A new neo-chic Italian restaurant in Berlin Mitte: Cara

There are restaurants that want to please, and there are those that simply know they do. Cara belongs to the second category. Since the summer, neo-chic Italy has taken root in Kleine Hamburger Straße; and hardly anyone who is into Berlin's culinary scene has not heard the name. “Cara” sounds familiar, almost affectionate, and that's exactly how an evening here feels: elegant but never stiff; urban but with sunshine in its heart.

The interior? Milanese elegance meets Berlin understatement. Warm wood, brown marble, subdued lighting: a setting that whispers rather than shows off. You sit here surrounded by art and conversation, while the scent of fresh basil and prosecco wafts over from the bar. The Cara Spritz, a charming reinterpretation of the classic: bitter, floral, a little frivolous. The perfect start.

The cuisine follows the same principle: reduction with sophistication. The menu is short, clever, and curated. Spaghetti vongole e bottarga is served without frills, salty and sunny like an afternoon in Liguria. The homemade tagliolini with summer truffles is a poem of aroma and texture, while the beef tartare with roasted hazelnuts proves that Berlin and Bologna are not as far apart as one might think.

And then there's the tiramisu: the dessert you can get anywhere, but almost never to perfection. At Cara, it's light, bittersweet, without unnecessary showmanship. The spoon sinks in like an Italian promise you want to keep. Not to mention the wonderful pistachio ice cream.

The crowd? As mixed as the aperitivo itself: foodies, fashionistas, a few advertisers with perfectly ironed shirts, interspersed with tourists wondering if Berlin has always been so dolce vita. There is a rare mixture of lightness and self-confidence that is more commonly found in Milan or Rome.

“Cara” means “love, the expensive one” in Italian, and yes, an evening here is not cheap. But that's not the point. Those who sit in Cara are not looking for bargain cuisine, but atmosphere, rhythm, a little piece of the south in the northern city.

Cara is not just another Italian restaurant; it is a declaration of love for modern Italy, told at Berlin speed. A place to stay, to share, to indulge. So if you fancy aperitivo culture without the kitsch, you'd better hurry: a table at Cara is currently as hard to come by as a Vespa in rush hour.

Cara
Kleine Hamburger Straße 2, 10115 Berlin
Opening hours: Mon-Sun: 5:30 pm - 12 am (kitchen until 9:30 p.m.)