Nordic Embassies Canteen

Designed by Alfred Berger and Tiina Parkkinen and completed in 1999, the six-building complex that houses Berlin's Nordic Embassies (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland Iceland) is an eye-catching architectural landmark that will make your inexpensive and satisfying weekday-only lunch that much easier to find, especially if you're just south of the Tiergarten, in line with the Siegessäule (Berlin Victory Column). The canteen serves the entire site from late morning, with outsiders allowed in from 1pm. But as one of central Berlin's better bargains it's worth the wait; the food is good. Decor runs the gamut from beige to butterscotch, but it's all cool and lovely and pleasing and comfortable. Lunch is not available to the public between 11.30am and 1pm – employees only. But the Kaffebar (coffee bar) is open Monday to Friday 9am–4.30pm and Saturday/Sunday 11am–4pm. U-Bahn:s Zoologischer Garten + Wittenbergplatz.