About us

"Because everyday life is not about the big wonders, it's the small wonders that make things just a little more pleasant"

House of Small Wonder Berlin Brunch Mitte, People enjoying breakfast

Our Story

In the summer of 2010, Motoko Watanabe and Shaul Margulies opened the inaugural House of Small Wonder in Williamsburg, New York. The Japanese-American café and restaurant, created as a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life, invited guests to an urban hideaway bathed in warm light and plants-a-plenty.

House of Small Wonder Okinawan Taco Rice Egg Dish Brunch

Flash forward to 2014, and a second House of Small Wonder popped up —this time in Berlin—following in the footsteps of her predecessor with a warm atmosphere, eclectic style, and a menu chock full of Japanese-American comfort food.

Simply put, House of Small Wonder is a meeting place for friends to catch up over brekkie (lunch and brunch too!), but it’s also a place where you’ll be transported back to the good old days – remember those family road trips or grandma’s house on a Sunday? As with every good story, ours is created with love.

Our Location

(Though you may know us from our spiral staircase (Johannisstrasse 20), we’ve since relocated to our Auguststrasse location but we’re not far from our original home-- and still celebrating the small things just the same!)

As of July 2021, our Berlin home has been in the red-brick historical Jewish Girls School on Auguststrasse. Designed by Alexander Beer in 1927, the building’s long history and architectural design make it a hotspot for Berlin cultural tours.

Inside, guests can brunch in our bric-à-brac adorned dining room or sip signature cocktails in our three-tier treehouse. During warmer periods, our ivy-abundant outdoor terrace is a garden retreat!! Take a look at our photo gallery or, better yet, come say hi and see for yourself!

House of Small Wonder Berlin, Japanese Favourites Lunch Menu, Soboro Don

Our Food

The culinary concept, unchanged since the birth of its Brooklyn café, offers thoughtfully sourced breakfast, all-day brunch, and lunch dishes using high-quality, local ingredients. Freshly prepared Japanese-American comfort food like Okinawan Taco Rice, Udon Carbonara, and Matcha Roulade continue to be guest favorites today.

Homemade bread, Biscuit Benedicts, almond croissants, and piles-o-pastries are all fresh and made by hand in our own bakery by our wonderful kitchen team to bring you an array of sweet treats and savory bites throughout the day.

It goes without saying we’re big coffee fans, (and you too according to our Matcha Latte orders) BUT if you’re looking for something a little stronger then there is an afternoon of Happīawā (happy hour) cocktails awaiting you!

In the evening, an authentic Japanese Izayaka dining experience is brought to you by our sister restaurant Candyman.

Our Family

We know the importance of family, and in ours, those meals around the dinner table with loved ones are the memories to behold. So, in the spirit of sharing good foods, moods, and conversation we’d like to let you know about our sister restaurants…

Babba Chu lives just down the road from us at Auguststrasse 63. For the folk missing the sweet and sticky Orange Chicken from the NYC streets (and for those who don't know what we're talking about), chopsticks at the ready for Chinese takeout, New York style!

Candyman is the newest member of our family! Experience an authentic Tokyo-style Izakaya with shime, sushi, yakitori, and shochu highballs. Currently offering an evening menu from our house at Auguststrasse 11-13!