Andreas Murkudis is a chic boutique for the fashion forward in Berlin. It features trendy clothing for men and women as well as an array of home decor, accessories, jewelry and unique gift items. The collection boasts top international brands like Jil Sander, Guidi and Giorgio Brato. A purchase guarantees a stylish addition to your wardrobe.
In 1999 Heinrich Fassbender and Wilhelm Rausch established Fassbender & Rausch Chocolatiers, one of the biggest chocolate houses in the world, offering premium chocolate creations in every conceivable form. The delightful facility also displays scale models of famous landmarks and crafts cherubs, models, houses and other sculptures, made using chocolate of course.
If reading magazines to you means catching up on Paris Hilton’s latest social misstep, then this might not be your kind of store. At do you read me?! you’ll find a carefully culled selection of some of the best magazines in the world for art, fashion, design and the likes. However, if you’re somewhat behind the cutting edge of cultural theory, as most are, there are still numerous photography and art magazines with loads of lovely pictures waiting for you on the shelves. The prices here are a bit steeper than at your average newsstand, but that’s just the going rate for the crème de la crème.
Located 30 kilometers west of Berlin, Designer Outlet B5 offers upscale outlet shopping with an impressive collection of 40 designer and name-brand outlet stores. Some of the popular brands found within the premises include Ecko, Mango, Levi's/Dockers, Stefanel, Tommy Hilfiger, Mexx, Sketchers, Nike, Adidas, Lego Wear and many more.
Kurfürstendamm dates back to the 16th Century when Electoral Prince Joachim II constructed a path connecting his palace on Unter den Linden with his hunting lodge in Grunewald forest. In the late 19th Century, Bismarck transformed the simple street into a prestigious boulevard lined by stunning town houses. Destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the ensuing decades, 'Ku'damm,' as Berliners affectionately call it, is still a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
This branch of the famous Parisian department store adds a touch of Mediterranean elegance to the German capital. Situated on Friedrichstraße, eastern Berlin's premier shopping street, the store offers the latest fashions from designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin. The design of the building, with its sunlit interior and glass roof, is stunning, another reason for a visit. The food hall in the basement is in the same league as KaDeWe's legendary food department and is a great place to come and sample a couple of fresh oysters.
Known for her distinctly androgynous and minimalist designs, impeccable tailoring, and ingenious use of fabric, Esther Perbandt has made a name for herself amongst women of substance and style. The aesthetic behind each design is a reflection of the designer's own sense of style, creating a collection that defies definition in terms of gender. Subtle hues and clean lines characterize a collection which is composed of both clothing and accessories. Inspired by the city, empowered by experience and enriched by an artistic bent of mind, Esther Perbandt is a fashion label for those who want to make a statement. The Esther Perbandt studio in Berlin also offers custom tailoring services.
In the heart of Berlin' Mitte, Blush is an exclusive women's lingerie store that caters to the fashion-conscious buyers of the city. A brainchild of French native Claudia Kleinert, this upscale lingerie boutique stocks exquisite French-style unmentionables woven with high-grade fabrics like lace and satin. The store design is also quite quirky yet appealing, with eye masks and outlandish babydolls thrown over in different corners of the shop.
At Red Wing Shoes, you will find rugged, rough and tough American style boots that were originally made for the robust worker but have since become a style statement. The store is on the wishlist of many, but the exorbitant prices make sure they stay put on the list. However, the price is well worth the quality as the shoes will last you a lifetime and come with excellent post-purchase services. In addition to Red Wing, they also stock collections from other brands such as Stetson, Filson, Hestra and Tanner.Â
The original Alexanderplatz, locally called 'Alex' by Berliners, was completely flattened during World War II. Its present day appearance is a prime example of East German town planning: a huge, windswept pedestrian area surrounded by 1960s high-rises. But those who are familiar with Alexanderplatz from Alfred Döblin's novel of the same name will find that none of the hustle and bustle of the square has disappeared. Alexanderplatz is still very much a commuters' thoroughfare and is regarded by locals as the true center of Berlin. Named after Russian Czar Alexander I who visited the Prussian capital in 1805, Alexanderplatz was at the center of the mass-demonstrations which brought the Berlin Wall tumbling down in November 1989.