Meet Berlin’s Master Chefs 2025

Berlin, November 13, 2025 – They are creative, inventive, and known for impeccable taste: the 2025 Berlin Master Chefs  were announced on the evening of November 13 at the historic Colosseum cinema in Prenzlauer Berg. An independent expert jury selected the winners in the categories “Berlin Master Chef,” “Rising Star of the Year,” “Berlin Host,” “Berlin Scene Restaurant,” “Berlin Kiezmeister,” “Berlin Bar Culture,” and “Gastronomic Innovator.”  The city’s top culinary talents learned of their awards for the first time during the gala event, held in the Colosseum’s storied setting, and were celebrated by 300 invited guests. Berlin Partner has presented the Berlin Master Chefs awards annually since 1997 and convenes leading food journalists and culinary experts to serve on the jury.

Again this year, the Berlin Master Chefs embody one defining characteristic above all else: diversity. Each in their own way, they blend creative energy, cultural influences, craftsmanship, experimentation, respect for ingredients, tradition, and contemporary flair into an exceptional culinary experience for their guests. Together, they represent what makes Berlin’s food scene both unique and endlessly varied. They also bring a strong sense of personality – a trait as essential in vibrant Berlin as curiosity and a willingness to innovate. It’s no surprise, then, that Berliners – and the expert jury – appreciate inventive concepts and unexpected flavor combinations.

Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner: “The Berlin Master Chefs embody the diversity, creativity and magnetic appeal of our city. They honor not only exceptional culinary achievement, but the people whose passion and innovative spirit shape the capital. Gastronomy is – and remains – one of Berlin’s strongest ambassadors: it brings cultural diversity to the table, fosters joy and community, and contributes significantly to our economy. Today, we celebrate not only outstanding cuisine, but above all those who, through their craft and hospitality, make Berlin such a remarkable place.”

The jury – chaired by Dr. Stefan Elfenbein,  writer for Der Feinschmecker, and Tina Hüttl of Berliner Zeitung – selected the following awardees:  

• Berlin Master Chef 2025:Nicholas Hahn from of Cookies Cream, the first vegetarian restaurant to earn a Michelin star. With a distinctive culinary language marked by elegance, poetry, intriguing textural contrasts, and deep, resonant flavors, he impressed the jury with his talent, culinary intelligence, technical precision, and clear artistic vision.
• Rising Star of the Year 2025:Jeff Claudio of Stoke — named by the jury as one of the most exciting new openings in Berlin’s dining scene. Together with a team of top-tier talent, Claudio elevates what appears to be a simple concept – Japanese yakitori, grilled chicken skewers – to a new culinary level.
• Berlin Host 2025: Jana Kämpfer of Manon Brasserie Nouvelle.According to the jury,she is anything but an ordinary host. At Manon, the seasoned professional brings her full experience and expertise to the floor: she motivates her team, reads the room with ease, spots mistakes instantly, and corrects them on the spot. That, the jury says, is what defines a truly exceptional host.
• Berlin Scene Restaurant 2025:Luna D'Oro at Clärchens Ballhaus. According to the jury, this is where the idea of “scene” dining is interpreted broadly – if not reinvented entirely.  Young and old, tourists and locals, families, club-goers, and everyone in between gather here because the atmosphere makes all of them feel at home. It’s no coincidence that it evokes shades of Babylon Berlin. Luna D’Oro is a joyful, welcoming place for everyone.
• Berlin Kiezmeister 2025: Adana Grillhaus in Kreuzberg. Afamily-run institution for more than 30 years, it has become a fixed part of Kreuzberg’s culinary landscape and opens its doors to guests every single day. Ask chefs where they like to go when they want a satisfying meal after a long shift, and the answer comes up surprisingly often: Adana Grillhaus.
• Berlin Bar Culture 2025: Dustin Franke (Bademeister, Bar Nonno, Lamm Bar, Mausi, Torte).  The jury notes that the bars Franke has founded and runs in Berlin consistently serve as vibrant “third places.” They are built around community, neighborhood, inclusion, and diversity – and, of course, around pleasure, thanks to excellent drinks at an accessible price.
• Gastronomic Innovator 2025: Vadim Otto Ursus Henselder, who the jury says understands that Berliners are looking for welcoming, low-threshold culinary concepts – and creates places where people feel like they are working among friends. That feeling, they say, extends naturally to the guests.

Street food, Michelin-star cuisine, fine dining, neighborhood favorites, scene bars –  Berlin’s culinary repertoire is vast. So was the menu at the awards ceremony. Under the theme “Maîtropolis,” the Colosseum’s ambiance radiated style and elegance as last year’s winning restaurants prepared the evening’s dishes – including the Michelin-starred Loumi, Dr & Dr,  Veronika, Michelberger and Domäne Dahlem.  Anyone who wants to experience the talents of the Berlin Master Chefs firsthand is warmly invited – the jury’s selection is not only a prestigious distinction but also an excellent recommendation.