2025 - July - Berlin - Berlin TV Tower and Visit to 'Sphere' Rotating Restaurant by Tim Raue

It's not exactly cheap to enjoy the view from the Berlin TV Tower. The standard ticket costs €22.50 for adults and €12.50 for children. Those willing to pay a bit more can opt for the heavily advertised 'Fast View Flex' tickets, which cost €26 for adults and €16 for children. On normal days, the standard ticket should suffice. During our visit, there was no queue.

However, we had a different goal: we wanted to visit Tim Raue's new restaurant. The star chef has breathed new life into the rotating restaurant. Under the name 'Sphere', classic cuisine in Tim Raue's style is now served there.

To visit the restaurant, one must reserve a table in advance, including a fixed time. The price for this, including the upward journey, is €28.50 for adults and €18.50 for children.

Once at the top, you first enjoy the view. It is impressive. The restaurant rotates slowly and evenly while the city unfolds below like a model train landscape. Complete with moving trains!

By the way, Tim Raue faced quite a bit of criticism after the opening of his restaurant on June 3, 2025. The service and long wait times were frequently criticized.

Now it was our turn. The entry process went smoothly. The bag check was completed quickly. Upon arrival, we were greeted more formally than warmly. We were handed a card with our table number. It also indicated when our stay would end. After a maximum of 90 minutes, you must leave.

Our server, on the other hand, was friendly. She brought us the somewhat worn menus. Beautifully illustrated, various dishes beckon, but it's certainly not cheap here. The view over Berlin and the name Raue are clearly reflected in the prices.

We chose the 'Hot & Cold' menu priced at €29. This includes the famous currywurst. Almost nothing is more typical for Berlin. It came served on porcelain and was truly delicious! It was accompanied by Schrippen, which is the Berlin word for bread rolls, and I believe the waiters are encouraged to use that term. Unfortunately, they were bland baked goods without salt.

For drinks, there was a choice of beer, cola, Fanta, or Sprite. After a brief discussion, I was able to get water, but had to ask the supervisor for it. Tim Raue himself is, of course, not there. He probably rarely appears.

For dessert, buttermilk ice cream and spaghetti ice were available. We chose the buttermilk ice cream. It was tasty but not a highlight. For hot drinks, the choice was between cappuccino and café crema. Other variations were not offered. For example, a latte macchiato could not be ordered. Such a pity.

Despite everything, it was again a special experience to look down on the city from over 200 meters high. However, in terms of culinary offerings and service, the Berlin TV Tower cannot compete with that in Vienna. There, too, there is a great view from a similarly designed rotating restaurant. Just a few days earlier, we had spent lovely hours there without a time limit, enjoying delicious food.

The capital duel Berlin versus Vienna thus goes 1:0 to Vienna in terms of TV towers.