Oranienburger Straße is a beautiful street in central Berlin that’s lined with shops, cafes, museums, and hidden courtyards. Its prime location by Hackescher Markt and Museum Island make it one of the can’t miss areas in Berlin!
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Running between Friedrichstraße and Hackescher Markt, Oranienburger Straße is one of Berlin’s best-known (and prettiest!) shopping streets. Its prime location near Museum Island makes it the perfect starting point for exploring greater Berlin after you’ve seen the top sights in the city center.
As you walk down Oranienburger Straße, you’ll pass registered historic buildings, local boutiques, restaurants and cafes, and the entrances to hidden courtyard complexes.
Along with Auguststraße and Große Hamburger Straße, this area of the Mitte neighborhood is one of my favorites in Berlin and is a place I return to again and again when I’ve got shopping to do or simply want to enjoy a beautiful walk when the weather is nice.
Happy exploring! ~Claire
A Quick Overview of My Recommendations
Things to Do Along Oranienburger Straße
- Fotografiska Contemporary Photography Museum
- Former royal post office
- Heckmann-Höfe (which you can learn lots more about as part of the excellent “Berlin Hidden Backyards” tour)
- New Synagogue
- Monbijoupark
- Hackescher Markt + Hackescher Höfe
Things to Do in the Area
- Jewish Cemetery
- Church of St. Sophia (Sophienkirche)
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art
- Museum Island
- Alexanderplatz
Where to Eat
- Magic John’s Pizza (Oranienburger Str. 48)
- Tadshikische Teestube (Oranienburger Str. 27)
- Curry 61 (Oranienburger Str. 6)
- Night Kitchen (Heckmann Höfe, Oranienburger Str. 32)
- Kin Za Georgian Kitchen (Krausnickstraße 23)
- Kilkenny Irish Pub (Am Zwirngraben 17-20)
- Cappuccino Grand Café (Tucholskystraße 36)
Hotel Recommendations
- Budget: Generator Hostel Mitte
- Mid-range: MEININGER Hotel Berlin Mitte
- Fancy-schmancy: Hotel Telegraphenamt
Map of Oranienburger Straße + Surrounds
A Brief History of Oranienburger Straße
When I moved to Berlin in 2019, I had no idea that Oranienburger Straße and the surrounding neighborhood is one of the most historically significant in the city. This picturesque street is located within the area known as the Spandau Suburb (Spandauer Vorstadt), which derives its name from the original medieval settlement that was built here north of the now-destroyed Spandau Gate.
What makes Oranienburger Straße stand out, historically speaking, is its Jewish roots. The first Jews settled here in 1671 after being allowed back into the country following a pogrom a century prior.
Pogroms in Eastern Europe forced even more Jews to flee to Berlin and establish new lives for themselves, and so by the end of the 19th century there was a significant Jewish population living and working along Oranienburger Straße
Fast forward a few decades and the largely Jewish Oranienburger Straße was effectively destroyed in World War II — both by allied air raids and the forced expulsion of its citizens by the Nazis.
The street lay in partial ruin until the 1980s when the GDR government finally began rebuilding the historic courtyards and buildings along Oranienburger Straße, including the destroyed synagogue.
What to Do & See (in Walking Order!)
To make your life easier, I’ve listed all of the attractions below in walking order. I’ll start with the things to do closest to Friedrichstraße (as if you were getting off the U6 subway line at the Oranienburger Tor station) and will work my way towards Hackescher Markt, which is where Oranienburger Straße ends.
Fotografiska
As you walk along Oranienburger Straße, the first real attraction you’ll pass is Fotografiska, a contemporary photography museum with branches around the world. It was founded in Stockholm in 2010, but the Berlin branch didn’t open until September 2023, so it’s still a fairly new addition to Oranieburger Straße all things considered.
Former Royal Post Office
At the corner of Oranienburger Straße and Tucholskystraße sits the former royal post office. It’s an imposing yellow and red brick building complex that was built between 1875 and 1881. It was initially intended to provide stables for the horses required to pull all of the carriages of the postal service (in a city the size of Berlin, I’m sure there were many!).
The post office complex could house around 250 horses, plus apartments for postal workers, offices, a telegraph office, and — duh! — a functioning post office. The stables were destroyed in 1925, but the post office itself was used until 1995.
These days, the old post office building is an office and exhibition space. It’s a protected building, so the stunning facade should be a permanent fixture along Oranienburger Straße for years to come!
Heckmann-Höfe
The Heckmann-Höfe (Heckmann Courtyards) are three interconnected courtyards tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Oranienburger Straße (they’re easy to miss if you don’t know they’re there!).
These courtyards have been around since the late 1700s, but they were snapped up by the industrialist Friedrich Wilhelm Heckmann in 1905. He used them as offices and housing for his employees, and then during WWII the courtyards were heavily damaged.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, local artists discovered the courtyards and breathed life into the area. In the early 2000s, the Heckmann-Höfe got a serious facelift and became the lovely hangout spot it is today. It’s known as a “creative quarter” with lots of cute shops, restaurants, and cafes.
You can learn more about this series of courtyards as well as the other courtyards around Oranienburger Straße on the “Hidden Backyards” guided tour. It costs just 20 Euros and is amazing value for money!
Claire’s Tip: My personal favorite shop within the courtyards is Bonbon Macherei, a candy store that makes all of its hard candies in-store. You can watch them stretch and stamp the candies by hand — it’s mesmerizing! If you’re unsure which candy flavor to buy, I recommend the “Waldmeister” flavor; it’s a sweet herbal candy that’s very popular in Germany.
New Synagogue
The 50-meter-tall golden dome of the New Synagogue draws the eye as soon as you turn onto Oranienburger Straße. It’s one of the major landmarks of this area and has been a fixture of Berlin since construction finished in 1866.
The onion-like dome was designed in the Moorish style by Berlin architect Eduard Knoblauch. He was inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (and I think he definitely succeeded in bringing his vision to life!).
It’s hard to tell from the street, but the New Synagogue is MASSIVE. It was built to hold more than 3,000 people, making it one of the largest synagogues in the country.
This gorgeous building was sadly damaged and plundered on November 9, 1938 during the pogrom known as the “Night of Broken Glass” and then later hit by a bomb during a 1943 air raid. The synagogue lay untouched for more than 40 years until the GDR government began rebuilding it in 1988.
The sanctuary (i.e. the main worship room) was never rebuilt because it fell into such bad disrepair, so the synagogue is now used as a museum and memorial space, called the Centrum Judaicum
Claire’s Tip: There’s a security detail outside the synagogue as well as rigorous security measures inside the building for anyone wanting to visit the Centrum Judaicum. The security guards look intimidating, but they’re just there to protect the building and the Jewish community.
Monbijoupark
This small but stunning park is sandwiched between Oranienburger Straße and the Spree River, with Museum Island on the opposite river bank. Its name stems from the French “mon bijou,” which means “my jewel.” It’s a reference to Monbijou Palace, which stood on this site until being destroyed in WWII.
Monbijoupark is one of my favorite places to see cherry blossoms in the spring, and in the summer I love meeting friends here for a drink (just grab something from the nearest Späti!) and a chat.
Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt is both a busy S-Bahn station (one of only two originals left standing in Berlin!) and a popular square.
This square was developed following the Thirty Years’ War. Once peace was reestablished in Prussia, the fortified city gate surrounding Berlin was no longer needed, so Frederick the Great ordered the city commander Count von Hacke to tear it down and develop a market square where the Spandau Gate used to stand (hence the name “Hackescher Markt”).
Hackescher Markt has a wonderful outdoor market that takes place three times per week. There are lots of locally produced items for sale, including coats from the Berlin brand Ginko (I bought one from them a few years ago and love it!), jewelry, records, scarves, and more.
I feel like they keep adding more and more food stalls to the market too, which is great if you need a cheap and quick bite to eat. (But although it’s affordable street food, it’s definitely pricier than “true” street food elsewhere in the city since this is such a popular area for tourists.)
My Favorite Restaurants, Bars & Cafes
Magic John’s Pizza (Oranienburger Str. 48) — This is my favorite NY-style slice shop in Berlin! You can get two slices and a drink for under 10 Euros, which is why this is still one of my go-to lunch spots along Oranienburger Straße. The only downside is that there’s only outdoor seating, so if the weather is bad you’ll be chowing down on your pizza in the freezing cold or pouring rain. Womp womp.
Tadshikische Teestube (Oranienburger Str. 27) — Tucked away in one of the inner courtyards along Oranienburger Straße, the Tajikistan Tea Room is one of Berlin’s hidden gems! It’s a gorgeous Bohemian tea room that was built for the 1974 Leipzig Trade Fair. Although the tea room also sells hearty Russian fare like pierogies and savory blinis, I suggest sticking with the samovar tea experience. You’ll be served a variety of sweet nibbles to mellow the bitterness of the espresso-strength black tea.
Curry 61 (Oranienburger Str. 6) — This is the BEST spot to get currywurst, Berlin’s iconic street food. Here’s my order: currywurst “mit darm” with “rot weiss” french fries on the side. This gets you a steaming plate of grilled bratwurst in casings (it adds so much good texture) drenched in a mild curry ketchup, served with crispy fries with both ketchup and mayo on the side.
Night Kitchen (Heckmann Höfe, Oranienburger Str. 32) — If you’re looking for a special occasion restaurant in Berlin-Mitte, the upscale vibes and modern Mediterranean fare at Night Kitchen makes it an excellent contender.
Kin Za Georgian Kitchen (Krausnickstraße 23) — My friend Shelley says this Georgian restaurant is a “sleeper hit” that she always takes friends and family to.
Kilkenny Irish Pub (Am Zwirngraben 17-20) — If you think an Irish pub right on Hackescher Markt would be super touristy, you’d be right. But the food here is genuinely very good, and I love that there’s live music Thursday – Saturday nights.
Cappuccino Grand Café (Tucholskystraße 36) — I’ve never ordered off the main menu here, but I often stop by in the warmer months for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. They have sidewalk seating that’s perfect for watching the world go by!
Claire’s Tip: This street food tour takes you to five spots around the Oranienburger Straße area, should you prefer to learn about Berlin’s history through your stomach!
Nearby Attractions
- Jewish Cemetery — This is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Berlin. It’s now used as a park and offers a pocket of calm in the middle of the city. Look for the grave of the German philosopher Moses Mendelssohn (he’s buried near the front of the cemetery).
- Church of St. Sophia (Sophienkirche) — Served as the parish church for the old Spandau Suburb. Funds were provided by Queen Sophie Luise (hence the church’s name), and the Baroque church tower is one of the few to have survived the air raids in WWII.
Claire’s Tip: If you walk through the church grounds and exit via the back gate, you’ll exit onto the street across from Sophienstraße 18. It was here that communist party co-founder Karl Liebknecht called for a peaceful revolution in October 1918.
- KW Institute for Contemporary Art — Has no permanent exhibition, so check online to see what exhibits are currently on display. There’s always something interesting to see!
- Museum Island — A UNESCO World Heritage site with five incredible museums. The Berlin Cathedral is also located on Museum Island, and the Humboldt Forum (one of Berlin’s many amazing free museums!) is just across the street. If you’re visiting Berlin for the first time, definitely make time to pop into one of the museums. The Neues Museum has the world-famous bust of Nefertiti on display, and the Alte Nationalgalerie is my favorite art museum in the city.
- Alexanderplatz — A huge transport hub and the beating heart of Berlin. Alexanderplatz is famous for its GDR-era TV tower, which you can go up (book your tickets in advance to skip the line!) or it’s great to just look at too.
- Hackescher Höfe — An art nouveau building complex from 1906 with photogenic courtyards that house a mix of local shops, bars, and cafes. Of special note is the former workshop of Otto Weidt; he hired blind people (including many Jews) specifically so they wouldn’t be deported to the concentration camps during WWII.
One Last Tip: Look for the “Stumbling Stones”
You’ll notice small bronze plaques set into the sidewalks along Oranienburger Straße. These are called “Stolpersteine” or “Stumbling Stones” and are part of a Europe-wide memorial dedicated to the victims of the Nazi regime.
These stumbling stones are laid at the last known address of each victim and tell when they were deported and whether they were murdered or survived the camps.
Have Fun Exploring Oranienburger Straße!
This guide wound up being SO much longer than planned, but that just goes to show how even a single street in a city as old as Berlin is steeped in layers of history.
Let me know if you have any questions about visiting Oranienburger Straße or Berlin in general. I’ve lived here since 2019, and I’m always happy to help out!
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