Honor system wine-bars in Berlin: drink all night, pay what you think you owe

Jürgen Stumpf's Berlin wine-bars in the gentrifying neighborhoods of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte run on the honor system: show up, drink wine, and pay what you think you owe on the way out the door.

Each of Mr. Stumpf's three honor-system wine bars (a fourth, down some stairs on Kollwitzstrasse, is temporarily closed while it deals with licensing issues) carries a different assortment of red and white wines. Their owner hails from the north Bavarian region of Franconia, and more than half the wines are produced in Germany. Before you turn up your nose, German wines have been impressive of late, and the food is also good. The fare is mostly variations on German cuisine made with organic ingredients. Food prices, too, are on the honor system. Diners typically pay around 10 to 15 euros for an entree, salad and a few glasses of wine.

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