Zur letzten Instanz

Pleasant discovery! This restaurant had a familiar feeling, being in the oldest restaurant in Berlin. It's like dining in an old house. The staff were kind and helpful. The kitchen closes early, so it's better to book and be on time. It's a very casual restaurant. I went with a small group of friends, and we enjoyed our meal. I recommend the stuffed cabbage leaves with bacon. My plate was light light but still filling. Recommended.

Very often these sort of "oldest restaurant" places are a bit of a tourist trap, style over substance. Luckily not here - it's a superb restaurant with a fantastic fine dining twist on trad German favourites albeit with fun and informal service. So pleased we came. Oh, and the feel of the place is wonderfully old fashioned with candles, tiles, and dark wood. Booking recommended - probably essential actually.

Lovely German food, friendly service, very original ambiance, great place for elevated Berlin cuisine! Although it can have a bit of the hectic vibe of many more tourist-y places. But the longer we just kept sitting there, the more the hecticness subsided. I wish the waiters could get a breather tho!

Overpriced. Overrated. Bad food. Tourist trap. These guys are opened for 400 years now and they still don’t know how to cook and grill a pork knuckle and how to treat customers. Everything we ordered took a long time to come, we ordered bread (never came). Restaurant had just opened so it wasn’t crowded. I had to go to the garden after our waitress to ask her to bring the check. Topping up, the credit card machine already comes with the 15% tip pre-selected, so beware of the scam.

Classic German cuisine! It’s a small place with maybe 8-10 tables , but they sat us easily as a large group (6) on a Thursday! I had the meatballs and I thought they were wickedly good. Nothing overpowering, just good classic food. Beer was good, felt so nice and cozy and what I expected in Germany as a Canadian. Although, the apple tart looked beautiful and smelled amazing, it was just okay tasting. (I’ll take a Canadian apple pie any day over it, sorry!)

Their food was amazing. I found this gem through ChatGpt for good pork trotters and the first one popped out is here. I ordered a pork knuckle, a mash potato side, and a beer with lemonade. They were all good. I’m from the Asian background and we cook pork trotters well, so my standards are high. This place killed it. The pork skin was crispy outside yet the inside fat was juicy. The pork was mostly tender and seasoned well. The food portion was satisfying (I’m a big eater) and the price was reasonable. Another highlight was their service. Gianluca was super friendly and his English was fluid. I even met a YouTuber who had two-million subscribers and his girlfriend next to my table! Apparently this place is a well-known restaurant with a good long history. I highly recommend it!

I've been to many pubs around the UK and beyond and this is one of the best I've ever been to. And it was by far the best pub meal I've ever had.

Absolutely delicious! The apple pie is sublime. One of my best dinners in Berlin. You must book before going.

Est. 1621 Its customers have included notables such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Beethoven, and Jack Nicholson, and now us! The place exudes old world charm, but the foods represent a modern twist on timeless classics. We had the meatballs and stuffed cabbage rolls, and we enjoyed the dishes very much. The flavors were delicate and although the portions were generous, we did not left feeling heavy. Service was friendly. You can sit inside, or out on the cobblestone courtyard and admire the remaining city wall that dates to medieval times.

Heard that this was the oldest restaurant in Berlin and that notables like Napoleon and Charlie Chaplin had dined here, so naturally I had to also come by and give it a shot. Call and make a reservation otherwise you won't be able to get a table. The building is super historic and you can definitely feel the age of the building -- a metal spiral staircase takes you up to the second floor (if that's where your table has been assigned). Our waitress was very friendly and spoke very good English, so no worries about coming here if you're a tourist (I'm sure they've dealt with enough tourists by now). We ordered the grilled pork knuckle, the veal liver, some blackcurrant juice and a dark beer. Everything was really delicious! The grilled pork knuckle -- crispy skin on the outside, flavorful tender meat on the inside. If anything was a tad bit salty but not a dealbreaker at all. I personally prefer boiled pork knuckles but they no longer make them boiled here apparently. Not a dish that is commonly seen in the US (us Chinese folk do cook pork knuckles relatively often, but in a different style). The veal liver -- super tender and no overpowering flavor that you would get with organs in general. Paired excellently with a bit of apple and leek, plus the sauce was really tasty as well. This is not a dish that you commonly get in the US either, so it was awesome to be able to try this. The blackcurrant juice -- absolutely delicious and refreshing. Paired perfectly with the meat dishes. Again not a type of juice that is commonly seen in the US (unfortunate because it's so tasty!) Beer was great too! This place isn't a tourist trap, it's a legitimate restaurant serving great food with great service. Definitely call in advance and make a stop if you're in Berlin!

It's not too often that you get to be a patron at a piece of history. Zur Letzten is Berlins oldest restaurant and a gem in the city. We came here on our last full day in the city and we're super impressed with the ambience and feel of the restaurant. The menu is a bit small but it's to ensure that each item is properly made and taste great. We started with the dumplings, the cheese and meat plate, vegetables and some wine and beer. Great apps and definitely recommend. Our server was attentive, although towards the end he started to get a bit more busy and needed some help! For the main meal we had the pork knuckle, onion tart, poached eggs, and meatballs. Everything tasted great and came out in great time. For desert we had the apple pie, cheese plate and the flan. The flan and cheese weren't my cup of tea but the apple pie looked great. Great spot and definitely would come again!

It is the oldest restaurant in Berlin- 1621. We sat outside in the shade. The waiter went over the food and drink menu with us. He was more talkative and friendly then other waiters/ waitresses we've encountered in Germany. I came upon this place when I was trying to find a restaurant that serves schweinshaxe- pork knuckle. The pork knuckle is a big dish as there is a lot of meat. My favorite part of the pork knuckle is the crispy skin. It also came with a side of potatoes, either fried or mashed. I was very full after this meal and wasn't able to finish everything. I enjoyed my time here.

Great place to go if you want authentic German cuisine. This can be heavy but if you choose wisely from the menu it can also be relatively light and delicious. Service is excellent. Ambiance is what you might expect from the oldest restaurant in Berlin: old-fashioned, not at all stylish, historical. A good evening out of you want to experience a straightforward German meal without any finickety 21st century pretentions. Sorry the pictures aren't of pristine plates of foods but I was very hungry.....

What can you say it's a 600 year old restaurant in Berlin. Many people famous people have been there. My husband and I went on our last day in Berlin and it's very quaint. My husband got the pig knuckle which was actually better than it sounds and I've got the classic stuffed cabbage rolls. They had a different flavor but they were good. The staff was very friendly very accommodating. Just a nice little restaurant to visit if you have the time while you're in Berlin.

What do Beethoven, Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac and I have in common? We had all enjoyed a fine meal and downed some delicious beer at this restaurant, the oldest in Berlin. More accurate to history, while this location has been serving food since 1621, the current restaurant name and ownership is relatively recent. Nonetheless, it's no hype, the delicious food it serves is worthy of its fame and line. Pork knuckle is a popular German dish. I was told that it's usually oven roasted in the south and boiled in the north. Here they offer both versions, though I suppose it's no surprise that eisbein, the boiled version, wins out here, with a melting soft skin and tender, juicy meat. The baked one is too dry and definitely does not measure up to the ones I've tried in southern Germany. Fried fish fillet is also delicious with a crunchy oatmeal coating. Special mention is worthy of the cucumber salad. Crunchy, fresh, buttery and loaded with dill, the best cucumber salad I've tried. On my second visit I asked the waiter to substitute my side with cucumber salad, but either he misunderstood or it couldn't be done, it came as an extra order. If you didn't make reservation, try coming off hours. The waitstaff seems to only take as many table as they and the kitchen can effectively serve. So even if the place is not full, they may tell the customer apologetically, in English or German, that they are full. But if 10 minutes later a group leaves, then the next customer who walks in may get seated. Nothing discriminatory, just how they operate, like it or not.

This is a small family owned restaurant. The owner stopped by our table to chat. They have a limited menu of authentic German food, but what they have is delicious. There are beer, wine, and spirits available, also. We dined in the garden which was lovely. The staff was fluent in English and patient as they described the menu choices. While it is off the beaten path, it's definitely worth trying.

Being the oldest restaurant in Berlin, you would imagine that the building would have that old world flare. Well, it definitely did. We first went on a late night hoping for a table but the man told us they were closed, so we went back the next day at 530pm. They were booked with reservations but he was nice enough to seat us outside on the patio which was absolutely lovely. We had a couple of beers before 6pm rolled around which was when food would start to be made. The first thing we ordered was a few appetizers, meatballs and pickled pork. I wasnt a fan of the pickled pork but the Meatballs were so delicious! I then ordered the stuffed cabbage which is filled with a meatloaf type meat made out of sausage and beef. It was brilliant! The last thing we did was share a apple streudel pie thingy with vanilla ice cream which was one of the best desserts I have ever had. There is absolutely a reason that this place has existed for over 400 years, and in that time they have perfected recipes. It was a memorable meal between 4 friends and a place I would definitely visit again if I make my way back to Berlin.

Loved this place! Came in without reservations but they fit us in ( with a time limit, but totally understandable). Staff was very attentive, explained food well, made recommendations. Food was excellent. Pork knuckles is a staple and a must try. So tender, good abd delicious you would want to take it home and introduce to your mother! And then we had cheese dumplings.... Seriously, I craved them for the rest of my stay in Berlin. Meal was paired with some beer and schnapps and it was a delightful experience. Will visit this place every time we come to Berlin!

Excellent food. I had poached eggs and mashed potatoes with the mustard sauce which is kind of unusual for my American pallet but it was delicious. My companion had the onion tart and cheese. The onion was caramelized to perfection. The service was great as well.

What a wonderful meal! The staff were helpful. It was quiet so we could enjoy food and conversation. I had the cabbage roll and it was a generous portion, and the sauce was spectacular. The pork knuckle was gigantic and tasty. This was our first night in Berlin and I want to go back!

Read about this place and walked here one night for dinner, wanting to eat in the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Unfortunately they were booked, so we made reservations for the following night. Came back and had a great dinner experience. Our food was delicious, the staff were friendly, the ambiance was excellent. It was very authentic german and made us feel very native. We would definitely come back again.

The reviews are correct. Tasty Traditional German Food in a historic building away from all tourist activity. I loved their small outdoor garden under big trees. Definitely can recommend the Cabbage Rolls with German fried potatoes. YUM I'll be back

seriously amazing food, very nice ambiance inside the restaurant with everyone clearly having a good time. also the staff was super nice

Wonderful food. Best we have had in Berlin and dare I say Germany. Service was perfect, prices were low for the quality. The lamb sausages were absolutelty amazing. Quaint decor and easy to get to. We will go back.

Food is excellent. Cash only, so make sure you cone prepared. Thoroughly enjoyed the cow tongue appetizer (preparation similar to carpaccio with pesto, salt and sprouts for flavor) and the stuffed cabbage. Sauce was very well paired with the dish, and the recommendation of getting a side of potatoes was definitely the right call. Well worth the trip, good times!

My sister and I came here in 2009 - I haven't been to Germany since then and I still tell people about it! I had a blood sausage, pork and stewed apples dish, and I felt like I was in Skyrim. 10/10 go here!!!

Wasn't sure if Napolean really dine here before but since I saw it online, it's worth a try. Although I was never a big fan of pork knuckle before, I decided to give it another shot. It is to my surprise that I actually liked it. Besides the pork knuckle, we also had deviled eggs as appetizer, a bowl of chicken/veggie soup, and the house special meatball. Everything was delicious but we just ordered a bit too much lol. P/S the service was a bit slow due to understaff but the waitresses were extremely nice regardless :)

Nice and cozy. Must have reservation or call first at least! I called before arrival so I went to a table shared with others but other people without reservation had to wait for the seats to be vacant. Nice place & food. Should visit at least 1 time.

The food is fantastic. My wife ordered the veal meatballs and I ordered the lamb sausage, and even though it turned out to be a salad, I loved it. The service was also excellent, if a bit slow. But it was the middle of a Saturday, and the patio was nearly full. The only sour note was the tiny notice at the bottom of the menu: Cash or debit card only for under 50 euros. So I tried to pay with a debit card, but the waiter wasn't too happy about it. He gave me grief for a couple of minutes, but eventually ran the transaction. If I'm back in Berlin, I'll go again, but I'll bring cash.

We had no idea what to expect as it was a place recommended by a few travel bloggers. The first thing the waiter asked was if we had a reservation. So maybe it is important to have a reservation. We didn't have one and had 1 hr to order/eat. We came here for the history and pork knuckles. We were told that the boiled pork knuckles was traditional. However, the fried pork knuckles was more popular. The boiled pork knuckles was very very tender although not as visually appetizing. I can tell why the fried pork knuckle is more popular. The skin is crispy and very flavorful. I definitely would recommend this meal and experience. The server was quite friendly and the ambience is very homey.

Great food and nice waitress. Both of the grilled and boiled knuckle of pork is brilliant! Just in case you drive here, there's a space next to the backyard of the restaurant which is free of charge if you dine here. We actually parked on the street and paid 2 EUR per hour.

We thought Zur Letzten Instanz was the most charming part of our trip to Berlin. The facility is beautiful in this obviously historical way. You can make reservations via their website. The beer is fantastic. What we ate: Apps: Pickled Herring with Raddishes. - Weird, very salty, oddly satisfying. Meals: Pan fried pork knuckles (you can also get them boiled) I think my SO liked the challenge in eating them as much as the taste. I had the stuffed cabbage. The cabbage itself wasn't very flavorful but it came in this pan sauce along with potatoes that was amazing. Dessert - Apple Pie. Takes 20 minutes but comes out warm and covered in something molasses like. Also comes with the best vanilla icecream I've ever had. They don't take cards under $50 euros. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. Would recommend.

Disappointed. This restaurant used to be very good, with big rations of meat perfectly cooked and lots of vegetables. Today we ordered their flagship dish (pork), and the quality was poor : - significantly less meat than before, only 1 kind of vegetables (vs 3 before) - the meat was overcooked The price is still high ... but it's not worth it anymore.

Allegedly the oldest pub in Berlin and it definately delivers on the old style charm you might expect. Allegedly Napoleon used to hang out here, back in the day. The hearty food and drink were superb and the serving staff were very friendly too. Can get very busy so if you are planning a late evening visit you should book in advance.

I think the foods and the price are great but the service was not so great. But maybe just being typical. It is crowded by tourist, students and locals. レストランはドイツ風クラシックなレストランで雰囲気もあります。旅行客と学生、近所の人達で賑わうレストランです。サービスはドイツ風でした。他にも良いレストランがあるので、やはり今度はサービスの良いところに行くと思います。

Good hearty German dishes. I ate Klopse (meatballs) and mash. Sit outside in old ruins, enjoy the day. Service is slow, all attention paid to large tables. Great ices for dessert too. Don't order damn "beef knuckle" - it's for uninspired tourists! Order Schnitzel, sausage salad, roulade or Sulze. Yum.. Rebel Reviewer: 4 stars

So satisfied! Grilled one is obvious my type of tea but pickled one seems to be recommended more.

Nice place, historic. More like a museum. Go there if you are into historical dinners. Food especially the soup was too salty and I like salty. I couldn't finish it. Service is super slow.

The oldest restaurant in Berlin. Nice and cozy beer garden. Great selection of traditional food . Pork knuckle, red cabbage, dumplings are a great choice. Service, however, seems to be slow!

In January I read a fascinating novel about a man who fakes his death to start a new life. Early in the book this restaurant is featured and I had been curious to see if it was everything I imagined it would be. As I'm currently In Berlin for Berlinale 2012, I had to give it a try. It was just as the author described: historic Berlin cuisine, plentiful portions, attentive staff, traditional German ambiance, fair prices (circa 20 Euros for a main course and drinks), etc. It is the oldest restaurant in all of Berlin, dating to 1621. I actually used the novel as a guidebook, tracing the steps taken by the main character and ended up exactly where I wanted to be. In keeping with the plot, I decided to walk. It was 20 minutes from my hotel in February. That was no treat, but it turned out to be well worth the excursion. It is located in a rather dull part of Berlin (because it was part of East Germany for many years), situated on a quiet side street in a residential area, not far from the very center of Berlin in the Nikolaiviertel. I heartily recommend Zur Letzten Instanz for anyone after that bit of traditional German atmosphere and food!

This place was a bit hard to find, but we wanted to stop here to get a traditional German meal as our first meal during our trip to Germany. I really enjoyed our meal here, but the service was not great. First off, we were not greeted when we walked in. We simply went to the back and took a seat. When the waitress FINALLY came to our table, she was pretty friendly and worked with us the best she could in English and with our tiny, tiny bit of German. They also had English menus, which was great! I was okay with the service not being great, as we were on vacation and were not in any rush. I think it's also a cultural difference to not always rush through meals :) My husband and I had planned to share a soup and an entree, but this did not quite work out as we were hoping. The soup was AMAZING!! I think it was a potato soup with mushrooms. So good!! We wanted to share the pork knuckle for the entree and we thought we had communicated that clearly by pointing to the menu and saying only one with hand gestures. This did not work. We both got a massively large pork knuckle with red cabbage and potato dumplings. It was absolutely delicious, but WAY, WAY, WAY too much to each as an individual, especially since it was just lunch for us. It was definitely enough to share between two people. The pork was really tender, and the cabbage was really well cooked. I am normally not a fan of the stuff but it was so good that i certainly had my fill. Oh yeah, and who could forget the beer...yum!! I would definitely go here again for traditional German food and a couple beers if I made it back to Berlin. BUT I would go with a very empty stomach or try to learn a little more restaurant-ordering German!!

Awful, awful, awful. Took the advice of Lonely Planet, and wish we hadn't. Awful... cannot say it enough. Rude staff, who couldn't give a toss about the people in the place. Huge, but unpleasant servings of meaty, meat-lovers food. Awful. Avoid. The only think going for it, is that it's the oldest operating restaurant in Berlin (or so Lonely Planet told us). But that's not enough for me to recommend it.

A Must Go if you are in Berlin. Number 1: You must eat a German Meal when you're here; Number 2: Zur Letzten Instanz opened in 1621. I had to kill 2 birds with one stone. So... For my German meal, I had the Pork Knuckle and mash potatoes. Which was phenomenal, and for history, If it's good enough for Napoleon and Beethoven to "supposedly" eat here, I "Gotta Eat Here"!!!

Incredibly rude - almost comically inhospitable and unwelcoming service. This is the second trip I've tried to dine here because it's the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Both times very rudely told by different members of staff that they're full, when empty seats are visible and they're serving food with plenty of time until closing. The staff's attitude was weirdly hostile. They treat potential customers like me willing to wait in line as a pest. But perhaps , I'm starting to think from my observations , they treat German customers better?

The staff is very rude. Poker face all the way round. When we paid for the bill,she even enforced us to give her 10% of tips. I mean if her service is good and nice, we'll definitely be willing to give her an amount of tips. But it's awful when u r enforced to do so. Food is just ok and really awful service.

Napoleon ate here and allegedly tried have his way with the waitresses so I guess he must have enjoyed himself. We did too (though not with the waiting staff) and we found the place really has a nice low-key historic ambience, which is surprising as it was almost wholly destroyed and then rebuilt after WW2. Service was efficient, friendly and not that slow considering the size and layout of the restaurant which has quite a few separate dining rooms. The food was also quite good, mainly traditional German fare like haxe and the Berliner eisbein or duck and blutwurst and even a modern currywurst. Both of the wursts were rather insipid so do stick with the proper meats or the calf liver, which was really delicious and beautifully pink (but don't forget to tell the kitchen that you want the liver pink if you don't want it well done). This is a great place to bring newcomers to Germany or Berlin. I am sure they would appreciate the food and atmosphere as much as you!

Taditional Berlin food with long history and good price good service.Will come again.

Just OK food. The place looks old. The spicing was one dimensional and lacked imagination. Would not return to this place again. They are resting on their Laurels. Had The Rouladen, and could not motivate myself to finish it. The beer is good, but you can drink great beer at tons of places in town.

We loved the local feeling and local food. Go with the waiter recommendation excluding beer and wine. Skip desserts.

Great food. Napoleon used to eat here I heard. There is a chair where Napoleon used to sit. Any case, good beer and foot.

Nice old ambiance, friendly waiter. We had duck and I couldn't believe how small our meal was. It was all in all tasty but guys honestly that portion is just ridiculous.

Excellent and charming restaurant. Stumbled upon this place while on a business trip. Did not have a reservation, but the staff made sure to get our party a table. The meatballs were excellent and the bread and meats were a perfect appetizer.

This has to be one of my favorite restaurants in the world! Love that pig knuckle!!!

As someone else had noted, there aren't really a ton of German restaurants in Berlin. I was really baffled by this as well as relieved that I had done my Yelp research prior to us going here. Also, as others have said, being the oldest restaurant in Berlin, I was afraid it was going to be a tourist trap and was pleasantly surprised to find this was not the case. This place really is kind of in nowhere-ville but super easy to get to off the tube and worth the trip. It was definitely what we were looking for in terms of old world German feel and the menu is authentic German food. Service was a bit sketchy, very friendly, but a bit off in terms of having to flag someone down, and being told they were out of the veal shank my fiancée wanted and then seeing one go out to a table sat after us... Anyway, the food and feel of the place made up for it. We ordered a nice dry Riesling that I was happily surprised with as I was afraid it would be too sweet for me, along with a curry wurst to start. After being served a water logged, semi-slimy, white brat in cold water earlier that day we were very happy with this tasty wurst, it was a very large portion for a starter and served with chips. I went with the German meatball which was unlike any other meatball I've ever had, more like a very large sausage, but was flavorful and served with a very tasty potato salad and vegetables. My fiancée definitely had the winning dish of roast boar with all the trimmings and kindly gave me half of that for half of my meatball. The boar was very tasty and moist and the sauce served alongside was a nice compliment to the meat. For dessert we shared the warm poppy cake with fresh cream which ended the meal perfectly. All in all a good meal but definitely go for the atmosphere. Oh, and make a reservation for sure, it was packed on a Tuesday night and they seemed to have run out of quite a few items.

Great traditional German restaurant billed as the oldest operating establishment in Berlin. I was apprehensive that it would be a bit touristy; but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very homey and comfortable space but it is not that large - we had our Concierge get us a reservation. Nice traditional menu with seasonal options. The prices (considering one is in a capital city) were very reasonable. Nice selection of beers on tap and, of course, some great German wines. Service was polite and efficient. Guten Appetit.

We were looking for a German restaurant for our 1st night in Berlin and this is one of the only ones I could find in the area. We went to Alexanderplatz and could not find any German restaurants. I used yelp to look up on and my GPS to find it. It was well worth the trouble getting there. We had pork knuckle and stuffed cabbage, both were huge and delicious. The beer they have on tap is great. I liked the ambiance in the place. Do get a reservation before going. We walked in and were told since we had no reservations we had to be gone by 8pm. Note: There are not many German restaurants in Berlin....

Sooo good. Zur is a well-frequented place, given its mention on most tourism outlets as the oldest pub/restaurant in Berlin and supposed dining spot for Napoleon and Gorbachev (get a reservation for sure if you want dinner). This makes it a strong tourist trap candidate...but surprisingly, this wasn't the case at all. Inside, the restaurant is cozy and charming and perfect for dinner with friends. They start you off with bread and pork fat butter. Even If this doesn't sound appetizing to you, I would strongly suggest trying a little. Friends and I decided to do what makes sense to us--order three entrees and share them all, heh. The signature dish (and probably my vote for must do) is the pickled pork knuckle. The portion is enormous. If you prefer not to eat the skin, simply peel it away; the meat inside is moist and so delicious. I miss it. Friends and I also got the beef cheeks, which was super tender and complemented with baked pear. Amazing. We also ordered the blood sausage, which was not bad, but I'd probably pass on it next time. Service was leisurely and warm. The best part? Our entire meal (2 beers, an excellent bottle of wine*, a bottle of mineral water, 3 full entrees, 1 dessert, and 3 coffees) was only a touch over 100€--ridiculous for such a great meal for 3 people. *The bottle we chose was a Neiss 2005 Cab Sauv/Merlot. Light and crisp and nice pairing with our meal.