Schokolateria, Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt

As its name suggests, the Schokolateria is an ode to chocolate in all its forms. Located on the ground floor of the sprawling Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt complex, this playfully modern stop offers a dazzling array of cocoa-based drinks and snacks. If that isn’t enough, the nearby Schokocreation workshop enables visitors to give full flight to their fantasies, with bespoke flavour combinations and packaging.

Schokolateria, Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt, Französische Strasse 24, 10117 Berlin, +49 (0)30 2009 5080

Albrechts

Stephanie Albrecht has made Berlin’s residents and visitors an offer they can hardly refuse with her eponymous patisserie. This cake shop and café serves little tarts, mousses and petits fours in every possible permutation. The café’s creations include a passion fruit tartlet topped with a bitter chocolate baton and kiwi slices, a cheesecake with meringue lid, and a raspberry yoghurt charlotte. Altogether, it is a sweet diversion in an era of fast living.

Albrechts, Rykestrasse 39, 10405, Berlin, +49 (0)30 4401 7273

Café Einstein Stammhaus

With its small marble tables, wood panelling and full range of newspapers, Café Einstein has the feel of a Viennese coffee house. There are classic pastries and hot chocolate is served with a separate pot of whipped cream. As evening falls, the menu rays out into schnitzels, goulash and wondrously rich desserts such as the apricot dumplings with butter crumbs and vanilla sauce.

Café Einstein Stammhaus, Kurfürstenstrasse 58, 10785 Berlin, +49 (0)30 2639 1918

Cupcake

Berlin’s first cupcake shop is also one of the best. Set up by former make-up artist Dawn Nelson, Cupcake offers an alternative to the city’s traditional haunts. Highlights from the American-influenced menu include the King, a peanut-butter-and-banana tribute to Elvis Presley, the vegan Blondie and a lightly spiced carrot cake in miniature. Follow the shop’s Twitter feed for a stream of cake-related updates.

Cupcake, Krossener Strasse 12, Friedrichshain, 10245 Berlin, +49 (0)30 2576 8687

Café Hilde

Café Hilde’s graffiti-covered shutters conceal a café and live music venue defined by its cultured, charming eclecticism. During the day, a menu of soups, triple-decker sandwiches and homemade treats is served; in the evening, the café is given over to book readings, acoustic performances and improvised theatre. The breakfasts are heartily good: consider the Iberian, a morning feast of chorizo, Manchego, sundried tomatoes and scrambled eggs with chili, accompanied by a generous bread basket.

Café Hilde, Metzer Strasse 22, 10405 Berlin, +49 (0)30 4050 4172

Bonanza Coffee Heroes

This small but perfectly formed coffee shop on the tip of Mauerpark pays close attention to all aspects of coffee-making. The beans are roasted on site, the foam is spun into concentric hearts and the shop favours a temperature-controlled Synesso Cyncra espresso machine over conventional options. If you are serious about the way you drink coffee, this is the place to visit.

Bonanza Coffee Heroes, Oderberger Strasse 35, 10435 Berlin, +49 176 6169 1496

Barcomi’s

Barcomi's continues to attract crowds almost 20 years after it opened in the Kreuzberg district. Coffee is available in 11 blends and eight flavours including caramel, amaretto and Swiss chocolate. The range of Celestial Seasonings tea stretches from blueberry to chai, and sweet treats include an aptly-named monster brownie. Recreating your favourite item on the menu is easier than you might think: owner Cynthia Barcomi has published three cookbooks, charting muffins, cookies, pies and even ice cream.

Barcomi’s Kaffeerösterei, Bergmannstrasse 21, 10961, Berlin, +49 (0)30 684 8138