Cafe Buchwald

This traditional German tearoom has thrived on the leafy neighbourhood corner, since 1852. Located north of the Tiergarten, just over Moabit bridge, Cafe Buchwald earned its reputation from delivering cakes to the courthouse.

The conventional feel of the tearoom is maintained both by the furniture and the cafe's loyal regulars. The number of blue rinses (although, in Berlin the popular rinse choice appears to be more akin to the shade of tan leather car seat) on show was staggering. When I walked in to order, it looked like the queue I joined had been waiting in line since the cafe first opened its doors.

A work of art

The cafe is famous for it's Baumkuchen, which due to my poor German we failed to order, instead a chocolate encrusted, wafer cake and a light, spongy, strawberry slice came our way.

Both were delicious, however the chocolate cake - despite it's wonderful appearence - had that slightly tired, lingering cardboard-wafer after taste. A sensation that reminds me of long boring afternoons listening to uncomprehensible Polish , eating chocolate cake that to a seven year old tasted like it was in disguise, while visiting relatives in towerblocks in Warsaw or Sopot.

However, as we made our departure, the beaked locals seemed unanimous in their choice for best cake. They obviously didn't have Polish relatives.