Berlin Master Chefs 2026: Meet the Nominees

Berlin, June 18, 2026 – Berlin’s dining scene is shaped by the people who bring it to life:  chefs, restaurateurs, hosts, and culinary innovators who are an essential part of the city’s restaurant culture and neighborhood identity. In a city as open and international as Berlin, they come from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds.  Their diversity is what gives Berlin’s culinary landscape its distinctive character – an ever-changing mix of flavors, traditions, ideas, and experiences. Berlin’s hospitality sector is not only a defining feature of the city’s cultural life, but also an important economic force.  The Berlin Master Chefs awards celebrate both. Presented by Partner für Berlin since 1997, the program honors the people and concepts that shape the capital’s restaurant culture and strengthen its appeal as a culinary destination.[BS1]  This year, the awards mark their 30th anniversary. The nominees for 2026 have now been selected.  Chosen by an independent jury from around 150 nominations, they represent the creativity, quality, and diversity that continue to drive Berlin’s hospitality scene forward.

Awards will be presented in seven categories:  Berlin Master Chef 2026, Rising Star of the Year 2026, Berlin Host of the Year 2026, Berlin Scene Restaurant 2026, Berlin Kiezmeister 2026, Berlin Bar Culture Award 2026, and Gastronomic Innovator of the Year. In line with tradition, the nominees for the final category will remain a surprise until the awards ceremony. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on November 7, 2026.  Until then, the jury will assess the nominees’ concepts, creativity, and vision.  Whatever the outcome, every nominee has already made a meaningful contribution to Berlin’s culinary identity – and to its reputation as one of Europe’s most dynamic food cities.

“Three decades of culinary innovation, creative excellence, and fresh inspiration are reflected in the history of the Berlin Master Chefs awards. Through this initiative, Partner für Berlin recognizes not only the industry's spirit of innovation, but also its enduring commitment to quality, creativity, sustainability, and consistency – qualities that are essential to the restaurant culture of a global food capital like Berlin.  The award winners are more than culinary trendsetters; they are ambassadors for the city itself,” said Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO of Partner für Berlin.

The nominees are: 

Berliner Meisterköchin / Berliner Meisterkoch 2026:

• Samuel Haas, Dae Mon 
• Sarah Hallmann, Hallmann & Klee 
• Daniel Remers, Barra Restaurant 
• Andreas Rieger, Michelberger Hotel 
• Lode van Zuylen, REMI 

Rising Star of the Year for 2026:

• Johannes Gehrich, Hugos
• Adar Kaplan-Mor, Loxa
• Nadav Kundel, Saint Farah
• Danas Pozlevičius, Jolie Bistrot
• Tanadon Santanaviboon, Hanuman Thai Curry House

Berlin Host 2026:

• Antonio (Gastgeber) und Louis (Sommelier) Bragato, Il Calice 
• Anne Garkisch (Gastgeberin und Sommelière), Restaurant Bieberbau 
• Anna Hernández Götz (Sommelière), Bar Levain 
• Sebastian Höpfner (Head Sommelière), Rutz 
• Isabell Wendel (Host and Sommelière), Bricole

Berlin Scene Restaurant 2026:

• Ari’s  
• File Asto 
• Onette 
• Saint Farah 
• Tacos el Rey

Berlin Kiezmeister 2026:

• Augusta am Savignyplatz, Charlottenburg (also in Schöneberg)
• Bistro GriGri, Kreuzberg 
• Blutwurstmanufaktur Marcus Benser, Neukölln-Rixdorf
• Tresen-Treff, Wilmersdorf 
• Vom Einfachen das Gute, Wilmersdorf (auch in Frohnau und Mitte)

Berlin Bar Culture 2026:

• Der Kleine August 
• Ernst Cave 
• Matrëshka Bar
• Rhinoçéros 
• Rum Trader 

The shortlist offers both an insider’s view of Berlin’s most compelling dining destinations and a snapshot of the trends shaping the city’s food scene.  This year’s nominees bring together tradition and innovation, challenge culinary conventions, and give familiar ideas a fresh, distinctive twist – combining high standards with a relaxed, contemporary sensibility. Selecting the winners is no easy task. The final decision rests with an independent jury of journalists, food critics, and hospitality experts who have followed Berlin’s culinary evolution closely for years.

The independent jury includes:

• Dr. Stefan Elfenbein, Jury Chair and correspondent for Der Feinschmecker and Business Traveller
• Tina Hüttl, Jury Chair, Berliner Zeitung
• Felix Denk, Tagesspiegel Food and Lifestyle Editor
• Prof. Dr. Dieter Großklaus, Honorary President, “Chaîne des Rôtisseurs”
• Lorraine Haist, freelance journalist and contributor to various newspapers and magazines
• Stefanie Hofeditz, freelance journalist
• Alexandra Laubrinus, Managing Partner, Berlin Food Week
• Clemens Niedenthal, Culinary Editor, TipBerlin
• Nikolas Rechenberg, Gourmetwelten
• Annika Schönstädt, freelance writer
• Dr. Erwin Seitz, freelance journalist, author, and food critic

For nearly 30 years, the Berlin Master Chefs awards have ranked among the capital’s most respected culinary honors.  Like Berlin itself, the program has evolved continuously,  reflecting the energy, diversity, and international outlook that define the city’s dining scene. This year’s nominees are no exception. As the jury prepares to make its final selections, food lovers can look forward to finding out who will take home the awards. Until then, they can explore the exceptional restaurants, bars, and hospitality experiences that have earned every nominee a place among Berlin’s culinary best.