Amidst the wide and wonderful array of plant-based eateries in Berlin, Café Morgenrot stands out as a shining and stylish star. When I traveled to the city last Spring, lunch at this café was the last stop on my packed travel agenda. I arrived at their artistic, poster-filled, and graffiti-painted entryway on a weekday around noon. There was a pub-like feel to the restaurant both outside and in, but it seemed as though its regular patrons were still asleep. The café was quiet, and there were only a few others in the room – mainly locals who were joining in on mid-day meals among friends. I learned later that the café is most popular for evening drinks and weekend brunch, which is an extravagant vegan/vegetarian buffet feast served at a pay-as-you-can price.
Café Morgenrot’s artistic exterior.
The walls of Café Morgenrot were studded with work from a local artist’s feminist-inspired paintings in an interactive exhibit titled “Add your Heroine!” QR codes were linked to each piece of art that could be scanned in by a smartphone to reveal the story behind each of the 12 paintings that lined the walls. Readers and eaters were encouraged to join in the display by posting the story behind their own heroines to the web page. As I read through the paintings descriptions, I was instantly impressed by the creativity of the endeavor.
The backroom of Café Morgenrot.
I learned quickly that Café Morgenrot was not simply a pub to sip German beers. Rather, it is a space that seeks “to connect culture, politics, and everyday working life”. The café is a collective that holds meetings, discussions, and events to exchange knowledge and ideas between people. Through these exchanges, the owners hope to combat racism, sexism, and heterosexism, all over the consumption of plant-based foods and drinks.
The vegan tofu scramble.
Café Morgenrot aims to elevate its community by favoring local business over wholesalers. This principle is evident from their array of independent newspapers and magazines to the sourcing of their vegetarian ingredients. I took advantage of their tasty product selection by ordering a tofu scramble. This deliciously filling spicy turmeric scramble came complete with house-made breads and vegan “butter” topped with dill.
The sunny front room of Café Morgenrot.
This savory dish was complimented perfectly with a sweet finish. I asked for their most popular dessert, the vegan strawberry cheesecake. This creamy jam-topped slice of cake was perfectly paired with their non-dairy chai latte, a drink that I’ve found to be served surprisingly large in both in Germany and in Austria compared to the miniscule classic café-style coffees. Coffee-lovers too would be satisfied with Café Morgenrot’s ethically-sourced espresso drink selection. The café relies on espresso that derives from the cooperative coordinadora de mujeres campesinas de la paz, which employs marginalized women in Honduras to produce certified organic coffee in order to fights for their social well-being and economic independence.
The vegan strawberry cheesecake.
From the sourcing of their coffee beans to the décor on their walls to their tasty plant-based creations, Café Morgenrot is taking small but meaningful steps to inspire a cruelty-free world. Whether you go for brunch or for beer, make visiting this café is a Berlin bucket list item.
The non-dairy chai latte.
About the author: Lacey Gibson is a global health researcher, a food writer, and a Vinyasa yoga teacher. She recently graduated with a Masters of Science in Global Health Population from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Here, she also served as a Food Literacy Project Fellow, coordinating community events to inspire education of the food system. Prior to her Masters, she graduated in 2015 with a BA/BS in French and Physiology from Southern Illinois University, where she also competed as an NCAA DI track/cross country runner. Throughout her career, Lacey’s work has been published in academic journals, such as the Journal of Wine Research and the International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. She is also a regular contributor to writings for a wider wellness-interested audience, such as UNDO Ordinary, I Am Woman Project, and Skin In The Game. For a full taste of her writing style, keep up with her here.
