Berlin Restaurants

Zur Letzten Instanz

#35 of 814 things to do in Berlin

#68 of 3295 things to do in Germany

1 reviews | Write a review

Good for: atmosphere, food, Solo Travellers, service

  • Address
    • Waisenstrasse 14-16
  • Transport
    • Klosterstrasse
  • Website
  • Phone
    • 030 242 5528
  • Price
    • mains €9-18
  • Hours
    • noon-1am Mon-Sat

Correct these details

Lonely Planet review for Zur Letzten Instanz

Oozing folksy Old Berlin charm, this rustic eatery has been an enduring hit since 1621 and has fed everyone from Napoleon to Angela Merkel. It's one of the best places in town for classic Berlin fare.

 

Traveller reviews for Zur Letzten Instanz (1)

  • Avatar
    To write a review sign in, register or   Connect_light_large_long
    Recommend
     
    Add your experience “ ”
    Say more…
  • Avatar

    Where vegetables go to die...

    anneeo recommends this,

    Meat. Lots of it. Germany seems to have a Festival of Meat - Ein Festivisch
    die Meaten as it is known, I believe, in the original German. It runs 365
    days a year. You cannot avoid it. Stock up on greens before you enter the
    country.

    We turned up at the Zur Letzen Instanz, an eating house tucked down a warren of medieval streets in East Berlin. Two claims to fame.
    One, it's the oldest pub/restaurant in Berlin.
    Two, Napoleon once ate here.

    History does not record what Napoleon ordered, but I can tell you with dead
    certainty:
    Meat. Lots of it.

    We perused the menu.
    Immediately we paused. Pork knuckles.
    Pigs have knuckles?
    Rouladen.
    Sauerbraten.
    Veal schnitzel.
    Jagdwurst.

    Taking comfort from the bar and the knowledge we had scurvy-fighting oranges back at the hotel, we surrendered to the forces of the flesh.
    We ate lots of good German meat, washed down with lots of good German beer.

    I noticed a bust of Napoleon on display, apparently over his favourite seat.
    I saluted him with my beer stein as I realized why he went to Russia: for the
    vegetables.

    Good for: atmosphere, food, Solo Travellers, service

    report