überlin

Already something of a Berlin institution, Mogg & Melzer has become a staple of the city’s food scene since opening its doors just two years ago. The small but perfectly formed restaurant, inside the former Jewish girl’s school on Mitte’s Auguststraße, serves up probably the best New York-style deli food to be found in a city which still considers a slice of cheese on Brötchen as a decent sandwich. We’ve chewed our way through most of M&M’s excellent menu over the years, but we always find ourselves alighting on the salt beef (on the rare occasions that it’s not sold out), pastrami on rye, or the Reuben. Served with a side of coleslaw and a crispy pickle, each sandwich comes in small or large – no prizes for guessing which we opt for! – and is literally dripping with meaty goodness. Just like in NYC, arrive early to get a seat and your pick of delicious food, and spend your time savouring every last mouthful of Mogg & Melzer.

Kool Thing by Claudia Kent

You might already know Kool Thing, as the people behind this awesome cover of Bowie’s “Station to Station”, or simply as one of the best bands in Berlin today. The duo, sometime collaborators with aMinus’ Valentin Plessy, share with the Sonic Youth song of the same name a certain defiant attitude and a penchant for guitar noise, wedded to haunting synth lines and pulsing electronic beats. They’ve sent us their new track, which hints at a darker direction for their sophomore album, expected to be released early next year. We give you “I See You (I Am You)”.