13 restaurants, cafés and snack stands serving East German food with GDR flair: from broiler chicken on the Baltic coast to currywurst under the elevated railway. Only places that are actually open make the list, and more are added all the time. Opening times change, so check the venue's website or call before you go.
Three kinds of places
- GDR original: Already there in GDR times, at the same address or in the same building.
- Ostalgie restaurant: Opened after 1990, with GDR furnishings and East German dishes on the menu.
- East German charm: A pub or canteen where East German food and the old style simply carry on.
Berlin
- Konnopke’s Imbiß Prenzlauer Berg GDR original
This currywurst stand under the elevated railway on Schönhauser Allee has been here since 1930. In 1960 it brought currywurst to East Berlin. It still comes with ketchup made to the family recipe, in several levels of heat.
Closed on Sundays. See the stand for opening times.
Schönhauser Allee 44b, 10435 Berlin · Website: konnopke-imbiss.de · Phone: 030 4427765 · Updated: 11/2026
- Café Sibylle Friedrichshain GDR original
Opened in 1953 as a milk bar on what was then Stalinallee and named after the East German fashion magazine “Sibylle” in the 1960s. Today it serves coffee and cake, with an exhibition on the history of Karl-Marx-Allee.
See the café for opening times.
Karl-Marx-Allee 72, 10243 Berlin · Website: cafe-sibylle.org · Phone: 030 32665101 · Updated: 11/2026
- Mokka Milch (früher Mokka-Milch-Eisbar) Mitte GDR original
In the 1960s this pavilion was the Mokka-Milch-Eisbar, a popular meeting place in East Berlin and the title of a 1969 pop song. Restored, it reopened in 2026 as a café, ice cream parlour, restaurant and bar.
See the venue for opening times.
Karl-Marx-Allee 35, 10178 Berlin · Updated: 11/2026
- Sphere im Fernsehturm Mitte, Alexanderplatz GDR original
In the TV Tower on Alexanderplatz, opened in 1969, the restaurant turns slowly at a height of 207 meters. Since June 2025 it has been called “Sphere Tim Raue”, with solyanka and Königsberger Klopse meatballs on the menu. Tables come with a restaurant ticket.
Open daily. See the TV Tower for times.
Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin · Website: tv-turm.de · Phone: 030 247575875 · Updated: 11/2026
- Volkskammer Friedrichshain, am Ostbahnhof Ostalgie restaurant
An Ostalgie restaurant in a 1970s building near Ostbahnhof station, its walls covered in GDR memorabilia. The menu has solyanka, Würzfleisch (ragout under melted cheese), broiler chicken, Jägerschnitzel with spirelli pasta and Kalter Hund chocolate cake.
Closed on Mondays. See the restaurant for opening times.
Straße der Pariser Kommune 18b, 10243 Berlin · Website: volkskammer.de · Phone: 030 20687549 · Updated: 11/2026
- DDR-Speisegaststätte Pila Prenzlauer Berg Ostalgie restaurant
A restaurant and small GDR museum in one; the name is short for Pionierlager, a Young Pioneers' camp. It serves home cooking and East German dishes such as solyanka, Würzfleisch and Königsberger Klopse meatballs.
From 3 pm, closed on Sundays.
Prenzlauer Allee 26, 10405 Berlin · Website: restaurant-pila.de · Phone: 030 93622303 · Updated: 11/2026
- Metzer Eck Prenzlauer Berg East German charm
A corner pub from 1913 that stayed family-run in GDR times and never became a state-run HO restaurant. Beer at the counter and Berlin home cooking such as Buletten meatballs, pickled eggs and fried potatoes.
Closed on Sundays. See the pub for opening times.
Metzer Str. 33, 10405 Berlin · Website: metzer-eck.de · Phone: 030 4427656 · Updated: 11/2026
Leipzig
- Gaststätte Kollektiv Südvorstadt Ostalgie restaurant
An Ostalgie restaurant on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, furnished in GDR style with furniture and everyday objects of the time. The menu has Jägerschnitzel with spirelli, solyanka and broiler chicken, served without frills.
See the restaurant for opening times.
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 72, 04275 Leipzig · Website: gaststaette-kollektiv.de · Phone: 0341 3067004 · Updated: 11/2026
- Milchbar Pinguin Zentrum, am Markt GDR original
Leipzig has met for ice cream and coffee at this milk bar by the market square since 1964. Today it has more than 30 homemade ice cream flavours, large sundaes, cake and breakfast.
See the milk bar for opening times.
Katharinenstraße 4, 04109 Leipzig · Website: milch-bar-pinguin.de · Phone: 0341 9601979 · Updated: 11/2026
- Schnellbuffet Süd Südvorstadt East German charm
A canteen-style eatery on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße with East German specialties, quick and cheap. Known for its Jägerschnitzel: breaded Jagdwurst sausage with spirelli pasta and tomato sauce.
See the venue for opening times.
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 139, 04275 Leipzig · Updated: 11/2026
Dresden
- Planwirtschaft Äußere Neustadt East German charm
One of the oldest pubs in Dresden's Outer Neustadt, tucked away in a back courtyard, with tables outside and a cellar room. The menu has solyanka, Würzfleisch and hearty home cooking.
See the restaurant for opening times.
Louisenstr. 20, 01099 Dresden · Phone: 0351 8013187 · Updated: 11/2026
Rostock and Warnemünde
- Grillstube Broiler im Hotel Neptun Warnemünde GDR original
The broiler bar in Hotel Neptun, which opened in 1971, is still a Baltic coast favourite. Grilled broiler chicken by the quarter, half or whole, with French fries and sauces made to the house recipe.
See the hotel for opening times.
Seestraße 19, 18119 Rostock-Warnemünde · Website: hotel-neptun.de · Phone: 0381 7777777 · Updated: 11/2026
- Gaststätte Stralsunder Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt East German charm
A Rostock restaurant with furniture, signs and decor from earlier decades. It serves hearty home cooking such as Eisbein (pork knuckle) and braised pork cheeks.
See the restaurant for opening times.
Wismarsche Straße 22, 18057 Rostock · Updated: 11/2026
No longer open
These places still appear in some lists but have closed.
- DDR-Restaurant Domklause, Berlin-Mitte: The restaurant next to the DDR Museum closed at the end of March 2015, according to the museum.
Full and curious? Here are the GDR museums.
The names of these places belong to their operators. ddrrezepte.de is not affiliated with them and receives nothing for listing them. All information without guarantee.