BERLIN BUNDESTAG: Käfer Breakfast at the Rooftop of the Reichstag Building! @GermanyTourism

The Bundestag is the German Parliament, located in the Reichstag Building in Berlin.

Visitors are allowed to visit the Rooftop terrace and the Dome constructed by Sir Norman Foster, which has become a prominent symbol of the reunited democratic Germany.

We had one of the coolest breakfasts ever–at the Käfer rooftop restaurant, with awesome views of Berlin. 

Admission to the dome and roof terrace is free, but you have to register in advance (min 2 days) to avoid the long queue for walk-ins.

Visiting the dome of the Reichstag Building starts as early as 8.00am and ends at 12.00mn, with the last admission at 11.00pm.

Don’t bring any backpacks, just bring your camera. The elevator goes directly from the ground to the rooftop.

The audio guide provides a 20-minute tour of the highlights of the Reichstag building, the German Bundestag, and the views along the 230meter ascent and descent.

 

The Dome and Roof Terrace

The dome is made of large glass windows with a 360-degree view of Berlin. It symbolizes how the people are above the government, and a reminder that the people are watching over the parliament.

In the center is a mirrored cone so that you can see the debating chamber of the Parliament below.

You can read the history of the Reichstag building from the panels surrounding the cone. Check out the photo of Reichstag building wrapped by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in July 1995.

There’s a 230m double helix ramp that spirals up one way to the top.

In the four corners of the rooftop are the German and EU flags. 

The cone is also used to direct sunlight into the chamber below. It’s an ecological design to reduce the carbon footprint of the building. 

There are different rooftop views in Berlin, but the Reichstag view is the best choice if you can only go to one. 

TIP: Make sure to get the Outlooks pamphlet, which provides Berlin panorama photos and a guide to the different buildings that you see from the 360 view of the dome.

It takes 10 minutes to go up and another 10 to go down. You can race with your kids all the way to the top. 

The top of the dome with a circular opening to help concentrate the sunlight into the cone.

A top view of the mirrored cone and the chamber below it.

The walk down is easier and designed in a way that it spirals down another way.

Best to go early in the morning while it’s not too hot and to get a nice side lighting from the sun. 

You can be creative with taking a mirrored selfie.

After exploring the dome and finishing your selfie and group shots, it’s time to have breakfast at Käfer beside the dome. 

 

Käfer Rooftop Restaurant

Käfer is open from 9.00am to 10.30am for breakfast. It serves one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in Berlin.  

(TIP: Make sure to make a reservation in advance).

The restaurant reserves Modern German Cuisine with a set menu option for breakfast. 

Käfer Menu: Fit through Berlin, Stammer Max | Käfer Bavarian Breakfast, Käfer Omelette | Käfer Feel Good Breakfast | Wine and Hot Beverage

The entire restaurant is al fresco and you can reserve the tables on the terrace…

…to have an awesome view of Berlin while you eat your breakfast. 

We ordered different breakfast sets to share Asian-style.

(Note: Germans are usually very conscious about privacy so they prefer to order one dish per person.)

✮ Käfer Feel Good Breakfast (€28.50 per person).

The organic bread rolls, wholegrain bread, pastries, and croissants are served first with homemade jams, honey, and butter.

The natural yoghurt with fruit sauce and seasonal fruit salad is served on the side.

It comes with 1 glass GIO Secco, and 1 glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

A towering plate of marinated salmon with honey-dill-mustard sauce, a selection of fine cheeses, meats, & ham, and truffle pate is served next, with 2 scrambled organic eggs on the side.

It’s actually a lot and good for sharing between 2 persons. 

Käfer Omelette (€12.50 per person).

We ordered an extra omelette of 3 organic eggs with shrimps and dill sour cream. Really good, too. 🙂

Hot chocolate with whipped cream (€4.90).

The hot chocolate is creamy, a bit sweet and served in these cute cups with red beetles, which you can also buy as a souvenir. 

(Trivia: Käfer means beetle)

✮ Käfer Bavarian Breakfast (€17.50 per person).

You’ve got to have this Bavarian breakfast of steamed veal sausage, slices of meatloaf (like spam) with sweet mustard, Waldorf Salad, homemade Obatzder cheese, and a huge pretzel.

Best of all, you get to drink 0.3 liter of Paulaner Draft Wheat Beer for breakfast! Sarap and so refreshing in the morning. 🙂

The desserts though do not look appetizing, which was a common theme of our Berlin trip.

Here’s a group photo of the Southeast Asia Bloggers from Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. 🙂

I highly recommend visiting the Dome, which is the symbol of German Reunification, seeing the panoramic rooftop views of Berlin, and eating one of the best breakfasts in Berlin.

I love the Käfer Feel Good Breakfast and the Käfer Bavarian Breakfast served only from 9.00am to 10.30am.

This is a can’t-miss experience so make sure to reserve at least 2 days in advance.

Dome of the Reichstag Building
Admission is free; advance registration required.
Opening Hours: Daily from 8.00am to 12mn
Admission: Every quarter of an hour (Last admission: 23.00 hrs)
Visitors’ Service Telephone: +49 (030) 227-32152 and +49 (030) 227-35908

Visit the website: Registering to visit the dome of the Reichstag Building
(Note: Check for schedule of dome closure in the website.)

Requests can only be submitted together with a complete list of participants (naming all members of your group). Without an accurate and complete list of participants, the Visitors’ Service cannot process your request. The following information is required for each person: surname, first name, and date of birth.

Online registration

We regret that it is not possible to register by telephone.

Käfer Berlin 
Reichstag, Platz der Republik, Berlin 
Telephone: +49 (030) 2262 9933. 
Website: Käfer Berlin
Email bookings: kaeferreservierung-berlin@feinkost-kaefer.de 

Visitors who have already reserved a table can reach the rooftop restaurant via the entrance below and to the right of the West Portal (West C).

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Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com 

Disclosure: Our Berlin Trip was courtesy of the Foreign Ministry as part of the Blogger Visitors Program of the Federal Republic of Germany. I wrote this article with my own biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.  

P.S. Don’t miss this beer and sausage combo for breakfast! 🙂