Late-night café culture, Neukölln-style, with a bit of Far East flair.
Some places are hard to put in a box. Cheeky Berlin is one of them. It’s a café, a snack bar, a casual evening hangout and, occasionally, a place for a cheeky glass of wine. That in-between feeling is exactly the point.
Cheeky is the newest neighbourhood spot from Ray and Hansl, a couple whose story starts at a summer picnic and stretches from Sydney to Seoul, Busan and Vietnam, before landing firmly in Neukölln.
From pop-ups to a permanent home
Ray grew up in Australia with Vietnamese heritage. Hansl is from South Korea. After years in Berlin, they found themselves missing the everyday food culture of home. Not fancy restaurant stuff, just really good snacks, coffee and drinks that fit around real life.
That nostalgia turned into pop-ups around the city. Think bánh mì with a Korean twist, yakitori, kimchi korokke. Small plates, easy sharing, good times. A long trip through Vietnam and South Korea sealed the deal. They fell in love with the laid-back café culture there: long opening hours, strong identities, and spaces that work as a genuine third place between home and work.
Back in Berlin, they kept walking past an empty café space on Anzengruberstraße. Conveniently, it sat right between their two apartments. Eventually, the timing lined up. The idea became real. Cheeky moved in.
Why Neukölln makes sense
Neukölln isn’t just a postcode for Ray and Hansl. It’s home. They love the mix of cultures, the everyday chaos, and the strong sense of community. What they noticed was a gap. Compared to other parts of Berlin, East Asian cafés and casual lunch spots were hard to find here.
Cheeky is their way of filling that gap while giving something back to the neighbourhood. The reaction so far has been loud and lovely. Locals were excited to see the long-empty space come back to life, especially families from the nearby playground looking for an easy, welcoming place to land.
Snacks, sweets and drinks that don’t overthink it
Cheeky’s menu mirrors how Ray and Hansl like to eat. Flexible, snackable, and good at any time of day.
The bánh mì is a standout. Inspired by Sydney’s Vietnamese bakeries, made with house Vietnamese mayo, mushroom pâté and pickles, then finished with Korean touches like ssamjang for extra depth. Familiar, but not boring.
The drinks menu leans playful. Homemade yuzu lemonade using Korean yuja-cheong. A rotating lineup of Korean canned soft drinks, including sujeonggwa, a cinnamon punch that’s quietly addictive. Misugaru lattes are on the way, bringing a nutty, comforting grain drink into the coffee mix.
Sweets are a mix of in-house baking and community collaboration. Pandan and yuzu cheesecakes come from Cheeky’s own kitchen. Yakgwa and ube Swiss rolls arrive via local BIWOC bakers. Soon, there’ll also be Korean lunchbox takeaways, which we’re already planning our schedules around.
A space that feels lived in
The room itself is cosy without trying too hard. Some details from the old Italian café remain, now softened with wooden furniture, warm colours and personal objects. Korean books, film posters and travel photos sit next to plastic chairs and metal tables Ray hauled back from Vietnam. It feels collected, not designed.
There’s an espresso bar-style counter, a big window, and a bench outside that catches the evening light just right. It’s the kind of place you can bring a laptop, meet a friend, or sit alone without feeling rushed.
Coffee with Field
Cheeky serves Cherry Ripe on espresso. Ray and Hansl were drawn to Field for the same reasons many of our partners are: quality without intimidation, and a shared Australian connection that made the partnership feel natural.
Cherry Ripe’s balance and versatility fit Cheeky perfectly. It works across milk drinks, holds its own as an espresso, and plays nicely alongside bold flavours from the food and sweets menu.
Specialty coffee here isn’t about showing off. It’s about raising the baseline. Great snacks, interesting drinks, and genuinely good coffee, all in one place.
Looking ahead
Cheeky is already open, easing out of soft-opening mode as the full menu comes online. It’s been equal parts nerve-wracking and rewarding. The biggest win so far has been the people. Neighbours popping in, staying longer than planned, coming back with friends.
In their first year, Ray and Hansl want Cheeky to become a true local favourite. A place people use throughout the day and into the evening. Somewhere to work, snack, hang out or just switch off for a bit.
If you’re heading over, come curious. Order something you know and something you don’t. Chances are, the unfamiliar one will be the thing you come back for.
📍 Cheeky
Location: Anzengruberstraße 19, 12043 Berlin
Social media: @cheeky.berlin