We found KALA almost randomly, during our trip to Berlin in the winter of 2019. We were looking for a place to warm up and get our first dose of energy for the upcoming journey through the streets of Berlin, when we saw the colorful splashed walls of KALA through the glassdoor.
Maybe for the average Friedrichshain-er (that’s the name of the neighborhood) KALA is a standard Berlin-type-of-alternative place, with minimalistic design, a sense of authenticity and close attention to sustainability and eco-friendliness (in that matter vegan lifestyle too). But it caught our attention fast enough, so we didn’t think twice.
The first thing we noticed was definitely the simplistic, almost rustic atmosphere and the green leaves surrounding you everywhere. The second thing is the customer service: There’s a weird sense of being home when you enter KALA – it’s self-serve and although the girl that took our order was quite friendly, there was no sense of “It’s my job to be nice to you, so I can get my tip” of behavior. It felt authentic.
The atmosphere wouldn’t have been as captivating, if it weren’t for the small details – such as the superb Flat White and the modern ceramic dinnerware. The “Klassiker” breakfasts were just as good – we went for the “Mixed Breakfast” one (this is what you would call a standard German “Brotzeit” breakfast, which includes bits of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, spreads, some dried meat and fresh bread). It’s satisfying, yet not heavy; healthy, yet not tasteless. Although it may come up as a bit overpriced having in mind the ingredients and the portion size, the overall setting was worth it. Should we even mention where we went for our second morning in Berlin? And yes, we got the pancakes.
