Espresso Bar Of Fashion, Art and Heavenly Cake

Reza Danabi is a Persian native. He came to Germany in 1984, went to school and studied fashion design in Hamburg. During his studies he worked at Hamburg’s finest French restaurants and really got immersed in the art of Pâtisserie. Standing behind the sideboard that is Espresso Bar’s counter, he looks like an intellectual rather than a baker or a chef. Three years ago he decided to step away from fashion and liberal arts and, together with his wife, open up this tiny cafe on Mommsenstraße.

And so it is that Danabi comes in early every morning to bake. A beautiful smell welcomes you when you enter the shop. Any resistance is futile! Everyday you get fresh croissants, on a good day you’ll even find the airiest homebaked brioches. The coffee is roasted by Berlin resident Fiaker, teas are imported from Paris’ own Kusmi tea house and hot chocolate is available, too.

But what helped establish this former artist’s culnary reputation are his French tartelettes. Classics such as raspberry and orange tarts are stacked on trays of varying creation such as apple-poppyseed tartelettes, Tarte au Citron or profiteroles filled with vanilla cream. Short pastries filled with chocolate ganache, caramel and walnuts and finished with a dust of Fleur de Sel are just as intriguing.

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You can also get everything to go - packed in beautiful white boxes and for the savory types, there is a tray filled with mini quiches staged on soda bottles. Everything you find here is made with passion and love. A fact that apparently got about in Charlottenburg - the store’s crowded!

Constanze Hallensleben

Founder Creme Guides