Digital Eatery Microsoft Stirring It Up

I have a confession to make: I am one of those pitiful smartphone users who get stressed out and sweaty over a single-digit battery status. The idea alone of loosing touch with the world makes me nervous: what information, which emails, which phone calls am I missing right now? And all this is happening while I'm likely standing in the middle of Friedrichstraße in Mitte, where the big city buzz is more present than ever. And yet, this, too, fades in the face of a near-empty phone battery.

From time to time, however, these emergencies have lead me to unexpected places and revealed hidden gems. Take last Friday for instance: while I was desperately looking for a place with a free outlet to plug my phone into, I found myself at 'Digital Eatery'. A spot on Unter den Linden, unknown to me before, equipped with stylish design accessories and part of Microsoft's new people's face.

In an almost homey atmosphere, I was not only offered access to multiple power outlets, but spent the time waiting with some real good coffee and a slice of New York Cheesecake in hand. Sitting in a big armchair, I discovered a young woman wrapped in a beautiful HAY blanket, working on a laptop that was comfortably sitting on a nice little pillow itself. Just like home. In a different corner, on a long counter, there were several Microsoft notebooks, tablets and cellphones laid out for free use. When my phone was done charging, I could enter the location's free wireless network without any complications, finding out once again that the world did just fine without me.

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I also found out that there's a lunch menu, varying daily and prepared à la minute, and an all-day assortment of sandwiches, cous cous salads, tartlets, as well as muffins and cakes. Beverages range from that good cup of coffee through spritzers and smoothies by Proviant, soft drinks by Thomas Henry and Rothaus Tannenzäpfle beer. A selection of drinks that proves good taste – and that's only one of the reasons why I will definitely come back for a quick eat to find out more about owners Fuchs+Gans' lunch skills.

Constanze Hallensleben

Founder Creme Guides