Berlin is a sprawling city, but it's sparsely populated, which is great if it's a quiet spot with a lot of elbow room you're after. Searching for a little more action? Head over to Friedrichshain. A 10-minute taxi ride from The Westin Grand, Berlin, it's a funky neighborhood with a bit of a rock and roll edge. Day or night, you'll always find a mix of both locals and out-of-towners sitting with a tall glass of beer under the wide awning of one of the many sidewalk cafes.

The neighborhood's pastel buildings are awash with street art and graffiti, but don't let irreverent appearances deter you from exploring the myriad shops near Simon-Dach-Strasse and Boxhagenerplatz. One of my favorite stores is called Schwester Herz, which means "Sister Heart" - so cute. It's a beautifully stocked space, brimming with cool design products like Brandenburg Gate cookie cutters and tote bags made from a synthetic fabric developed in the GDR. Around the corner, Olivia offers all sorts of chocolates. Try a few of their miniature cakes and fill your pockets with South American candy bars. One of the area's prettiest streets is Niederbarnimstrasse where you can gawk at Blattwerk's gorgeous floral displays and pick up a silk-screened T-shirt at Heimat. Stick around for dinner and indulge on fabulous Italian food at Miseria e Nobilta, try the "Incredible" pizza at Il Ritrovo, or yummy Vietnamese food at Chily at 17 Niederbarnimstrasse.

If it's a Sunday, most of Friedrichshain's stores will be closed, but  a fantastic flea market brimming with antique treasures sets up on Boxhagenerplatz at 10 in the morning, year round!