mariatorget Park has remained what it was from the beginning - a cosy neighbourhood café where we can get really good coffee.
„Krümel“ means Crumbs in German - and blue like the Cookie Monster itself („Krümel-Monster“ in Germany), the awning above the matching bench outside this Södermalm bakery shines from afar.
And even inside, the vibrant blue interior feels like a sweet tribute to everyone’s favourite crumb-loving Muppet.
Here, hand-rolled cookies are baked to perfection and served with coffee, tea, matcha – or, naturally, just a cold glass of Swedish milk.
Only the best ingredients make it into the dough: Swedish flour, eggs and butter, real vanilla, French Xoco chocolate from the finest Central American cocoa beans and flaky Maldon sea salt from England.
Crispy on the outside and gooey in the centre, these cookies are dangerously good.
And if you’ve ever thought of cookies as boring, this is the place that will make you change your mind.
On the corner of Wrangelstraße and Pücklerstraße in Kreuzberg, the Long March Canteen awaits behind a graffiti-covered facade.
Stepping inside, we’re greeted warmly in a vibrant, electric-blue room illuminated by neon lettering.
From there, we’re guided through a kind of maze inside the restaurant - black walls, dim lighting, the kitchen hidden behind bamboo blinds.
A striking mural decorates the space near a glowing red station, where delicate morsels steam away in baskets.
The cuisine is Chinese-Cantonese.
And we’re eager for an evening of exciting dim sum and fantastic dumplings - all freshly prepared, homemade and delicious.
This Izakaya fits perfectly into the vibrant, fresh Vesterbro district.
The cool team and the casual look of the space create an easygoing atmosphere.
The relaxed crowd gives the impression that everyone has known each other for a long time.
There are wonderful selected sakes, natural wines and a house-made Jah IPA, served in a chilled glass.
Small street food-style dishes are made for sharing with friends while listening to reggae tunes.
“Pas de réservation – simplement s’y rendre” reads the Petit Fritz website.
And that’s exactly how it is here -just show up!
This unpretentious French bistro is the charming little sibling of the refined Chez Fritz.
We can drop by any time, where cozy tables await, serving up unfussy French delights.
For petit déjeuner on the weekends, we love croque madame, pain perdu, or a croissant with café au lait.
In the evening, we gather with friends over crevettes rosé, moules frites, and tartines with duck rillettes, paired with a glass of crémant.
Copenhagen keeps surprising us with some of the best food we could ever wish for.
It seems to be a quiet superpower of the Danish capital to outshine others when it comes to taste.
But just as renowned is Denmark’s knack for interiors.
“Hygge,” the Danish word for a sense of cozy well-being, has long travelled across languages and borders.
Less known, perhaps, is the expression “ferm på fingrene,” meaning “skilled with one’s hands.”
That’s exactly where the name of the beautiful interiors brand Ferm Living comes from.
Craftsmanship made simple – that’s the guiding principle of Scandinavian design.
Manufactum, the store, known for its carefully curated selection of high-quality goods for home and garden, is, of course, not a hidden Munich gem - it’s found in several other cities too.
However, not every location boasts its own café “Brot & Butter”, like here in Munich.
Tucked into an unassuming corner at the front of the shop, it offers a wonderfully cozy spot to sit while watching the hustle and bustle of the city drift by through the large windows.
And everything from the in-house stone oven bakery can be taken home, fresh and ready to enjoy.
Sometimes I don’t want to share my food. I’d rather enjoy the whole portion unabashedly for myself.
But at Nana, I always look forward to filling the entire table with small bowls and plates.
Deep red beets with bulgur, green Israeli pickles, eggplant in tomato sauce, marinated mushrooms with herbs, labaneh, shakshuka…one of everything, please.
Then gather as many friends as the little spot can fit, all seated around the table, clinking glasses of Maccabee beer.
For us, Nana is Munich’s happiest place, one that must be shared with our nearest and dearest.
Earth apple, Murphy, Tattie, Pratie, Tubers, Spud…the potato has been given the most delightful names.
Originating in South America, they traveled across Spain and Italy to spread throughout Europe. And for hundreds of years, they’ve been cultivated here.
But rarely have we seen potatoes in as many varieties as at Caspar Plautz at Viktualienmarkt.
The best part? This potato stand doesn’t just sell the raw spuds - it also serves up delicious lunch dishes crafted from them right on site.
The Torvehallerne are not just a feast for the eyes.
Two airy halls flank a large marketplace, which blooms with a sea of flowers.
Food trucks surround the square, offering delights like Korean Barbecue Chicken or tacos from Hija de Sanchez, making the choice deliciously difficult.
Inside the halls, we find a foodie paradise filled with Smørrebrød, cheeses, seafood, spices, cinnamon pastries, fresh juices, specialty coffee and everything a gourmet heart desires.
„It’s a caramel specialist shop in Stockholm” – that was the first thing we heard about Pärlans.
A caramel specialist?!? That could only mean a little slice of heaven made of cream, butter and sugar.
And that’s exactly what it is.
You’ll find this charming little shop on Nytorgsgatan in Södermalm.
The dark green awnings, adorned with the elegant Pärlans lettering, can already be spotted from Nytorget Park.
In this 1930s-style shop, you’ll find lovingly wrapped caramels and pralines, along with the most delicious soft-serve ice cream topped with homemade caramel sauces, caramelised popcorn and your choice of sprinkles.
Peter, Claus, and Caspar are the three founders of Coffee Collective. Driven by their passion for exceptionally good coffee, their commitments include sustainability from the coffee farm to the coffee cup and fair trade through close collaboration with farmers.
Despite their achievements, including winning the World Barista Championship and the World Cup Tasting Championships, they remain humble, letting their coffee speak for itself in the best possible way.
A bit like in London - where tidy houses line quiet neighborhoods around well-kept little parks and where tiny cafés display pastel-colored cupcakes in flower-framed windows - that’s the feeling at Alexa von Harder.
It’s no surprise, as Alexa spent her passionate years training as a confectioner and patissier at Peggy Porschen in the British capital.
From there, she brought back just the right amount of "snugness" to keep us coming back to her romantic café.
By late May, when the scent of peonies and lilacs fills the air, when lilies of the valley and columbines are in bloom, while carnations and mallows unfold their pastel petals, the little flower shop overflows with beauty.
No one knows better than the florists here how to tame this floral abundance into small and great bouquets.
Their creative presentations never cease to amaze - violets arranged in an old coffee cup, dried flowers in a vintage suitcase, pussy willows in an ostrich egg…
The quality of the flowers is so exceptional that they last for a good while, giving us maximum joy.
In Glockenbachviertel and Lehel, you’ll find this charming French café.
The two locations are quite similar, with wooden furniture, fabric-covered lamps casting a warm glow and blackboards elegantly scribbled with chalk – places where the daily newspaper is still clipped into a wooden holder and rustles gently as we sip coffee from large cups.
Bright display cases are filled with the most beautiful pastries and baskets overflow with baguettes and breads.
In Lehel, it’s a joy to sit outside on the terrace under the trees, while at Klenzestraße, bistro chairs line the sidewalk.
No matter which one we visit, we always feel wonderfully Parisian.
Sometimes, we wonder if there's anyone in Copenhagen's food scene who isn't connected to Noma in some way.
It's clear that the influence Noma has had globally is most prominent here in the Danish capital.
Founded in 2018 by René Redzepi himself, together with Richard Hart, Hart Bageri now boasts more than ten locations in Copenhagen.
And naturally, they bring baked goods to perfection.
Gasoline Grill has nine locations across Copenhagen.
While we love enjoying their juicy burgers at the stand in Broens Gadekøkken, it’s comforting to know that spontaneous burger cravings can be satisfied at any of their well-distributed spots throughout the city.
Klaus Wittrup started out with with a similar appetite for a really good burger.
He opened his very first burger joint in the ultra-cool Landgreven location, inside a former gas station.
Gasoline Grill was born.
Svedjan Bageri in Södermalm is the kind of place where we could easily spend an entire Swedish winter day.
Because really - what could be better than sitting at a big wooden table with a steaming black coffee in front of us, gazing into the open bakery where fresh sourdough loaves are being pulled from the oven?
We could definitely imagine celebrating Kanelbullens Dag here - Sweden’s Cinnamon Bun Day in October.
At Svedjan Bageri, the buns are so good that a line outside the door is anything but rare.
Not that this comes as a surprise: Alfred Hellström, who runs the café in Södermalm, puts enormous care into the quality of every single ingredient.
When it comes to Peking duck, conversations often veer into debates about how authentic the experience is compared to the original in China.
Truth be told, we haven’t yet had the chance to witness the dish in Běijīng.
What we can say with certainty, however, is that the five-course Peking duck served in the lounge-like restaurant of Orania is an absolute feast for the senses.
Masterfully prepared, lovingly presented and served in an irresistibly cozy atmosphere, it’s a culinary highlight of any Berlin visit that we wholeheartedly recommend.
The beautiful corner building at the edge of Bogenhausen’s villa district has been home to Feinkost Käfer, a Munich delicatessen icon, since 1933.
A refined restaurant on the first floor, a cozy bistro with a garden below and in between, like in a hobbit hole, stairs up and down, are the finest gourmet delights.
What captivates us most, however, is the in-house patisserie, decked out in sugar-baker white, presenting the most beautiful tarts and cakes.
“Da wo’s an Kaffee gibt,” (where there is coffee), boasts Standl 20 at the Elisabethmarkt.
And in typical Bavarian confidence, that’s their way of saying – this is where you’ll find the only true coffee.
In Munich, you can enjoy this coffee experience not just here, but at three lovely market locations, each offering a slice of the most delightful market atmosphere.
If you love sipping your coffee while watching the city wake up, these Specialty Coffee spots will surely make you happy.
Actually, there’s something so peaceful and beautiful about mornings when the Bärenbrunnen fountain at Elisabethmarkt, the Fischerbuberl fountain at Wiener Platz or the eight fountains of Viktualienmarkt gently splash away as the flower stalls roll up their shutters.
