Café Bilderbuch

Café Bilderbuch is the apple of Schöneberg's eye when it comes to Gemütlichkeit (or coziness) but I'm afraid that the hype doesn't quite extend to its food. As the name of the restaurant suggests, the atmosphere is picturebook perfect: imagine that you've walked right into someone's antique living room/dining room/personal library hybrid (complete with comfy armchairs and bookcases) and you have Café Bilderbuch. But only come here for a meal on a slower day if you have time to kill because the service can be a little slower. One of the male servers is also a little brusque.

The breakfast options are a little unimaginative, though they are very stereotypically German. Think bread, meat, cheese, and smoked salmon. I did like, however, how the menu was printed in a newspaper format and how each dish's name had a German fairy tale theme. I had Der Froschkönig, which consisted of smoked salmon, trout, eggs with caviar, olives, butter, bread, and a glass of orange juice for €8.90. It was nice that the orange juice was included, but I still felt like it wasn't very filling for what I paid -- it was basically a generous amount of smoked salmon, a single hardboiled egg, and a few pieces of fruit.

But what's more disappointing is the fact that the restaurant is open until midnight, but the dinner menu is pretty much barren. There must've only been about five or six options when I went there for dinner last week. I had Omas Hühnersuppe -- it certainly hit the spot on such a cold winter's night but my grandma's chicken soup is packed to the brim with ingredients unlike Café Bilderbuch's version. It was, however, only €6.90 (which was actually cheaper than my breakfast!) but the dinner menu leaves a lot to be desired. While you might miss out on some of the live piano nights, I'd only recommend this place for brunch if you'd like to get a taste of a typical German breakfast and typical German customer service.

I sat down quite a few minutes after they were already open. There were maybe two other customers already there. It took over 10 minutes for someone to decide to get my order.
The coffee was ok. Ok as in "to prepare it like this I would've just done it in my house". Not an offense but not really what we would expect from a place with those prices.
With the exception of the particular waitress that serviced me, the rest of the staff stroke me as impatient and borderline rude.
I had a terrible experience.

This happens to a lot of places. They become too popular and slide into bad habits. This place has lost its charm. The interior looks a little used. Most importantly, the food and coffee is not good and well above local prices. The service people are overworked. No card payments possible. The washrooms are nice but that can't turn around the fact that this place has been an institution in Schöneberg. But so many great new places have popped up in the neighborhood, its best times seem to be over.

Btw, super slow WiFi with a clumsy registration process was normal around 2007 we have fiber cable and different speeds these days.

Ah, how I love this Schöneberg cafe.

Cafe BilderBuch is cozy place. It almost feels like you're at someone's home because of its decor: Bookshelves, lamps, and a hodgepodge of couches and dining tables. It's usually quiet and peaceful around the morning and early afternoon hours. During the evening, it becomes busier as more patrons show up, but it's never boisterous. On occasion, someone will just walk up to the piano and started playing. I'm unsure if anyone can do that, but either way it's cool and adds to the ambiance.

When I frequented this cafe, I usually ordered their fruit teas that come in their own tea pot. They not only smelled good, but they had a pleasant fruity flavor that was decent when drank without any sweeteners and milk. Whether you order tea or coffee, you receive a tasty cookie -- I have yet to find a coffee shop in The States that does that!

Their teas may be good, but I don't like their food, specifically, their apple strudel. The one I received was surprisingly very sweet because of whatever kind of fruit sauce they drizzled on top.

The service was consistently good. Our servers were always nice and had pleasant dispositions.

Be sure to drop in if you're in the area. Drink some coffee and tea, and unwind for a bit.

If you want to just slouch around, take the weight off your feet after an afternoon of shopping, relax on comfortable sofas then this is the place.


Make your way through to the backroom. It's has a large living room kinda feeling. You can meet your friends there and chat away all day. Or sit and read in an armchair. Work on your laptop.


It's more about atmos. here. Bilderbuch offers drinks and food like any other cafe. Service is a bit slow echoing the relaxed atmosphere. It's a great meeting place. I like the lounge music. Sometimes they have a live pianst... I don't know why I wrote that as I'm sure a dead one wouldn't be good for anyone! Anyway it's nice to have breakfast to some live music.


Food is average but having said that once or twice they have offer some great bakes. On those days I eat, otherwise I just take a drink and melt into the sofa whilst talking crap hours on end to friends.


There is also an outside area front and back.

Overrated. Nice setting in the courtyard but average breakfast with no flair. Mediocre ingredients. Scrambled eggs tasted of cheap oil.

This is a sweet little cafe in Schöneberg that is more of a library than a coffeeshop.

Enter the doors and you'll be met with a small area with tables and a bar. Follow the hallway back to the end, and it opens out into a large room with mismatched couches, tables and chairs, surrounded by books and lamps and groups quietly chatting amongst themselves.

I came here in mid-December, seeking refuge from the rain. My companions joined me around a large table placed next to the piano - lucky for us, a group of carolers and their accompanist would later serenade the room.

We all ordered food; I had a coffee and a vegetarian sandwich, while they (being Swedish) indulged in some fish and various other meats. The price tag for what we consumed wasn't so bad either.

While it's a bit out of my normal way, it's still a worthwhile stop - or destination - for anyone in the area.

Oh, and in addition to the books on the walls, there's free WiFi too.

Wonderful place for a breakfast. The decoration and atmosphere are really like out of a Bilderbuch. Lovely.
I'm removing one star because the vegan breakfast we chose had 2 mediocre dishes. The avocado salad, however, yummmm!
We'll definitely be back whenever we can.

SUPER cosy (the hidden room in the back). If you are brining a book or a friend or just wanna sit and think it's perfect.
If you come for working (and need Internet) it's the worst place ever. Horrible wifi hotspot connection (less than 1mbps) that keeps on disconnection.

Good was OK, but nothing special. Their heiße Schokolade is water based - big minus.

I'll give it a three because of the interior and cosiness, but could of gotten a 4 if food was better and less pricey.

A great place to grab a book, drink a cup of coffee and forget the world.

they have nice comfortable couches here, so it is a good place to hang out in the winter (in the back area) and have a relaxed heart-to-heart chat.