Brut, a German-French Vesper bar, is yet another check-mark in the annals of Mitte’s flourishing dining and drinking scene. Its interior—weighty wooden tables, bright-red kitchen chairs and incandescent amber lighting—sets a rustic, Hessian-countryside backdrop that shimmers with an French effervescent veneer.

The bar’s libations and nibbles also bespeak the two countries’ shared border. Brut’s kitchen plates its refined bar snacks on coined tree trunks—rough-hewn platters that groan under the weight of specialty German cured meats, select French cheeses and crackling sourdough bread prepared by local, boutique bakeries. Yet, the real draw is Brut’s wine selection—exceptionally curated and covering reds and whites, sparkling and rosés. Small-vineyard French knockouts make an appearance, as well as highlights from Germany’s own burgeoning wine industry. Hospitable, unpretentious and gorgeously designed, Brut is for friends.