Anima
Friedrichshain, Berlin
Restaurant in Berlin, Germany
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Anima is a practical East Side Gallery choice for visitors who want an easy meal anchored around location and timing rather than a chef-led destination dinner. It suits first-timers staying or meeting near the Spree, but diners prioritizing a clear cuisine category or stronger occasion energy should compare nearby Berlin alternatives first.
About Anima
In Berlin, Anima is best treated as a practical option when its schedule in the city fits the day. For a first-timer, the appeal is direct: it is open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, the dress code is smart casual. Use it when the plan needs flexibility, not when the brief depends on a specific cuisine, chef, tasting-menu format, price point, or award signal.
The safest recommendation is situational. Anima can work when the group wants a Berlin venue with broad daily hours and an easy dress expectation. It should not be framed as a destination without a clearer food identity or occasion signal. If the food category, service style, or occasion level matters, compare it with other clearly documented options before committing.
Use it for flexible Berlin plans, not a trophy meal
Anima makes the most sense when the decision is about timing. The all-week schedule gives it an advantage for visitors who do not want to build the day around a narrow service window. In that context, the value is not in making a statement; it is in keeping the plan simple. It is less compelling for diners comparing Berlin venues by cuisine, chef reputation, prices, or awards, because those should not be treated as implied strengths.
If this is an early Berlin plan and the group wants a clearer food identity, scan our full Berlin restaurants guide before committing. That is the better route when the question is not simply whether Anima's hours suit the plan, but what kind of Berlin dining experience should set the tone for the trip. For broader planning around the same trip, the city pages for Berlin hotels, Berlin bars, Berlin experiences can help place the visit in the right part of the day or night.
Quick reference: choose Anima for daily 7 AM to 10 PM opening hours and a smart-casual Berlin setting; cross-shop if cuisine, awards, price, or occasion weight matter more.
Planning details
- Location
- Locke at East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße 61-63, 10243 Berlin, Germany
- Website
- anima.radio
- Phone
- +491622767267
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Anima anchors a design-led aparthotel on Mühlenstraße, where the East Side Gallery’s murals form an unavoidable — and historically charged — backdrop. The restaurant reads as hotel dining rethought for the neighbourhood: design-forward and carefully considered without chasing the language of stern fine dining. It occupies a middle ground, presenting itself as a local destination within a hospitality project rather than a formal hotel dining room for guests only. The writing emphasizes place and context, so Anima feels intentionally integrated with Friedrichshain’s evolving hospitality strip and the art-lined streets that define its setting.
Best For
Anima presents itself as a neighbourhood dining anchor that works for a range of low‑formality evenings: date nights, after‑work drinks and casual hangouts with friends, and convenient meals for hotel guests. The framing in the description — a restaurant that treats locals as its primary audience while remaining the property’s dining centerpiece — points to a flexible spot that fits both hotel stays and neighbourhood visits. Its location by the East Side Gallery also makes it a natural stop for people exploring Friedrichshain’s riverside art and nightlife.
Ordering Tips
The menu highlights focused Mediterranean dishes; lean into the signature plates named in the brief. The red mullet with capers, olives and fennel salad is a clear seafood highlight, while the braised mushroom sliders offer a rich, shareable small‑plate option. The leeks with burrata and salsa verde make a fresh vegetable course that contrasts the richer items. Given the neighbourhood, ordering a mix of small and larger plates to share lets you sample the kitchen’s range and mirrors the venue’s convivial, hotel‑restaurant approach.
Venue details
Ambiance
Low lighting with comfortable sofas, modern vibrant atmosphere, and curated music programming.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- red mullet with capers olives and fennel salad
- braised mushroom sliders
- leeks with burrata and salsa verde
Planning details
Location
Locke at East Side Gallery, Mühlenstraße 61-63, 10243 Berlin, Germany · Directions
Also consider
Where to book if Anima is not the right fit
Pick Berta if the group wants a clearer €€ Israeli meal with more cuisine identity. Choose Richard Bistro if the occasion needs a more composed Modern Cuisine direction.
If the draw is the river setting rather than the restaurant category, compare RIVO Spreeterrassen before deciding.
Restaurant context
How Anima compares in Berlin
Anima is the easy East Side Gallery option in this set: useful when location and timing are doing the work. Berta is the stronger pick when the group wants a defined Israeli, €€ meal, while Richard Bistro gives a clearer Modern Cuisine, €€ signal for diners who want the restaurant choice to feel more intentional.
MINA Ristorante is the one to cross-shop if the brief leans Italian by implication from the name, though the available profile is not as category-clear as Berta or Richard Bistro. Möllers Köttbullar reads better for a casual, specific craving, while RIVO Spreeterrassen is the more natural comparison when river-adjacent ambience is part of the decision.
Recommendation: choose Anima for the lowest-friction East Side plan, Berta for value with a clearer cuisine identity, Richard Bistro for a more composed dinner, RIVO Spreeterrassen when the setting matters as much as the meal.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Anima guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Anima
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anima | Berlin | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Berta | Berlin | Israeli | €€ | Michelin Guide Germany 20262026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| MINA Ristorante | Berlin | ; | ; | Star Wine Lists 20262025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #4992024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #536World's Best Wine Lists 2024 |
| Richard Bistro | Berlin | Modern Cuisine | €€ | 2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Möllers Köttbullar | Berlin | ; | ; | No published awards |
| RIVO Spreeterrassen | Berlin | ; | ; | No published awards |
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How Anima Berlin compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Anima?
Anima is open from 7 AM to 10 PM every day in Berlin. Choose the time that best fits your plan and check the venue's current details directly.
What should I wear to Anima?
The dress code is smart casual. Aim for neat, relaxed clothing rather than formal evening wear.
What should I order at Anima?
Review the current menu directly and order according to what is available during your visit.
Is Anima good for a special occasion?
It can work if the occasion is about convenience, daily hours, a smart-casual setting in Berlin. If you need a more clearly defined format, compare Anima with options such as Richard Bistro or RIVO Spreeterrassen before deciding.
What are alternatives to Anima in Berlin?
Other options to compare include Berta, MINA Ristorante, Möllers Köttbullar, RIVO Spreeterrassen, Richard Bistro. Choose based on the current details that matter most to your plan, such as menu, availability, occasion.
What should a first-timer know about Anima?
The key details are the schedule and dress code: Anima is open every day from 7 AM to 10 PM in Berlin, the dress code is smart casual. That flexibility is the main reason to consider it.
