Situated in the heart of Mitte, Operncafe is among all the great sights of Unter den Linden. It looks like a Viennese coffee...mansion. Prices are a bit high, but with a huge selection of mouth-watering cakes, it is a perfect stop during a busy day of tourism. Berlin can often leave people a little disappointed if they are looking for an old-school, continental feel, but this puts you right in it!

The Cafe in the Opernpalais is in a gorgeous setting and we'd heard this is a must-see. Which was just as well, since "see" was all we could do. Not a table to be had for love or money. When we went, the cafe was so busy with no tables available, that new arrivals milled around the room circling and hovering like eager birds of prey waiting for a spare table. The cafe staff did not make any contact with us and they pretty much ignored us for the entire time that we were there from the moment we arrived until we left in disgust. We stood patiently and politely off to one side at the bar, waiting for a table to free-up, but also clearly waiting for a table. Clearly our polite reserve did not help us. We apporached one table when their occupants got up to to leave (a group of Berlin businessman, judging by their conversation, coats and briefcases). They took ages putting on their coats, said their goodbyes, then one of them sat down again ). We turned away, again politely waiting - the man had seen us waiting and approach the table, so he clearly knew we wanted a table. Then another couple approached, asked the man if it was free, he said yes, stood up, joined his friend who had returned from the toilets (! and he hogs a table for that) and they left. We then left in disgust, as no doubt you have to be the pushy and impolite type to get a table here. No doubt eating in the Operncafe is a highlight of any trip to Berlin - but sad to say we'll never know, as we'd saved this for our last afternoon in Berlin to end the trip, and we never got a table. The experience left a sour taste in the mouth (but we then had a far better time in another restaurant shortly afterwards). Why the Operncafe staff can't operate a simple queueing system to stop "queue-jumping" and the prevent the awkwardness of waiting and watching people eat their kaffee and und kuchen? We've been twice to the Pump Rooms in Bath, in South West England, which is a very similar set-up (nice cafe, nice old surroundings) - the Pump Rooms operate a queuing system and the staff there show you to a a table when one becomes free. A much better system.

Traditional coffee and a very large assortment of cakes (tarte/torte) in and interesting historical milieu -- don't miss it, it is something completely different from Starbucks.

Every time we go to Berlin, we have to make a stop at the Operncafe for apple strudel with vanilla sauce. It is delicious! Sitting outside and people watching is perfect, although the inside is fine too, albeit a little old and dated looking. But very clean and the service is good. This time was our third visit, and it was just as good as every time before. I will admit that once we got sidetracked by the lunch menu first, and while it was good, the reason to go to the Operncafe is for their dessert. In addition to the apple strudel, they also have an amazing array of cakes and pies. One day, I am going to tear myself away from the strudel and try one of the chocolate cakes.

During the last day of our Berlin weekend, my Mum and I had lunch at the Operncafe, which is a cafe in an old royal palace close to the Museum Island. The weather was lovely so we sat outside (which means I can't comment on the inside, apart from that the lavatories were clean). Wonderful place and atmosphere!

The food was good (asparagus & salmon for Mum; asparagus ravioli for me) and they served some nice Prosecco with that.

The service was OK, but not amazing (pretty much like in Berlin overall, smiles must not be in fashion). The prices were entirely reasonable.

I'd definitely recommend it for a lazy, sunny afternoon and a chat, maybe after a tour of the museums at the "Museum Insel"!