Berlin. On June 17, 2025, this year’s Michelin star ceremony for Germany took place in Frankfurt am Main. Once again, the world-renowned gourmet guide awarded Restaurant Rutz the highest honor: three Michelin stars – the first and only restaurant in Berlin to receive this accolade – along with the green star for sustainability.
Naturally, achieving the highest rating of three Michelin stars, along with the prestigious green star for outstanding commitment to sustainability — a combination no other three-star restaurant in Germany holds — since 2020 is reason for great celebration. Rutz has, for years, stood for top-class cuisine with its own unique DNA, earning respect in the culinary scene of Berlin, throughout Germany, and increasingly on the European and global stage.
Living continuity and constant evolution
“At the beginning of every dish are two flavors, seemingly derived from just two ingredients of exceptional quality,”
is how Marco Müller describes his culinary approach.
For over 20 years, the Babelsberg native has been the head of the kitchen at the restaurant, which Anja and Carsten Schmidt founded in 2001 together with the late sommelier Lars Rutz († 2003) as a concept combining wine bar, restaurant, and wine shop. The Rutz remains one of the few top-tier, family-run restaurants without a hotel or corporate sponsor in the background.
Since 2022, Rutz is operated exclusively as a restaurant in Berlin-Mitte, while its wine bar roots live on at the Rutz Zollhaus in the trendy Berlin district of Kreuzberg. Following a major redesign in 2022 by acclaimed Berlin architect Prof. Gesine Weinmiller, Rutz now spans two floors and features a summer terrace, all presented in a timelessly minimalist and elegant style. The interior reflects the same uncompromising quality as the cuisine, with materials both regional and globally sourced — for example, natural stone from Bavaria (Brannenburger Nagelfluh) and unique leather-wood chairs imported from Japan. A striking two-story shelving unit filled with preserved goods creates a visual and thematic link to the culinary art of Rutz.
“Much like a tailor-made suit, we have interwoven the workshop with the kitchen and dining area,”
summarizes Anja Schmidt.
The Rutz DNA: Like Berlin, a place where enjoyment is rethought and reinvented again and again
To give German cuisine a modern face and to reinterpret the flavors of his own upbringing, Marco Müller and his team constantly seek out the best local and regional producers: freshwater fish from the Müritz lakes or free-range Wagyu beef from northern Germany. Fermentation and foraging play a key role: fish is not only dry-aged, but trimmings of fish and meat are transformed into flavorful garum sauces; herbs and flowers are gathered and, like seasonal vegetables, are used fresh, lactic-fermented, or pickled to create exciting new flavor profiles with a classic foundation. The result is signature dishes like Wagyu & Garum, Kohlrabi.
“What excites me most is when we create new dishes from childhood memories or unusual local ingredients — even from the forest,”
Müller says, describing the Rutz philosophy, where traditional craftsmanship meets avant-garde, intuitive “belly” cooking blends with intellect.
In addition to “Marco Müller’s & Dennis Quetsch’s Inspirations Menu: Nature & Aroma” and the vegetarian “Edgy Veggie”, guests can also dive into the fascinating world of Rutz with a compact introduction: the daily limited “Berlin Size Menu“ offers 11 culinary inspirations for a special price of € 240 – ideal for first-time visitors to Berlin and the Rutz.
Essential to the experience: Wine and non-alcoholic pairings – award-winning and innovative
Wine has always played a central role at the Rutz, thanks to its origins as a wine bar. Sommelier Sebastian Höpfner presents a captivating wine pairing with a distinctive style that breaks from the mainstream, or he offers guests the chance to explore the extensive wine list with a strong focus on German wine regions. In addition, a perfectly harmonized, innovative non-alcoholic pairing is always available.
A key feel-good factor: genuine hospitality with Berlin charm
An essential element of the experience is the warm and professional service led by maître d’ Falco Mühlichen — approachable, authentic, skilled, and at times delightfully cheeky in true “Berliner Schnauze”.
Additional Awards for Restaurant Rutz in Berlin
Rutz is not only Berlin’s best restaurant but also ranks among Germany’s top restaurants, according to selected national restaurant rankings.
- OAD Top Restaurants, no. 121
- La List 2025 Top100, 93.5
- The Best Chef 2024, 3 Knvies
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Press contact photo requests
Anja Schmidt anja.schmidt@rutz-restaurant.de