It depends where you eat. Outlets in food Courts in malls (like the Mall of Berlin) accept credit cards and so do some smaller restaurants. Even Germany is not that focused on cash anymore. Contrary, if you visit a food stall on a market or prefer the Döner, Currywurst from the smaller shops, you need cash. It depends, where he will be. If you buy something from the groceries stores e.g. Rewe, Edeka, HIT (like packed sandwiches or beverages) you can pay with card

McDonald's, Burger King, Subways, Starbuclks usually accepts credit card (and apple pay)

Right up to the point where you have to pay for parking :rolleyes:

I'm always astonished how many of the street parking machines take only coins in 2025, and how it's still not possible to pay upon exit at a car park.

Some take also cards. Also many cities accept Apps like ParkNow. I would say in 80 tü 90% no need for cash.

At carparks you often can also pay via app or via plate. Beware people max pay upon exit. Great soutce of chaos for Germans.

Berlin is easily navigated with card payments. My sons (we live in Munich) manage nearly exclusively with apple pay linked to their own debit card. The only places they need cash is for the Döner (which costs 6.20€) at a place they love.

Funny anecdote: my colleagues son (16) went to London last year and we organized a debit card for him at the last moment via Revolut so he could pay for food during the school trip as everything in London has become cash free. In the end the class had to eat at McDonalds each and every time because some classmates only had cash with them and McD was one of the few outlets that still accepts cash :D

Update: Kid went on his trip and barely used cash. Never needed an ATM spending a week in Berlin. Thanks for all your input.