Above the bar of a South Kensington restaurant hangs a real church bell, reclaimed from Germany, with a crystal chandelier sparkling right underneath it. Not your usual light fitting!
That's Stein's Berlin, a German restaurant in South Kensington hiding behind a white portico on Exhibition Road. And right now, it's serving a special Oktoberfest menu 🍺
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON pulls up a bench for a Bavarian burger, a roast sirloin and the dreamiest Kaiserschmarrn.
Meet the couple who brought a German Gasthaus to Exhibition Road
Stein's Berlin is the London dream of a German couple, Bele and Reinhard Alexander Weiss. Reinhard is an architect, and his own studio designed the whole interior.
The restaurant sits inside a listed building at 51 Princes Gate, right next door to the Goethe-Institut. Fitting for a place that celebrates German food and drink!
The long wooden tables were brought over from Munich, and the benches are a nod to Bavaria's beer gardens. Yet the menu travels across the whole of Germany, not just the south! 😉
Oktoberfest at Stein's Berlin: a cosy night feast
Pale wood, pendant lamps and blue diamonds
My son and I went for an early dinner on a Tuesday evening, and the restaurant started to buzz a bit before we left, with a group of around 20 German guests gathering and enjoying the lively atmosphere!
Because October is special here: for Oktoberfest, the pale wooden walls are dressed in blue and white Bavarian diamonds, Paulaner banners and little flags. The feel is soft and calm, almost Nordic, with warm pendant lamps over every table.
The staff were lovely: friendly, smiling and very efficient, even with a full room.
A Bavarian Leberkäse burger in a pretzel bun
My son went for the Bayerischer Leberkäse Burger mit Bratkartoffeln. That's Bavaria's famous Leberkäse loaf in a pretzel bun, with Obatzda cheese spread, baby leaves and pickled cucumber.
It comes with pan-fried new potatoes tossed with bacon and onion. He loved every bite, and the portion was very generous!
Zwiebelrostbraten: roast sirloin with crispy onions
I chose the Zwiebelrostbraten, a roast sirloin steak crowned with crispy onions. It sits on green beans with pan-fried potatoes and a rich beef jus.
Absolutely delicious, and generous too: the perfect plate for a chilly October evening.
Kaiserschmarrn, the emperor's pancake
Then came dessert: the Kaiserschmarrn! It's a caramelised shredded pancake with rum-soaked raisins and toasted almonds.
It's served with a vanilla sauce, an apple compote and a prune purée that was simply divine. We happily shared it!
Why Stein's Berlin is South Kensington's cosiest table in every season
A little treat for colder seasons...
Can you think of a better address for the season ahead? The days get shorter, the evenings get colder, and we all deserve a little TLC!
Under that German church bell, a hot plate of Kaiserschmarrn is the warmest welcome to autumn in South Kensington!
A perfect location...
Visiting the V&A or the Natural History Museum? It's a short walk up Exhibition Road.
Got tickets for the Royal Albert Hall? Book an early dinner here before the show.
This location makes it absolutely irresistible!
And when the sun comes back: the terrace
I discovered the Stein's Berlin terrace last year, and it's a real secret garden. Picture cream parasols, green hedges and pots of pansies on every table.
It's the spot for a cold Paulaner, a fruity drink or a crispy schnitzel in the sunshine.
Cosy benches in autumn, a leafy terrace in summer: Stein's Berlin works in every season. Ein Prosit!
Feeling inspired? If you're planning a visit to Stein's Berlin, I'd love to hear how it goes on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON!
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Everything you need to know about Stein's Berlin:
Address: Stein's Berlin, 51 Princes Gate (entrance on Exhibition Road), London SW7 2PH
Nearest station: South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly lines), about 8 minutes' walk up Exhibition Road
Dates: Oktoberfest menu served this autumn [TO CHECK: last day of the Oktoberfest menu]
Prices: Bayerischer Leberkäse Burger £24.50, Zwiebelrostbraten £27.90, Kaiserschmarrn £13.60. Paulaner Oktoberfest beer from £5.20 (0.3l). An optional 12.5% service charge is added to the bill.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm (last food order 9pm). Sunday, 12pm to 8pm (last food order 7pm). Closed on Mondays (private bookings only).
Booking: recommended, even midweek. Call 020 8611 4919 or email BerlininKensington@stein-s.com
Website: berlininkensington.stein-s.com
