Overview

• Following a €21 million renovation, Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt reopened in March 2025, allowing restaurant outdoor seating under limited permits.
• The Bezirksamt Berlin-Mitte has restricted outdoor seating permits to expire on October 31, sparking calls for indefinite authorizations.
• Restaurateurs like Hans-Josef Miebach argue that investments in outdoor infrastructure are unsustainable for a single season.
• CDU parliamentarian Daniela Fritz has called for long-term permits to ensure planning security and economic viability for local businesses.
• The Gendarmenmarkt, a major tourist attraction drawing three million visitors annually, remains at the center of debates over heritage preservation and urban space use.