Picture the scene: One recent spring day, a sudden burst of showers brings one Prenzlauer shopper after another fleeing for refuge into the quiet, spacious Cafe CK. At the counter, they shake off the raindrops, peruse the menu, and order a simple cup of coffee. Soon after settling on a comfy couch with a copy of InTouch or Fantastic Man, their cups arrive all topped with elegantly decorated foam and all thoughts of heavy clouds are briefly banished.

This cafe has been a true haven here, not just from inclement weather, but also from the trendy parents and general yuppie status anxiety otherwise besetting one from all sides in P’Berg. In fact, they’ve just opened a Kreuzberg outpost in the VOO store, instantly classing up that hood too.

Aside from three kinds of coffee (we recommend the Ethiopian ‘Misty Valley’), CK also offers all manner of alchemical-looking coffeepots, books in English, Dutch, French, and German, as well as an array of fresh-baked goods that includes dark-dark brownies, rhubarb cake (oh yes), and—on the weekends—pancakes.