Hungry Berliners will soon be spoilt for choice on the first floor of the popular concept shopping mall located between Berlin Zoo and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The construction work for the new food market at BIKINI BERLIN has been in full swing since January 2017 and anticipation for the modern gastro concept, which has meanwhile also been given a fitting name, is growing all the time. Awaiting guests here very soon is an innovative culinary experience that cannot be found in any other Berlin shopping mall. The majority of the food vendors have already been confirmed.
The food market at BIKINI BERLIN will be called Kantini – a name that conveys the typical Berlin bluntness and sense of humour. After all, the city’s locals are known for the charming way they fondly give nicknames to places around the city, such as “Kotti” for Kottbusser Tor, “Görli” for Görlitzer Park and “Schlesi” for Schlesisches Tor. The Kantini logo is based on the popular style of the Bikini building’s mid-century design.
An absolute highlight of the 1800 m² space will be the light-suffused new loggia with its large panoramic window measuring 18 metres long and three metres high, opening up Kantini towards the neighbouring zoo. Hopefully the breathtaking view of the cheerfully chirping activity in the Zoological Garden’s huge bird aviaries won’t distract diners too much from the delicious dishes on the menu.
“With Kantini we are creating a new, exciting culinary destination that doesn’t yet exist anywhere else in the City West. Visitors can look forward to a modern, exciting mix of food vendors,” says the managing director of BIKINI BERLIN, Antje Leinemann. “We’re confident that Kantini will quickly establish itself on Berlin’s culinary scene as a destination for delicious, authentic flavours and tastes.”
A successful varied mix of 13 international gastro tenants will be breathing life into the new Kantini area. The culinary offer is colourfully divided into five regions, inspired by the cuisine that comes from each one: European, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin and Californian. The first vendors of the individual categories have already been confirmed.
Serving up European dishes is the Berliner Curry Company, which offers the Berliners’ favourite takeaway snack, currywurst, in different variations including premium “dry-aged” and vegan versions. Pasta Deli and Italian Street Food will be proving that there’s a lot more to Italian cuisine than just pizza: from tramezzini to piadina romagnola to mozzarella in carrozza, visitors will have plenty of tasty delicacies to choose from. At EO Market, the focus is on the nutrition philosophy of each guest and visitors can put together their favourite dish from a number of different options.
In the Latin area, Chaparro Cocina will be tempting taste buds with authentic Mexican cuisine. Fans of Middle Eastern cuisine, however, will love the Israeli dishes from Djimalaya. As it’s hard to imagine a Berlin food market without an Asian offer, Kantini will also be home to Royals & Rice. At BIBIMix, unusual Korean creations such as burgers will be served. And making its Europe premiere at Kantini is the unique food concept by SONS OF MANA, whose original Hawaiian poke bowls can be sampled by curious foodies for the first time at BIKINI BERLIN.
Those with a sweet tooth can pay a visit to the dessert stations of ice cream maker Ice Guerilla and South Africa’s hippest patisserie, Yummyness from Cape Town.
The new food market is the culinary icing on the cake of BIKINI BERLIN, the history-steeped building that, since its spectacular reopening three years ago, meanwhile represents the beating heart of the new Berlin. Kantini is taking the concept shopping mall’s hip lifestyle vibe and translating it into a new culinary hotspot, a response to the international shift towards healthy food, sustainable production and uncomplicated enjoyment. Kantini is scheduled to open in winter 2017/2018.
