10 Great Cocktail Bars In Berlin, Germany
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall back in 1989, Germany’s unified capital city has changed in so many ways. One sign of Berlin’s cosmopolitan resurgence: an astonishingly vibrant cocktail scene. All across this booming city of 3.5 million, the thirsty traveler will find vast spirits selections and meticulous cocktails. While Berlin has experienced an excessive proliferation of speakeasy-style bars with doorbells and hidden storefronts, a long-tired trend in the U.S. and elsewhere, the versions here thankfully lack the same high level of pretension, not to mention the excessive prices often found in cocktail meccas like London. Quirky Berliner humor and prototypical German precision ensure many superb bars where you can have a quality cocktail for less than $15 U.S. Here are ten of our favorites:
Fragrances and the Curtain Club at the Ritz-Carlton Berlin , Tiergarten
In the main lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, the Curtain Club is a completely different experience, but no less wonderful. Where Fragrances is reverent and removed, Curtain Club’s long bar, dark woods and fat armchairs buzz with locals and travelers enjoying live music around the grand piano. Heissen and his talented team of international bartenders keep the vibe playful with an only-in-Berlin sense of humor and the most engaging presentation of a classic Blue Blazer cocktail anywhere set to music (the lights go down and each bartender has a unique song and interpretation of the flaming 1800s drink). As at Fragrances, Heissen’s cocktails are as intriguing as they are balanced, inspired by unique aromatics and essential oils he collects at the bar. Case in point: Vetiver Garden lets the grassy, stone notes of mezcal shine, illuminated by Fukuyu yuzu sake, lemon, vetiver essential oil and egg white. Curtain Club is also the only bar in town to house every variety of the rare Stählemühle schnapps, produced by the distiller of famed Monkey 47 Gin, from coriander to Japanese mint. The Ritz-Carlton Berlin, Potsdamer Platz 3, 10785 Berlin
Famed for its appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, the old mansion that houses the three-room, oak-paneled Lebensstern is a spirits’ lover’s heaven and easily one of the best bars in the world (located upstairs from Cafe Einstein). Glowing cabinets, surrounded by cushy armchairs and couches, are packed with insane rarities, including more than 600 kinds of rum, around 500 whiskies and 200 gins, from China to the Middle East — a stockpile that rivals the unreal spirits collections commonly found in Tokyo. There are tasting flights in numerous spirits categories, from rhum agricole to German gins, with many bottles decades old. Classic cocktails dominate, set to indoor smoking and live jazz. Entered after ringing a doorbell on massive front steps and being escorted upstairs, the elegant space appeals to drink aficionados and history buffs alike. An evening here feels like being blissfully lost in another world and time. Kurfürstenstraße 58,10785 Berlin, +49-30-263 91 922
Le Croco Bleu, Prenzlauer Berg
There are a handful of Berlin bars that feel like a time warp, and Le Croco Bleu is one of them, opened by Paris Bar and Rum Trader barman Gregor Scholl. Trying to find the bar, which is hidden in the former Bötzow Brewery just off busy Prenzlauer Allee, feels like walking into some abandoned, futuristic world. But once you step inside, you enter a wonderland of piping and brickwork — one that feels like a 1930s supper club set in a faux tropical island getaway, complete with greenery and a large stuffed crocodile, with crooners serenading you from the speakers. Servers in black ties and white coats bring cocktails on trays (generally ranging from €9 to €18), including dreamy creations like a Yuzu Mai Tai, combining Bacardi 8 year and Appleton V/X rums with yuzu, dry orange curaçao and lemon, topped with a yuzu-almond espuma (foam). It’s sheer magic, a place to dress up and linger. Prenzlauer Allee 242, 10405 Berlin, +49 151 582 478 04
Berlin’s oldest cocktail bar, Rum Trader, is virtually unchanged since opening in 1976 but feels more like stepping into Berlin’s glory days in the 1930s, complete with big band jazz softly playing in the closet-sized space. There is a buzzer on the door, but it is best to call ahead as the smoke-filled space can barely fit two dozen patrons. This bar, run by the eccentric Gregor Scholl (also of Le Croco Bleu), is for the dedicated cocktail aficionado, those willing to give respect to the experience, one that ultimately is rife with romance, a place where time stops. As you sip a classic agricole rhum Ti Punch, or a neat pour of 20-year Dictador rum, you realize this is a slice of history, a one-of-a-kind bar that epitomizes jazz age Berlin. Fasanenstraße 40, 10719 Berlin, +49 30 8811428
Californians and produce-driven cocktail fans will feel right at home at Redwood Bar, thanks to its West Coast proprietors (owner Kevin Brown is from Sacramento, bar manager Shawn Beck from San Francisco). But so will anyone craving a laid-back bar, a barrel-aged cocktail (a rarity in Berlin) or well-made classics, listed on a flavor spectrum, like “dry” (El Presidente, Vesper, Boulevardier, Calvados Cocktail) or “sweet” (Negroni, Hanky Panky, Manhattan, Vieux Carre). In keeping with its California roots, the bar itself is a striking redwood tree slab, and the staff head to a nearby farmers’ market daily for fresh produce, utilized in the cocktail of the day and featured drinks. Go the fresh route with the likes of a Maypole, mixing gin, lemon, strawberry, basil and chili tincture, or go boozy-bracing with a Constantinople, combining rye whiskey, coffee, cardamom and old-fashioned bitters. Bergstraße 25, 10115 Berlin, +49 30 70248813
Think Old West saloon in a dim, seductive, old-timey space, and you’ll start to picture the allure of Stagger Lee, named after the oft-covered folk song. There is a doorbell, but you can see right into the bar, so it doesn’t feel exclusive so much as laid-back. The wood-lined cocktail parlor is marked by saloon doors, antique lamps and a piano. American whiskies and tunes set the tone, while bartenders are equally adept with the other dominant spirit on the menu: tequila. Sipping a Margot, a refreshing combination of Aperol, sweet vermouth, soda and Sudtiroler Wacholderschnaps, you might just wish this were your neighborhood bar. Nollendorfstraße 27, 10777 Berlin, +49 30 29036158
Becketts Kopf, Prenzlauer Berg
Hidden speakeasy Becketts Kopf (translating to Beckett’s Head) has been one of Berlin’s revered bars for more than a decade, drawing many a bartender to move to the city to work here, as evidenced by the international staff. It’s best to call ahead to see if there is seating in the two-room space (no standing around allowed, with one room for smokers). To enter, press the buzzer next to an illuminated photograph of Irish novelist Samuel Beckett, the bar’s namesake. Menus hide inside Beckett’s books, but the accommodating staff can easily go off-menu, pulling from the venue’s highly curated spirits selection. After talking German schnapps, the staff served me a Forrest cocktail, mixing Old Bardstown bourbon infused with rosemary and one of a couple rare bottles of the aforementioned Stählemühle schnaps, a schnapps aromatic with pine and leaves. Pappelallee 64, 10437 Berlin, +49 162 2379418
Schwarze Traube, Kreuzberg
Though some bemoan the hipper-than-thou staff and exclusivity of speakeasy-esque Schwarze Traube — and the experience does require some patience and time to wait for custom drinks — here, drinks are unique and tasty. Bartenders seem to keep to themselves until approaching you to discuss your preferences to create a custom cocktail. One of a few intriguing drinks customized for me was made with a local German gin, Ferdinand’s Saar Quince, mixed with Campari, cardamom, lime, muscat grapes and Ferdinand’s Rubinette Apple Lemon Thyme Bitters, with fresh nutmeg grated on top. Wrangelstraße 24, 10997 Berlin, +49 30 23135569
Buck and Breck (named after the former U.S. president James Buchanan and his vice president, John Breckinridge) is yet another speakeasy-style spot with an art gallery front. B & B only seats 14 people around one large bar that takes up the whole room. But unlike many of the classic cocktail–heavy speakeasy bars around Berlin , this one is set to a hip-hop soundtrack, with bartenders in T-shirts and baseball caps and patrons smoking around the bar. It’s a seductive setting and an easy place to make friends over well-crafted but not fussy cocktails. Reservations recommended. Brunnenstraße 177, 10119 Berlin, +49 176 32315507
Though Bar Amano cocktail prices run high (€13 to €15), and the somewhat stuffy hotel bar space isn’t exactly uplifting (especially if you’d rather skip the clubby weekend DJ atmosphere), the rooftop bar and views are inspiring, allowing guests to gaze out over the Berlin skyline. The artful menu is like a history of America via cocktails, and not everything works, but creative combinations can sing, expressing the culinary side of cocktails. Case in point: El Conejo Muerto, a bright, savory blend of Marca Negra Espadin Mezcal, carrot curry syrup, house celery bitters, lime and orange peel. Auguststraße 43, 10119 Berlin, +49 30 8094150
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Redwood
Tue - Thur 6pm - 1am, Fri - Sat 6pm - 2am
Redwood is one of those cocktails bars that's been around for a while, particularly stands out in the cocktail wasteland that is Mitte, but doesn’t really get the attention it deserves. Which is why we’re here today, actively trying to fight that!
Run by a California transplant (hence the name, which also refers to the huge slab of Redwood which makes for a gorgeous, extremely deep bar), this classic cocktail bar has a heavy leaning towards drinks mixed during Prohibition. Small, strong, and elegant. Unusual for Berlin, Redwood is non-smoking which leads to my theory as to why this place appears to be a tad less rowdy than many other bars. It’s lively for sure and will get well packed on a weekend, but still, there’s a general aura of control. A fantastic bar for that stiff after-work drink (opens at 6pm, yes!!).
On our last visit, we tried two of the aforementioned strong drinks. The Carlotta’s Way, which is made with rye, picon, punt e mes, and walnut bitters. Strong, slightly bitter, with enough of a kick. The menu is broken down into cocktails by base spirit, from sweet to dry. You’re well served if you know what you like. Intrigued by the use of rhubarb aperitif instead of Campari we also had the Boulevardier, my go-to when the nights become a darker and I’ve had one too many Negronis in the past week (which . I mean. How many Negronis are too many?). Perfectly balanced, soul-warming, and just on the right end of strong af. Just how I like my drinks.
The bartending team looks like a solid 50/50 ratio of men to women. I wish I didn’t have to mention this, but the bar industry (particularly craft cocktails) are still very heavily male-dominated and whenever I see women behind the bar, it makes my heart sing and order another drink. A great place to crash after a heavy dinner, for an after-work drink, or for an aperitivo before you head out. Longer evenings spent at the bar showcase an atmosphere that changes from crystalline to fuzzy, while the team maintains order during chaos and does a fantastic job of continuously churning out those little elegant drinks which seriously pack a punch. Redwood’s backboard is extremely small, a few carefully selected bottles, can’t be more than 20. Astonishing then, considering what they produce.
Das Redwood in Mitte ist eine dieser Bars, die es zwar schon eine ganze Weile gibt, die es aber irgendwie geschafft haben, unter der Oberfläche zu bleiben. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass eine Ecke weiter das Buck & Breck liegt. Das nämlich schafft es jährlich wieder in die Liste der “50 Best Bars” und vielleicht bleibt das Redwood so im Windschatten der bekanntesten Cocktailbar in Mitte. Kein Problem, das Redwood hat seinen ganz eigenen speakeasy-Charme dadurch und die Auswahl an Bars mit guten Drinks in Mitte ist sowieso begrenzt.
Seit 2012 gibt es das Redwood schon, der Name geht auf die großen, kalifornischen Bäume zurück, die zum Beispiel eine Spitzenfigur als Tresen machen - wie die Bar beeindruckend demonstriert. Im Inneren des Redwood herrscht neben dezentem Prohibitions-Flair - was sich unter anderem auf der Cocktailkarte widerspiegelt - auch Rauchverbot, was mehr als nur selten in Berliner Bars der Fall ist. Offene Wände, dezenter Dekor, schnörkellose Holzmöbel und eine ungewöhnliche Ruhe machen das Redwood neben den hervorragenden Drinks aus. Hier kommt man nach der Arbeit her (ab sechs ist offen!), nach dem Abendessen (vielleicht ja aus dem Katz Orange nebenan) oder für einen Aperitivo bevor man sich ins Nachtleben stürzt. Auf der Karte finden sich neben den großen Klassikern Eigenkreationen, alle ohne Chichi, sondern kurz, elegant und tendenziell stark. Wir haben uns bei unserem letzten Besuch an dem würzigen Carlotta’s Way mit Rye, Picon, Punt e Mes und Walnut Bitters probiert und am Boulevardier, bei dem statt dem üblichen Campari ein Rhabarber Aperitif zum Einsatz kam. Letzterer war perfekt ausbalanciert, wärmend und genau die richtige Variante von “stark”.
Das Backboard im Redwood ist auffallend reduziert, nicht mehr als 25 Flaschen stehen da in den Regalen. Umso beeindruckender, was sich daraus alles machen lässt. Sonst noch schön: hinter dem Tresen arbeiten sowohl Männer als auch Frauen und das in dem (leider immer noch) ziemlich seltenen Verhältnis von Hälfte/Hälfte. Wunderbar!
Für ernsthaftes Trinken in Mitte gilt also: ab ins Redwood.
The Castle
Do you know of a place that you’d take your parents to, functions as a first date venue, and is also a great spot to have a drink or two with your colleagues after work? We didn’t either until we found The Castle in Mitte.
The two Castle owner, Ben Fisher and Gekko (no last name, much like Madonna) used to run the Castle Pub up by Gesundbrunnen, but for various reasons, they had to move their location to Mitte. And what a location! Large, airy, includes a beer garden, and literally steps away from S Nordbahnhof. The place is any commuter’s dream.
The deal as follows: the Castle is actually a beer bar, but they serve coffee from very early in the morning (yes, I consider 8am to be early), as well as sandwiches throughout the day, and beer and G&Ts whenever you feel like it.
Craft beer bars tend to be expensive (looking at you Mikkeller, though you’ve still got a special place in my heart) but the Castle tries to find a happy medium: 0,2 beers are 3,80 and 0,4 are 5,80 Euro. Considering many craft beers start at 4 Euro for small beers, this is very decent. The same two-tier system applies to their gin tonics. You’ll get your Bombay, your Gordons, your Plymouth for 7,50 or you can upgrade to London No. 3 (a personal favorite), Hendricks, or Monkey 47 for 10,30 Euro. Fever Tree tonic will cost an extra 1,50 Euro. All of this is completely fair.
Now to the beers, the Castle serves an eclectic mix of beers from all around the world. We had the Sour Monkey, from Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing Company, which came in at a whopping 9.5% that funnily enough, you don’t really notice. I would not be able to down any 9.5% IPA, Stout, or Bock but this sour? I drank the 0,4 in pretty much half an hour. Light, tart, and notes of fruit. Extremely quaffable. Consider me a fan! We also tried the flight of three beers, which costs 4,80 Euro for 3 x 0,1l, and in our case included the Jasmine IPA by Steamworks, Hopfenstopfer’s Citra Ale, and Jopen x Odell’s Nuts for Chocolate (a blonde ale with almond and chocolate). I’m not a huge fan of floral food or drink (cocktails made with rose water, anything involving lilac, etc … ) and the Jasmine IPA didn’t do anything to convince me otherwise. Hopfenstopfer’s Citra Ale is lovely though and heavy on the Citra hops, always a pleasure. Our blonde ale with almond and chocolate was incredibly interesting, not something I’d want to drink more than a 0,1 glass of but tasty nonetheless. Creamy and heavily scented it coats your mouths and finishes with heavy almond aromas. This is where the tasting flight comes in perfectly, I would have never ordered a full serving of this but it intrigued me enough to want to try.
Besides the 15 taps, there are two fridges that are stocked to the brim with fun bottles from around the world. Service is friendly and efficient and I have a feeling that the airy space will become cozier over the next few years. Although it does feel a tad big when it isn’t full, it also gives the bar room to breathe and is a very welcome change from the usual tiny, smoke-clouded, cramped Berlin bar. The Castle might be able to do, what The Pier wasn’t. Mainly, stay open. All jokes aside this is a wonderful space suited for many needs (they also serve food during the evening) and we’re happy to come back here over and over again. Also, they're hilarious on Instagram.
Wird es langsam voll in Mitte? Also zumindest, wenn es um Craft Beer geht. Von Mikkeller, über BrewDog bis Herman mit seinen belgischen Bieren gibt es so einige Bierbars, die sich da zwischen Kreuzberg und Wedding tummeln. Das The Pier von Holger Groll (der vorher beim Buck & Breck und dem Chicago Williams mitgemischt hat) und Donald Burke in der Invalidenstraße musste sogar wieder schließen. Aber all das hat Ben Fisher und Gekko (nur ein Name, wie Madonna) nicht davon abgehalten, das neue The Castle Pub direkt gegenüber vom Nordbahnhof zu eröffnen - eben mitten in Mitte. Das orginal The Castle war zwar im gleichen Verwaltungsbezirk, aber deutlich weiter nördlich am Gesundbrunnen. Da war aber nach fast zwei Jahren Schluss mit Craft - aus verschiedenen Gründen. Nun eben Mitte, und zwar nicht nur Craft Beer, nein, auch Kaffee gibt es ab morgens um acht. Koffein und Craft machen sich gut zusammen, das dürfte sich mittlerweile herum gesprochen haben, und so erfreut dieses Konzept vom morgendlichen Pendler bis zum After Work Bier-Freund hin zu wochenendlichen Craft Beer-Liebhabern jeden. Zum Bier, entweder von einem der 15 Hähne oder aus einem der bis oben hin gefüllten Kühlschränke, gibt es Pulled Pork Burger von The Pit, wer mag. Bei unserem Besuch haben wir den Sour Monkey von der Victory Brewing Company aus Pennsylvania probiert und das hat es uns sehr angetan hat. Die knackigen 9,5 Volumenprozent machen sich nämlich zwischen den frischen, fruchtig-herben Noten absolut nicht bemerkbar im Geschmack, erst eine halbe Stunde später im Kopf vielleicht, wenn man das 0,4-Liter Glas geleert hat.
Für Unentschiedene gibt es auch hier Tasting Flights mit drei 0,1 Bieren zu absolut vertretbaren 4,80 Euro. Wir haben uns für das Jasmine IPA von Steamworks, Hopfenstopfers Citra Ale und Jopen x Odells Nuts for Chocolate entschieden. Räumlich betrachtet ist das Castle recht groß und bietet eine willkommene Abwechslung zu den ganzen engen und verrauchten Bars, mit denen Berlins Barbesucher sonst so konfrontiert sind. Eingeteilt ist die Bar in Séparées, was sich gut für die gelegentliche Geburtstagsfeier oder ähnliches eignet, und für die warmen Tage gibt es auch etwas, denn ein Gastgarten schließt sich an.
Das Service-Personal ist freundlich, zuvorkommend und steht bei der großen Auswahl beratend zur Seite. Trotz der großen Konkurrenz rund um das Craft Bier liebende Publikum in Mitte, denken wir macht das Castle einiges richtig und kann alles, was das the Pier nicht konnte. Hauptsächlich offen bleiben. Spaß beiseite, hingehen und Bier trinken.
Wine bars are a bit tricky in this city. Often they're too bland, too small, too old school, or too snobby. In fact, I've been so desperate that I've been begging one of my favorite wine bars (shoutout to Prague’s Veltlin bar, how lucky that city is to have you) to open an outpost in Berlin. But now! The search might just be over! Miller low-tech wine and kitchen opened over one and a half years ago but they only recently popped up on my radar thanks to a fellow oenophile friend. Located in a rather obscure location (on the bleaker part of Urbanstraße, between U Schönleinstraße and Hermannplatz) this small space has everything my heart desires in a wine bar: wooden tables, a well-curated selection of low intervention wines, salty charcuterie, and a friendly owner to boot! We had the skin-contact (look at that lovely color) Fricandó by Al Di Là Del Fiume, a winemaker with their base in Emilia-Romagna.
The 100% Albana is fantastically crisp and unfolds the more air it’s allowed, its notes of unripe nectarine remind me of the last gasp of summer. A nutty finish that’s worth every penny of the 29 Euro. The rather rich texture would make for the perfect pairing for some of the lighter homemade pasta dishes that Miller offers.
The charcuterie platter was very generous on the cheese (organic, raw milk cheese only!) but we could have done with a bit more meat. To be fair, this is the only complaint I can think of. Olives are plump, green, and gorgeous and I could eat the bruschetta with buffalo butter and sardines every damn day of the week and be a happy camper. We paid 52 Euro including tip, a sum I’m happy to spend on a good bottle of wine and some delicious food on a Wednesday evening. Cozy, lovely, a great selection of artisanal and natural wines with homemade pasta and delicious charcuterie. Miller, you stole my heart.
Das mit den Weinbars in Berlin ist gar nicht so einfach. Entweder sind sie irgendwie eingestaubt, so cool, dass es schon wieder anstrengt, oder einfach so voller Wein-Snobs. Oder sogar alles drei auf einmal. Ganz anders allerdings im Niemandsland auf der Urbanstraße zwischen Hermannplatz und Südstern. Denn dort findet sich ein Ort, der ein bisschen ist wie das Veltlin in Prag (hin da, unbedingt!), dessen Besitzer wir schon etwa drei bis zehn Mal um eine Dependance in Berlin gebeten haben, und der keine der drei oben genannten Eigenschaften erfüllt.
Die Bar “Miller low-tech wine and kitchen” hat alles, was das Wein liebende Herz höher schlagen lässt: eine breite Auswahl an low-impact Weinen, köstlichen italienischen Käse, selbstgemachte Paste, gemütliche Holztische und allen voran zwei freundliche Besitzer, die sich der Wünsche der Gäste völlig ohne herablassendem Unterton annehmen. Einer Empfehlung folgend landet man zum Beispiel beim Fricandó by Al Di Là Del Fiume, der seine 29 Euro dank seiner an Nektarine und die letzten Sommertage erinnernden Noten, jeden Cent davon wert ist. Vielleicht dazu noch die Vorspeisenplatte mit exquisiten Bio-Rohmilchkäse und italienischer Charcuterie plus ein paar Olivchen und besser kann man einen Berliner Herbstabend fast nicht verbringen. Lauschig, schön zum Sitzen, viele verschiedene Naturweine, ein paar Pasta-Varianten, die am Nebentisch schon einmal sehr gut aussahen, und dann noch erschwinglich. Da muss man fast nicht mehr nach Prag fahren.
What can I say about Velvet that’s not too hyperbolic? Not a lot.
Softly reopened under new ownership in March 2017, this bar is my current go-to when it comes to excellently crafted cocktails in Berlin. I’ve managed to spend countless nights at the bar in the relatively short time I’ve been frequenting Velvet, spending far more than necessary, unable to drag myself away from the jewel-like, liquid creations.
The bar itself is gorgeous: low-key lighting through pendants that crisscross the ceiling, a backboard that is directed towards the street and that makes the casual passerby look twice, and a very tall bar with comfortable stools. Lots of black, it's generally kept quite dark, not minimalist but certainly not cluttered. A bar that would feel at home in Copenhagen, or Oslo. Classy without making you feel out of place.
Three bartenders run the show: Filip Kaszubski, Ruben Neideck, and Damien Guichard. The drinks are made without big fanfare, all three of them take the time to listen to their guests’ likes and dislikes and point out drinks that they think would be a good fit. The bar menu is seasonal and changes on a weekly basis. Local ingredient play a big role, but rather as the general framework than a rigid formula. There’s no flare, what it comes down to is being a good host and making a fantastic drink, none of the fluff, all of the craft. The lab in the back serves as an experimental center, a centrifuge makes sure that the tomato juice comes out deliciously clear and shiny green (we’ll get to that in a moment) and there’s always something fermenting or drying under red-tinted lights.
Which brings us the drinks: the backboard is an eclectic, well-curated list of spirits that the bartenders wield with trusted motion. In terms of fresh produce, they work with a local, Brandenburg-based gardener as well as with Kreuzberg's local community garden Prinzessinnengärten. One of the things currently in the works is a raspberry wine, twice fermented which is as delicious as it sounds. Syrupy, bubbly, and effervescent it captures the fruit at its height, exactly when it’s meant to be enjoyed. My favorite summer drink is the La Tomatina, made with clarified oxheart tomatoes and mezcal, the drink is earthy, smoky, and so perfectly balanced I still get goosebumps every time I take the first sip. Because of Velvet's adherence to seasons, the Tomatina will probably be gone by the time you get to visit the bar, but not to worry: I've been assured it'll be back for the next tomato season. Another hit is the Sesame Ouvre Toi, which is heavy on sherry and calvados. The cocktail’s secret ingredient is caramelized sesame orgeat, leaving it smooth and rich with surprisingly fresh notes of celery.
These drinks though, they come at a price. Cocktails are anywhere between 11 and 14 Euro. Yes, not cheap. But no, this is not your everyday dive bar. Fresh, local ingredients are put to work by a team of experts. Enjoy two fewer beers at your local any other given night of the week and invest them into a drink that gives you the goosebumps, trust me.
Honestly, there’s not much more to say besides go.to.velvet. Wednesdays and Thursdays are my personal favorites, it doesn’t get quite as busy as it does on the weekend and Tuesdays are closed because of lab day. Talk to the dudes behind the bar, tell them what you like and you’ll surely be served a distinct, fantastic drink that you won’t find on any other of this city’s bar menus. Just don’t blame me for the hangover on Friday.
So zu tun, als sei das Velvet nicht eine meiner Lieblingsbars und als hätte ich nicht nächtelang am Tresen gesessen und unzählige Stunden wie auch Euro dort gelassen, wäre eine Lüge. Deshalb ersparen wir uns das nun und springen mitten rein. Das Velvet hat im Frühjahr 2017 unter anderer Führung zunächst soft neu eröffnet und mit neu ist gemeint: wirklich alles ist neu, außer der Name. Filip Kaszubski, Ruben Neideck und Damien Guichard sind die drei Protagonisten, die neben dem Ora, der Bar Marques und der Beuster Bar die ein oder andere namhafte Station hinter sich haben. Mit den Dreien hat sich eine Traumbesetzung an Bartendern gefunden, die einen besonders feinen Sinn an den Tag legen, wenn es um die richtige Beratung der Gäste geht. Was man mag und was man nicht mag, das hören sie sich an und etwas später hat man einen Cocktail, der exakt das trifft, auf dem schwarzen Serviettchen vor sich stehen.
Die Bar an sich ist wirklich eine außergewöhnlich schöne Angelegenheit. Die Hängelampen bilden ein Muster an der Decke, das eklektisch komponierte Backboard baut sich vor der großen Fensterfront auf, das Holz des Tresen ist schimmert wunderbar marmoriert und die Barstühle sind vermutlich das bequemste, auf dem man sich seit längerem niedergelassen hat. Im hinteren Teil befindet sich das “Labor”, in dem wöchentlich experimentiert und an Zutaten gefeilt wird. Was uns auch gleich zur den Drinks bringt: neben der sorgsam ausgesuchten Sprituosenauswahl kommen Zutaten teils aus Brandenburg, den Kreuzberger Prinzessinnengärten und manchmal auch direkt aus dem Treptower Park. Es ist nicht leicht, eine aktuelle Empfehlung auszusprechen, denn Damien, Filip und Ruben gehen mit den Jahreszeiten. Im Spätsommer hat uns besonder der zweifach fermentierte Himbeer-Wein beeindruckt. Und natürlich die La Tomatina, die mit geklärtem Ochsenherz-Tomatensaft und Mezcal gemacht wird. Rauchig, erdig und perfekt balanciert. Ein anderer Hit ist der Sesame Ouvre Toi mit Sherry und Calvados, die Geheimzutat ist das karamellisierte Sesam-Orgeat, das den Drinks unglaublich seidig und voluminös macht.
In kurz: es gibt nicht viel mehr zu sagen außer “geht ins Velvet”, lasst Euch beraten und genießt den Abend. Sogar die Nussmischung ist gut.
First off, you’d be hard pressed to find a non-smoker in this bar. So, beware: if you don’t enjoy leaving a space reeking like a chimney, perhaps Fabelhaft bar is not for you. But that's also part of the charm of this place. A true neighborhood joint where regulars are warmly greeted by the bartender with a bear hug, solo drinkers enjoy their beer without being given a side eye, and two people can awkwardly get to know each other over a heartily poured glass of crisp, white wine or freshly tapped Pilsner Urquell.
The bar has a great price-to-performance ratio, it’ hard to argue with the 3 Euro glass of Riesling, a 4,50 Grauer Burgunder, and the half liter of PU for 3,60 Euro. The wines are solid versions of what they’re meant to be. Meaning: they won’t knock you off your stool with their modern approach to vinification but they will definitely hit the spot on a gross Berlin night where you simply want to escape the rain and forget the world outside with a glass of something refreshing and a calming cigarette.
Fabelhaft recently renovated, the bar counter is now larger and they rearranged the tables. It's a smart, cozy space that is great for a long-catch up sessions with an old friend.
The toilets though, they’re another story. They’ve got stains that surely could tell a story or two (sorry) and are generally a pretty grimy sight. But again, that’s part of the charm! Fabelhaft is a lifesaver on dark evenings where you’re walking down Kottbusser Damm, fretfully looking for a place to rest your bum and get a drink.
Gleich vorneweg: die Fabelhaft Bar ist eine Raucherbar und zwar eine ernstgemeinte. Wer also keine Lust hat, am Ende des Abends wenig dezent nach Aschenbecher zu riechen, dem sei vom Fabelhaft abgeraten. Genau das macht diese Bar, links ab vom Kottbusser Damm in der Schönleinstraße, zur Inkarnation einer Nachbarschaftsbar. Ein Ort, wo Stammgäste richtig begrüßt werden, man auch mal alleine auf ein Bier gehen kann, ohne Blicke auf sich zu ziehen und sich vielleicht sogar schüchtern bei einem Glas gut eingeschenktem Weißwein oder einem frisch gezapften Pilsner Urquell kennen lernen kann. Muss jetzt aber kein PU sein, denn im Fabelhaft gibt es eine große Auswahl belgischer Biere und im übrigen auch eine Cocktailkarte. Die Drinks auf letzterer sind klassisch und verlässlich, nichts was einen vom Barhocker fallen lässt, aber sie erfüllen ihren Zweck an einem nassen, dunklen Berliner Winterabend. Eben genau dann, wenn man nichts anderes möchte, als bei einem Glas im Warmen die Welt da draußen vergessen.
Preis und Leistung stehen im Fabelhaft in angenehmer Beziehung, bei drei Euro für ein Glas Riesling und 3,60 Euro für einen halbe Liter Bier lässt sich durchaus ein längerer Abend verbringen. Eben ein Ort, auf den man sich verlassen kann und in den man unbedingt einkehren sollte, wenn man eine Bar will, in der man einfach nur was Trinken und sich entspannen kann.
A wine bar in Neukölln: head past the Bio Company and straight by a cafe that basically has smoke pouring out of the windows and that’s where you’ll find Jaja. Just off Hermannplatz and Sonnenallee you wouldn’t be amiss if you found yourself thinking of Paris. Kinda. Jaja opened in the summer of 2016, shortly after Neukölln’s inaugural natural wine bar Wild Things. Coincidence or not - this was also the same year the RAW Berlin took place for the first time. A trade fair focused solely on natural wines. But back to Weichselstraße. Jaja is a small, cozy space, so small in fact that you might as well expect to get intimate with your neighbors. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, owners Etienne and Yulja exhibit nothing of the snobbiness we’ve come to expect from wine. The room is well lit but muted through candlelight.
Upon entering my first thought was "oh, this seems slightly crammed", yet the atmosphere is inviting enough to ignore that initial thought. After all, we've come for the wine and that's all that matters. Natural wine tends to get a bad rap, "it smells like cheese/what's with the esoteric moon calendar/I want sulfites". But if you know what you're doing it can be a fantastic, almost invigorating, experience. What's charming at Jaja is their refusal to approach wine with the usual, elitist commentary. And that's enough to make me come back, if not on a weekly, at least on a bi-monthly basis.
Jaja usually has six to seven open bottles at the counter, from red to white and over to natural wine's most debated bottle: the skin contact. They also serve a few dishes, that change on a weekly dishes. On any given day that includes some cheese and sausage, olives, fresh sourdough, and perhaps even a fermented potato pancake or anchovies and lime on toast. Prices range between 7 to 10 Euro per dish. If you're only looking for a nibble, order some fresh bread to accompany your wine
Of course, you're also free to order whole bottles, but you do need to know what you like. Taste your way through the world of natural wine here, what sometimes might smell offputting all of a sudden unfolds wonderfully in the glass. Unfiltered wines are all the rage and can remind you of freshly pressed apple juice that you used to enjoy in your grandparent's village. The Jaja team is incredibly patient, tell them what you like and they'll surely guide you to a wonderful wine.
Jaja recently began importing their own wines, on Mitte's Linienstraße you'll find their shop "Naked Wine" where you're free to take your favorite bottles home.
Zwischen Bio Company und und einem Café, in dem viel geraucht und noch mehr Karten gespielt wird, biegt man ab. Rechts, vom Hermannplatz kommend, ab in die Weichselstraße. Und dann ist man eigentlich fast schon in Paris. Also fast. Hier hat im Sommer 2015 das Jaja aufgemacht, der zweite Ort in Neukölln, an dem sich alles um Natural Wine dreht. Zufall oder nicht – im gleichen Jahr fand auch zum ersten Mal die RAW Berlin statt. Eine Fachmesse für diesen natürlichen, bio und ohne Zusätze hergestellten Wein. Aber zurück in die Weichselstraße. Man tritt ein, die Tische und Stühle sind, wie sich das gehört, zusammengewürfelt, die Atmosphäre ist warm und zugleich stellt sich beim ersten Besuch etwas Spannung ein. Schließlich geht es ja um Wein und dann auch noch im Natural Wine. Und seien wir ehrlich – nur die wenigsten kennen sich richtig gut mit der Materie aus, der Wein ist doch meistens eine recht elitäre Angelegenheit. Aber hier und im Wild Things, einen Steinwurf weiter, bemüht man sich dem entgegen zu steuern. Eben einfach Wein trinken.
Meine Bar ici
A space for the every day, a space to celebrate but also a space to drown your sorrows in wine and beer, a space to pop in for a black coffee for five minutes, but also a space where you’ll end up spending ten consecutive hours. The quintessential "perfect bar" doesn't exist, sometimes all you need is a freshly pulled Lager while on other days your mood requires a bucket full of frozen Margaritas.
There might not be a perfect bar, but Meine Bar in Mitte comes pretty damn close. The inside is reminiscent of the 90s in Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte: all smoky haze with wooden furniture and a bartender who’s incredibly grumpy, yet somehow manages to be charming at the same time. A bar that manages to capture the weirdness of Berlin’s during the 1990s but also makes you feel like you’re in a Parisian dive. Meine Bar is hard to describe (and literally translated means "my bar" which makes for great fun when planning on where you're going that night: "Where are we drinking tonight?" "My bar" "What?" "My bar" . and so on).
Owner Nikolai Regehr wanted to create a space where he enjoyed spending his time, a bar that’s cheap enough to allow him to drink his allocated 2.3 bottles of wine per day, a space where he could smoke, and a space where he could listen to his vinyl. All of that, and more, he succeeded in. His wines, in particular, come at very fair prices, there are not many bars around this area where you can get a decent, nicely spiced, crisp bottle of Riesling for €19.00 or Crémant for 31 Euro he also has one of our favorite rosés ever in stock: the Corail Rosé, which you'll find in Berlin's best natural wine store (hi, Viniculture!) and at London's St. John's restaurants. Obviously, Regehr finds himself in good company. Granted, you won’t find any bar snacks here (besides a suspicious looking jar of nuts that I don't recommend anyone should ever make use of) but you might just receive a complimentary glass of house rosé if Regehr likes the look of you (warning: he might not, when answering a pleasantly nervous Australian man’s enquiry as to where he might find the bathroom, Regehr replied with a lazy wink towards the back and a slightly deprecative “you’ll find it”). Basically, a textbook example of the neighborhood bar. Everything goes, the drinks flow cheaply, yet at a standard, and the barman comes in at the pleasant end of hostile.
Kaffee ja, aber keine Milch, keine Drinks mit mehr als zwei Bestandteilen (ok, den Sprizz mal ausgenommen), keine Snacks (außer den Nüsschen aus dem Automaten) und kein Servicelächeln (aber der ein oder andere Spruch). Dafür gibt es exakt einen Tisch im "Gastgarten", viele Aschenbecher auf den Holztischen, erschwinglichen und guten Wein, eine breite Auswahl an Whisky und G&T-Kombinationen und vor allem eins: unangestrengte Entspanntheit an einem Ort in Mitte, wie man ihn in nächster Umgebung zunächst nicht wieder findet. Meine Bar Ici sperrt jeden Tag um 3 Uhr nachmittags die Pforten auf und lädt auf Holzstühlen oder am Tresen zum Tag- und Nachttrinken ein, in einem Ambiente das an Zeiten erinnert, die vorbei sind, oder an Filme, die man einmal gesehen hat. Und das eben mit einer Zwanglosigkeit, nach der man lange suchen muss. In dieser Bar verbringt man ganz leicht und aus Versehen mehr Zeit, als man eigentlich geplant hatte und trinkt die zwei, drei Gläser mehr, als man eigentlich vor hatte.
BrewDog Mitte
This Scottish craft brewery is basically building an empire, one would be hard pressed not to find one of their bars upon setting foot in most cosmopolitan cities. The Berlin location is large, airy and has a very New York/London vibe going on. Though you can’t sit at the bar (which is extremely long to accommodate all of their taps and makes for a very speedy ordering process), you have the choice of either communal table (at which they also host their beer classes) or cozy, private booths. A space where many people feel at home: from the serious craft beer aficionado, to the family looking to entertain their kids while also getting some food and drink in them on a Sunday, to twenty-somethings in need of a "creative space" while also imbibing a delicious brew and working on their screenplay (free Wifi!).
BrewDog's taps are mostly filled with house beers, though you’ll also find greats such as Stone, Mikkeller, To Øl, Beavertown, and AleSmith. Three fridges are filled to the brim with cans and bottles, available to drink on site or take away. Bartenders are happy for you to try your way through a couple of brews before committing to a whole glass, which is particularly important when venturing into the world of weirder beers, such as the Gin Blitz, which is what we tried during a last visit. A Berliner Weisse made with juniper berries, it’s that perfect combination of sour, fruity, and refreshing. The juniper adds a nice hint of G&T without overpowering the beer. The 0.3l does come in at 4,50 Euro which certainly isn’t cheap, but then again - no craft beer bar is. Another surprising winner we tried is the Gingermeister, made by the Hungarian Rothbeer brewery. With hearty notes of fresh ginger and lemony citrus this would be perfect for those days when you feel a cold coming on, but still want to drink. At 3,35 Euro for the 0.3l size this is also a much more pleasant price.
BrewDog Mitte's vibe makes you want to come back. Service is quick and friendly, the staff is knowledgable and will help you find your beer, no matter how obscure your taste might be, and the space is large without feeling empty, cozy without being oppressive, and welcoming without the fake American charm. Though certainly not the cheapest bar around, you’ll definitely find good beers here.
A quick note on the food: though they do serve pizza that smelled delicious, it’s unfortunately more like overpriced flatbreads. Save your hunger and head to Tommi’s Burger Joint before (or after), you’ll leave that much more satisfied.
Craft mal Drei: Mikkeller an der Torstraße, das neue Castle Pub in der Invalidenstraße und das seit Ende 2016 eröffnete BrewDog Pub in der Ackerstraße bilden quasi das Craft Beer-Dreieck in Berlin-Mitte. Die Hauptstadt-Bastion der Schotten ist das erste und einzige BrewDog BrewPub in Deutschland und darauf mussten wir lange warten. Das Imperium der Brauhunde umfasst mittlerweile Standorte von Tokio bis Bologna und Sao Paulo bis Tallinn und endlich auch Berlin. Und das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Das BrewDog Pub ist ein Ort, an den man gerne zurückkehrt. Der große lichtdurchflutete Raum bietet gemütliche Sitznischen für bis zu sechs Menschen, lange hohe Bartische für große Gruppen und an wärmeren Tagen auch noch einen Gastgartenbereich. Einzig am Tresen, da kann man sich nicht niederlassen, denn der ist eigentlich nur da, um den vielen Taps Raum zu geben. Ergänzt wird das Bier aus dem Hahn von drei Kühlschränken, die bis oben hin mit Flaschen und Dosen gefüllt sind. Neben BrewDog-Bier kann man sich hier auch durch die IPAs, Pale Ales, Stouts und so weiter von Brauereien wie Stone, Mikkeller, To Øl, Beavertown und AleSmith probieren.
Das Beste für ob der Auswahl leicht Verunsicherte: man darf die Biere on Tap testen, bevor man sich für eins entscheidet. Bei Preisen von rund 4,50 Euro für ein 0,3-Glas vom Gin Blitz, einer Berliner Weissen mit Wacholderbeeren, hilft das bei der Entscheidungsfindung. Bei BrewDog gibt es nicht nur zu Trinken, sondern auch hausgemachte Pizza in unterschiedlichen Varianten.
Die Pizza haben wir bei unserem letzten Besuch zwar nicht selbst probiert, der Blick auf den Nachbartisch hat uns allerdings nicht ganz überzeugt. Vielleicht dann doch lieber Tommi's Burger Joint, das fast gegenüber liegt, für den Hunger vor und nach dem BrewPub? Mitnehmen kann man zu BrewDog übrigens jeden: von den eigenen Eltern an einem Sonntagnachmittag, über potentielle Geschäftspartner, hin zu Freunden, das erste oder letzte Date, völlig Unbekannte beim Beer Tasting (ja, auch das gibt es hier) oder auch einfach nur den Laptop - hier gibt es Wifi zum Bier.
Herr Lindemann
When a new cocktail bar opens up anywhere in town, we celebrate. When that cocktail bar is run by someone who understands their craft, we start popping the bottles and ringing the bells. Herr Lindemann was opened in July 2017 by former TiER bartender Peter Edinger. I pretty much trust anyone who’s been through the TiER school to make me a good drink, and Peter does not disappoint.
His vine-decorated, herbal-infused bar might to known to many Neuköllner locals as the former “Hangover”, a dive where one could get a solidly cold beer, a shot of Mexikaner, and some conversation with true Berliner Orginale. Gone are those days and I we say goodbye to the “Hangover” (quite literally) with mixed feelings.
There’s no point in dwelling in the past so let’s get on with it. Herr Lindemann is gorgeously refurbished, kept at minimal decoration with iron details that lend the whole thing a laid-back, industrial vibe, and lots of plant-heavy design pieces that are strategically situated around the space. Green velvet decorates the stools while a low-key light emerges out of one of the many cement pendants. The brass bar is long and invites the guest to sit and enjoy the airy backboard, which speaks to Peter's spirits knowledge. A staff of six currently rotates behind the bar. While the weather holds guests can enjoy the beer garden out front, which is definitely kept on the simple side with beer benches rather than chairs but enjoyable nonetheless.
We order two drinks, one Thymian Fizz and one Sigmund & Winston. The Fizz is nice, sparkling and refreshing but it lacks that extra kick and falls a bit flat. The Sigmund, oh let me tell you, now that’s a drink. Made for late autumn nights the whiskey and sloe gin come together in beautiful dark harmony that’s rounded off by green Chartreuse and walnut bitters. Elegant, simple yet complex this drink is what will make you order another one on a Thursday night while the wind is howling around Richardplatz and the last thing you want to do is go home. Instead, you stay at the bar and have another while crunching on some salted peanuts. They might not be elegant, but they scratch the itch.
Another night, a trusted colleague of ours ordered the bar’s signature drink, the Ziegenpeter. Made with a goat weed infused rum, the drink is said to find its origins in a shepherd who used to eat the weed to increase his virility. This is where Edinger’s love of all things herbaceous comes to play. Strong, heavy on the herbs, and a delicious punch in the face.
There’s a couple of things that might need a little more work and experience for Herr Lindemann to join the upper canons of Berlin’s craft cocktail bars. Water service needs to be faster and while the Thymian Fizz was refreshing and lovely, I still missed that extra little something that lets you know that this is a drink that I didn’t make at home, but a professional made for me and I’m paying good money for. Still, don’t let those things deter you. The staff is friendly and open, they will make sure you leave satisfied, the space is cozy, and, considering the craft and knowledge behind it, drinks start at a very reasonable 8,50 Euro and end at 10 Euro max.
Herr Lindemann heißt eigentlich Peter Edinger und der hat, bis er seine eigene Bar im Juli 2017 eröffnete, im Neuköllner TiER gearbeitet - diese Bar wiederum hat quasi den Grundstein für gepflegtes Trinken und Cocktailkultur im ganzen Kiez gelegt. Keine schlechte Schule also.
Von den ehemaligen Kollegen aus dem TiER gab es auch reichlich Unterstützung bei der Eröffnung von Herr Lindemann am Neuköllner Richardplatz, der jetzt sein Zuhause in den Räumlichkeiten der ehemaligen Hangover Bar hat. Im Hangover war das Angebot im übrigen genauso das, was der Name vermuten lässt. Aber (der) Hangover ist nun wortwörtlich vorüber, Herr Lindemann hat sich dort nun schön eingerichtet. Es gibt einen separaten Raucherraum, Pflanzen hängen in Körben von der Decke, viel Bronze schimmert hier und da rund um den Tresen und gut gesetzte Beleuchtung sorgt für den richtigen Ton. Bei unserem Besuch saßen wir im Garten zwischen viel Grün und mit Blick auf den idyllischen Richardplatz mitten in Rixdorf. Auf der Karte des Herr Lindemann gibt es neben den Cocktailklassikern auch Bier vom Fass von Rollberg und Quartiermeister, drei offene Weißweine und zwei offene Rotweine. Dazu kommen eigene Cocktailkreationen wie die Nachtigall mit Genever, Rosenwasser, Apfel-Birnen-Essig und Lime Cordial oder Miss Piggy’s Delight, bei dem Salbei-Elixier auf Minztee und Creme de Cassis trifft. Wir haben uns an dem Thymian Fizz und dem Sigmund & Winston probiert. Ersterer ist frisch, perlig, aber lässt in Sachen Ausgefeiltheit noch etwas Luft nach oben. Das gewisse je ne sais quoi fehlte, um ihn im Gedächtnis bleiben zu lassen. Der Sigmund & Winston hingegen ist eine ganz andere Nummer. Der Whiskey und der Sloe Gin werden zu einer wunderbar dunklen Harmonie, ergänzt durch Chartreuse und Walnut Bitters, bei der man sich sogar an einem Augustabend die Herbstnächte etwas schneller herbei wünscht. Denn da gehört dieser Drink hin mit seiner runden Schwere.
Muted Horn
If ever there was a quintessential new Berlin beer bar, it would be Muted Horn: situated between a discount Penny supermarket and a mosque, Neukölln’s latest craft beer bar is run by two Canadian expats. Which makes sense, considering their extremely well-curated selection of Canadian beers. If 22 taps seem like too much, choose the flight of four beers for 8 Euro. Pricing tends to lean toward the generous here, water is 1,20 Euro (if you decide against tap of course) and a 4cl long drink will only set you back 4,50 Euro.
Walking up from the Neukölln Arcaden, follow the glow of the blue horn and you'll find yourself in Neukölln’s latest craft beer destination. The Muted Horn takes its beers very serious. A nice selection of, always rotating, 22 beers on tap as well as more than 80 bottled beers. And there are some real gems amongst them, like the cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, and coffee-infused Imperial Stout as well as some serious Belgian Lambics (a personal favorite!), that’s only served in four bars worldwide.
If you’re anything like me, you might have some commitment problems. For those of you, it's probably best to stay off of dating sites and to go with Muted Horn's tasting flight, which offers four freshly tapped beers for 8 Euro. Also great for those of us who can’t decide between a sour, a smoked Berliner Weisse, or a White IPA. The whole point is to showcase beer’s complete facet and teach the Neuköllner a thing or two about beer diversity. This teaching ethos goes behind serving us plebs a freshly tapped brew here and again, The Muted Horn hosts these fantastic events called the “Lambic Sunday”, they do tap takeover and organize workshops at the bar. Best to keep up with their very busy schedule on their Facebook page.
The bar’s interior design must have been constructed with some serious Scandinavia obsession in mind. Very structured, wooden, and heavy on the granite. The Scandinavian coolness might feel a tad too standoffish at times, particularly when you’re not there during peak hours it can almost feel a bit too lonely, but it does allow the beer to shine and it’s a definite improvement over the my-grandmother-died-and-now-I-use-her-furniture-to-decorate-my-bar vibe. The backspace also has a couple of sofas on hand, which allows for a minimum amount of coziness. If you’re into games, the Muted Horn will supply you with a whole host of board games. In case you’re wondering about the bar’s name: that was inspired by Thomas Pynchon's classic, post-modern satire "The Crying Lot 49". And there you have it. Games, beer, and some post-modern intellectualism. All in one bar.
Spaziert man von Neukölln Arcaden hoch oder von der Boddinstraße hinunter und folgt dem blauen Schein des Horns, landet man in einer von Neuköllns neueren Craft Beer Bars, dem Muted Horn. Und hier meint man es ernst. Zwei Kanadier aus Vancouver haben sich in Neukölln niedergelassen und eröffneten im vergangenen Jahr das Muted Horn, direkt neben dem Penny und einer Moschee. Hier gibt es wechselnd 22 Biere vom Hahn und dann noch einmal mehr als 80 Biere aus der Flasche. Darunter so manche Seltenheit, was beim über Zimt, Kokos, Vanille und Kaffee gereiften Imperial Stout anfängt und beim belgischen Lambic, das weltweit in nur vier Bars ausgeschenkt wird, wieder aufhört. Für Menschen mit Commitment-Problemen gibt es das Tasting Tray mit vier Bieren vom Tab und das für 8 Euro. Sour, smoked, Berliner Weisse und ein White IPA? Bitte, gerne. Es geht darum, den Neuköllnern, Berlinern, ach, den Deutschen, den ganzen Facettenreichtum der Biervielfalt nahe zu bringen. Das passiert zum Beispiel auch in Workshops oder Veranstaltungen im Muted Horn, wie dem “Lambic Sunday”, diversen Tap Takovers undundund. Dafür am besten die Facebook-Seite im Blick behalten.
Stilistisch ist das Interieur in zwei Worten zusammengefasst: Holz und Stein. Eine skandinavisch anmutende Kühle bestimmt die Einrichtung des Muted Horn, Platz nehmen lässt es sich entweder am Bartresen oder im hinteren Teil der Bar etwas gemütlicher auf dem Sofa. Da kann man neben dem Bier ein Gesellschaftsspiel genießen, wovon es im Muted Horn eine riesige Auswahl gibt. Noch etwas Angeberwissen am Schluss. Der Name der Bierbar kommt aus dem Buch “Die Versteigerung der No. 49” von Thomas Pynchon.
Geist im Glas
What at first glance might look like "just another Neukölln" bar is actually one of the city's best kept, industry-approved secrets. Often open until late (even for Berlin standards), you’ll be sure to run into one or the other bartender and chef getting their after-work fix. For good reason: Aishah Bennett and her team mix some seriously excellent drinks. A team that largely consists of women, a bunch of badasses behind the counter to boot. Can't help but love that. On a recent visit we had a Bourbon Negroni as well as a sour-as-they-come Mezcal Margarita. Both were outstanding. Bartenders are happy to suggest drinks according to personal preference, even on the busiest of nights.
The vibe is bare brick walls, sunken ceilings, and candle light. The sunken ceiling has a reason though, they sound proofed the entire space, allowing it to stay open longer than other bars might, because the neighbors don’t complain. The quaffable drinks don’t come cheap, considering the ingredients used, infusions made, and thought put behind the menu that shouldn't come as a surprise. Cocktails start at 8,50 Euro, though you’ll probably end up paying 12 or 13 Euro for most of them.
Mainly a cocktail bar, this space simply won't allow for you to leave: expect to find excellent brunch here on Saturday and Sundays. Starting at 10am order either a bacon and egg sandwich, buttermilk pancakes with maple bourbon dulce de leche, or chilaquiles. We might have come for brunch, but we stayed for the drinks, daytime drinking has never felt more appropriate (or fun!). Geis has three different variations of a Bloody Mary. The Esmerelda is a tomatillo Bloody Mary that’s got some heat to it thanks to the use of a jalapeño and is rounded off with habanero apricot tequila. It’s addictive. Also try the Bloody Clarita, made with tomato water instead of the usual tomato juice.
Geist im Glas is most well known for their infusions, our suggestion is to allow the bartenders to guide you through them. Put your trust into the Geist and you will be rewarded.
Aufgemacht, abgebrannt, zu gehabt, aufgemacht: das Geist im Glas ist seit dem Frühling 2017 endlich wieder da, hat wie auch vorher bis (sehr) spät geöffnet und ist noch dazu frisch renoviert. Nach dem Feuer vor einem Jahr meldet sich die Bar mit einem fulminanten Comeback zurück und zum Glück bleibt alles wie gehabt, denn die Drinks sind immer noch gut und auch am Wochenende gibt es auch weiterhin Brunch. Never change a winning team!
Das Geist im Glas mag zwar wie eine von vielen Neukölln-Bars aussehen, so mit dem Kerzenlicht und den alten Möbeln, ist aber einerseits dank der langen Öffnungszeiten und andererseits wegen der exzellenten Cocktails einer der Afterwork-Treffpunkte der Berliner Gastroszene. Und das völlig zu recht. Aishah Bennet und ihr Team, das zu einem großen Teil aus Frauen besteht, wissen, wie man gute Drinks macht und noch dazu auch in einer sehr busy night auf die persönlichen Vorlieben der Bargäste eingeht. Bei unserem letzten Besuch hatten wir einen ausbalancierten Bourbon Negroni und eine Mezcal Margarita, die ihres Gleichen sucht.
Daytime Drinking in Neukölln war nie besser.
Muret La Barba
Muret la Barba is perfect when you’ve got a very specific craving. Namely, a generous plate of Vitello Tonnato or fantastic, fresh pasta paired with a crisp glass of dry white. A wine shop, a wine bar, and a great Italian restaurant. It's a place that is many things to many people. An institution as well (it’s been around for years and years). Muret la Barba acts as the perfect little corner in Mitte, a standout amongst many mediocre restaurants and watering holes, people have enjoyed pasta and risotto at this small, ivy-covered corner for many years. We had the Casale del Giglio's Satrico on our visit, a bright white that's pleasantly mineral yet fruity and light. The crispness lent itself especially well to the Vitello Tonnato and smoked mackerel and bread salad.
Though not the cheapest (the Vitello Tonnato starter is 13,50 Euro, though it does come with all the bread you can stomach plus fresh, fruity olive oil) the wines start at 5,50 Euro per glass, with a not-overwhelmingly-generous pour, but it also won’t leave you feeling thirsty. Service is efficient and interested, you will be able to try several wine before settling on one, but not the friendliest. That’s okay though, in Berlin we’ll consider it a win if the waiter doesn’t actively insult you (hi, Clärchen's Ballhaus - looking at you). Muret la Barba also acts as a bottle shop and you’ll be charge a corkage fee on whole bottles. The clientele is a mix of old school Berlin Mitte (think 50+ “business people” and their partners, German B celebrities, and newspaper men) and a younger, well-monied crowd.
This won’t ever become my favorite place to hang, but when a craving for Vitello Tonnato hits or you find yourself thirsting for a nice, elegant glass of wine in Mitte - Muret la Barba definitely hits the spot.
Ins Muret La Barba geht man, wenn man Lust auf etwas ganz Bestimmtes hat. Wie zum Beispiel auf das köstliche Vitello Tonnato, frische Pasta, ein cremiges Risotto oder die Makrelenfilets auf toskanischem Brotsalat. Günstig ist es hier nicht unbedingt (ab circa 11,50 Euro für eine der Primi Piatti), aber qualitativ bildet das Muret La Barba, das zugleich Weinladen, Weinbar und auch Restaurant ist, eine kulinarische Insel.
Die Gäste wissen das auch zu schätzen und diese machen das Muret da an der Ecke unweit vom Rosenthaler Platz zu einer wahren Institution. Bei unserem Besuch gab es zu den Makrelenfilets ein Glas vom fruchtig-mineralischen Casale del Giglio's Satrico, das mit 5,50 Euro für 0,1-Liter zu Buche schlägt. Das Publikum ist typisches Mitte-Publikum, von eher 50 plus und aus dem kreativen Bereich, bis hin zu Mittzwanzigern mit Geld und Zeit und Lust auf Pasta. Im hinteren Teil von Muret La Barba säumen mehrere Regale mit unzähligen Flaschen die Wand, den Wein kann man hier auch kaufen und mitnehmen.
Wer ihn allerdings lieber am Tisch genießen möchte, sollte sich auf etwas Korkgeld einstellen, dazu geben die Mitarbeiter gerne mehr Auskunft. Ein kurzes Heads-up: der Service ist womöglich nicht der zuvorkommendste, für Berliner Verhältnisse allerdings durchaus ok, denn ganz ehrlich - in dieser Stadt finden wir es schon gut, wenn man nicht aktiv beleidigt wird. Wir schauen hier in Deine Richtung, Clärchens Ballhaus.
Ein bisschen Dolce Vita, hervorragendes Vitello Tonnato und das ein oder andere Glas Wein - das bekommt man hier.
The Best Craft Cocktail Bars in Berlin
If one were to write a history of cocktails in the twentieth century, Berlin might not even get a mention. While Paris has Harry’s New York Bar and London has the American Bar at The Savoy, Berlin has remained on the sidelines—a city of cafes, beer halls and dance clubs rather than Martinis and Manhattans. However, in the first decades of the 21st century bars devoted to well-mixed cocktails have taken root in Berlin; and while they may not be indigenous to the city, they appear to be flourishing in their new surroundings. Berlin now boasts a number of excellent spots where bartenders have one eye on Jerry Thomas’s Bartender’s Guide and the other on the future will prepare classics, remixes and new inventions with assurance and style.
There is also more than a hint of old-world glamour and decadence in Berlin’s cocktail scene. Many of the bars are hidden away in unexpected locations, and while it can be difficult to find a decent cocktail before six in the evening, few bars enforce a strict closing time, remaining open until the last satisfied customers have staggered out the door. – Jesse Simon
Special Note: Depending on your feelings about the relationship between tobacco and alcohol, you may be delighted or dismayed to discover that, due to some loophole in EU law, virtually all of the cocktail bars in Berlin allow smoking. Most are well ventilated, but if you’re very sensitive to smoke, you may wish to limit your cocktail drinking to the summer months, when some of the bars offer outdoor seating.
Bar Marqués
The tapas-themed Restaurant Marqués, located in Kreuzberg’s Graefekiez, isn’t exactly hidden, but you might not suspect that its basement contains a small, very civilized cocktail bar. However the cosy Bar Marqués, with its waistcoated bartender and low-lit décor, is a pearl of refinement hiding in a once-edgy, now middle class residential neighborhood. Just don’t ask for a menu; there isn’t one. The bartender is your friend here. Let him know what you like and he'll mix you something to your liking.
- craft cocktails
Becketts Kopf
The name means "Beckett’s Head"—as in Samuel Beckett—and you’ll have to look for his iconic face if you want to locate the entrance to this intimate cocktail bar in Prenzlauer Berg. Although the tastefully decorated room may be one of the smallest in town, all you need is a stool or two by the bar to enjoy a selection of cocktails that range from the time-honored to newer more adventurous creations, like the Rashomon, which mixes gin and sake with a touch of cream. The selection of individual spirits may not be as exhaustive as in some bars, but it’s always well-curated and they keep a selection of cigars on hand, .
- craft cocktails
Buck and Breck
This small cocktail bar—which recently earned the distinction of best bar in Germany at the Mixology awards—has a devoted following among those who know how to find it. Although it is located along a major street in Mitte, just north of busy Rosenthaler Platz, you might end up walking past what appears to be an abandoned shop front. Behind the unmarked door awaits an ultra-minimalist interior featuring a single table with fourteen stools built around a modest bar area. The menu—which, in the spirit of Milk & Honey, follows the "bartender knows best" model—offers a reasonably small selection of modified classics, but .
- craft cocktails
Le Croco Bleu
While many of Berlin’s cocktail bars look to the first half of the 20th century for inspiration, Le Croco Bleu—located in the newly redeveloped Bötzow brewery complex in Prenzlauer Berg and masterminded by Gregor Scholl, the legendary bartender of Rum Trader—has its sights set firmly on the future. Their menu of signature cocktails has a daring, experimental edge with traditional spirits sitting next to less common ingredients, such as yuzu, thyme and absinthe fairy floss (imagine cotton candy made with a not-so-secret ingredient). The decor, a combination of mid-century button-leather stools and old industrial .
- craft cocktails
Galander Charlottenburg
You would be forgiven for walking right past the Charlottenburg incarnation of Galander. Located on a once-sketchy but now forgettable stretch of Stuttgarter Platz, the narrow bar with its dark wood and ornate copper-plate interior exudes the kind of classic cocktail bar elegance you wouldn’t expect to find on a street that faces onto the city’s main east-west elevated rail line. But while the S-bahn rolls by in the distance, one can sip a wide assortment of classic and neo-classic cocktails, either on a stool at the bar or in one of the leather armchairs in the small, chandeliered back room. And although the drinks .
- craft cocktails
Galander Kreuzberg
On a quiet leafy street, several blocks from the genteel buzz of Bergmannstraße, Galander is the sort of apparition from another era that every traveller dreams of finding when wandering the city without a map. Situated in a building that housed a neighborhood bar at the beginning of the 20th century, the cozy, inviting interior is made up of a mixture of wood, amber and candlelight. After you’ve taken your seat at the bar (or at one of the intimate tables in the back), the knowledgeable, waistcoated barmen exhibit a humble devotion to preparing your drink exactly the way you want it. Other bars in town may have .
- craft cocktails
Green Door
There’s a sign outside, but the door—green, obviously—is locked. Ringing the doorbell activates a light in the bar, and if any one of the staff sees it, they might come and let you in. But don’t let the uncertainty put you off: once you’ve passed the admittance test, you’re free to enjoy some of Berlin’s most skillfully mixed cocktails in one of the most stylish rooms in town. While the menu offers a few house specialties and clever twists, the focus is primarily on 20th-century classics, prepared with high quality ingredients. Much of the interior is taken up by the long, dark wood bar—there are a few stools against .
- craft cocktails
Lebenstern
Climb the marble stairs to the upper floor of this 19th-century villa—which somehow managed to survive the allied bombings that devastated much of the area—and you will discover a series of pleasingly proportioned rooms furnished with leather armchairs and lined with locked glass cabinets filled with spirits. Lebenstern has all the splendor of a well-appointed drawing room, and their menu exhibits a similar refinement, with tasteful twists on old classics, a fine selection of champagne cocktails and a satisfying array of different gin and tonics. Thematically selected spirit flights are also available for those who .
- craft cocktails
- historic
At Limondier the simple contemporary interior is augmented by enough small details (a typewriter, an antique lamp, old photos and newspaper clippings) to give it a retro feel that's difficult to place. Their cocktail menu follows suit with a mixture of early-20th-century classics (Aviation, Manhattan) and more experimental offerings employing a range of unconventional ingredients (pickle juice, rosemary syrup). They also have a reasonable selection of spirits—including absinthe, served according to the traditional ritual—and a pleasingly diverse assortment of tonics to accompany your gin. The menu changes two or three .
- craft cocktails
Situated in the quiet residential buffer between busy Winterfeldtplatz and middle-class Akazienkiez, Salut offers tasteful decor, a relaxed speakeasy vibe and some of the best cocktails in Berlin.
- craft cocktails
Stagger Lee
Although it is located in the heart of Berlin’s thriving gay area, Nollendorfstraße—the street that Christopher Isherwood once called home—can get pretty quiet after the shops close their shutters for the evening. But a late and boozy night can still be found at Stagger Lee. This western-themed cocktail bar has been a consistently popular fixture of Schöneberg’s cocktail scene for the past several years. Their signature cocktails—many based around American whiskeys—pack an indisputable punch, and the smokey, Wild West ambiance is like nowhere else in Berlin. If you’re looking for somewhere that will turn a nightcap .
- craft cocktails
Victoria Bar
Situated between a sketchy pawn shop and Berlin’s legendary Wintergarten, the Victoria Bar offers a slice of refinement along a street that has long been infamous for its nightlife. The narrow space—with high ceilings and tastefully minimalist furnishings, accented with some intriguing art—is dominated by a long bar where as many as eight bartenders in white dress shirts and black ties prepare cocktails from an impressively broad menu. Most of the classic drinks from within the whisk(e)y, gin and rum families—in addition to familiar highballs—are represented, and all are prepared with a deference to established .
Top 5 cocktail bars in Berlin
What better way to top off a day’s sightseeing and exploring in Berlin than with a perfectly mixed cocktail? With a plethora of bars on almost every street corner it can be hard to know where to start and how to find a good cocktail can be overwhelming. So whether you like a simple G&T, the best Margeurita in town or a new and surprising concoction you’ve never heard of before, below are some of Berlin’s best offerings when it comes to a luxury cocktail experience.
Located in the downtown Mitte area, the Amano Hotel won the Hotel Bar of the Year award and rightly so. The bar team under Philipp Bischof serve creative drinks, with excellent service in a modern but very laid back atmosphere. The lounge feel makes for a relaxed and very enjoyable experience. In the summer they set up a bar on the rooftop as well with absolutely stunning views out over the city skyscape.
Up in Prenzlauerberg this bar is an absolute Berlin institution. No sign on the door, simply a photo of the man himself (Samuel Beckett), lit up in the (curtained) window. The menu (created by Oliver Ebert) is inserted into old copies of Beckett plays and the interior is dimly lit with red leather couches reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy. The menu is extensive and in no way dull, offering a wide selection of different spirit based drinks and a nice selection of snacks and cheese platters to accompany them for the late night nibbles. Do be aware they allow smoking (including cigars) in the front section so not for the smoke sensitive. You will need reservations for Thurs-Sat evenings.
A new and welcome addition to the Berlin cocktail scene, this intimate little bar only has 15 seats, so if you’re planning on going after 10pm or Thur-Sat evenings, be sure to book ahead. Groups of more than 4 people will not be allowed entrance. A comfortably wide bar and stools is the only seating. This is great because you have a fabulous view of one of the best bar teams in town. Watching a cocktail being mixed here is a poem of precision and professionalism. No vodka or cream cocktails on the menu – be warned, but the mixes listed are unusual and remarkable in their nuance of taste and flavour. Enjoy a rather unique and very ‘Berlin’ experience.
Two locals from Kreuzberg decided to open a little bar and took cocktails in the area to a whole new level. Schwarze Traube is one of the hottest new openings this year. Owners Atalay Aktas and Yalcin Celik do not provide menus with lists of drinks but instead speak to each customer about their preferences, make suggestions, and then create something which is destined to please the taste buds of the most discerning cocktail connoisseur. With three small rooms the atmosphere is one of being invited to a private party in someone’s living room. Be warned – this is a bar for smokers.
Quirky, modern, eclectic and with a semi retro feel the Green Door is one of Berlin’s best kept cocktail secrets. Owner Fritz Mueller-Scherz is a writer, actor, journalist, musician and the artistic flair shows through clearly in the bar he set up in Schöneberg. Once you buzz the bell to be allowed in you will be greeted by tartan and psychedelic wallpaper, creative lighting and kitsch decoration. The drinks here are mixed strong by very competent bar staff and there’s no bar snacks provided so be warned and eat before you go to avoid a tipsy exit.
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Best cocktail bars berlin
Cocktail Bar В© Sam Howzit
The Hofbräuhaus in Berlin prides itself as having brought the Bavarian spirit of good food and beer to the city for over five years. With a live band playing every day of the week, this Bräuhaus is rarely found without an amicable and easy-going atmosphere, which makes it a great spot to enjoy their Hofbräu Weißbier served in the iconic half-liter tankards. Often catering to large groups, the attentive waiting staff can be seen wearing traditional Bavarian Dirndl and Lederhosen, and will happily recommend a dish from the range of Bavarian specialities on offer.
Address & Phone
+49 30 679665520
Opening Hours
Located in the very heart of Alexanderplatz, Cocktailbar Oase offers something for everyone with over 150 cocktails to choose from. Stop in between 3pm and 5pm for happy hour, where you can find a plethora of signature and classic cocktails for just €4.50. Some of  the more elaborate and stronger cocktails may cost up to €6.50. With a DJ playing from 10:00pm Tuesday to Saturday, this is a perfect spot for those in the mood for some lively post-work drinks. If you’re looking for a late night of dancing but don’t feel like venturing too far afield from the city center, look no further as this hip spot keeps the music going until 5am midweek and 7am on Fridays and Saturdays.
strawberry cocktail | В© CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay
Address & Phone
Opening Hours
This Caribbean-themed bar provides a much needed escape from the bustling plaza and allows patrons to relax in a deckchair with a cocktail in hand. Expect to encounter beach huts, palm trees, and to feel sand underfoot, all of which add to the summer-time feel. With themed cocktail specials running every night of the week except for Friday and Saturday, (happy hour still runs from 7pm-midnight on the weekend) the staff is always ready to facilitate the beach party atmosphere by expertly mixing signature cocktails such as the Palm Beach In Heaven and the Tropical Feeling. If you find yourself peckish, Palm Beach also serves highly praised cuisine from a menu with international dishes of all types available.
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Address & Phone
Opening Hours
Knutschfleck is a mix between a cocktail bar and show bar, with a variety of events occurring throughout the week. Tuesdays and Thursdays are home to their karaoke night, while aspiring comedians, musicians, and вЂ˜anyone with something to offer’ can take the stage on Wednesday for their open mic night. Friday and Saturday is when the professionals take the stageВ during their signature variety show. Expect to see performances spanning from contortionists, jazz artists and ballerinas to show dancers who captivate the audience with a display blending burlesque, salsa, and rock вЂ˜n’ roll among others. Perhaps most fascinatingВ about this zany establishment is its pricing system, the вЂ˜cocktail exchange.’ The cost of cocktails will vary throughout the night based on demand. Keeping an eye on one of their many monitors throughout the bar allows for superlative cocktail gaugingВ and is also a fun way to try new cocktails.
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Address & Phone
Opening Hours
The PUB, which has the feel of a sports bar, is a great place to go to at the start of a night out. Conveniently located between Hackescher Markt and Alexanderplatz, head there to fill up onВ one of their outstanding burgers and enjoy a few of the German and international beers on offer. What makes this gastro pub special is the Berliner Pilsner taps fitted to every table. Enjoy competing to see who can pull the most professional looking beer before relaxing with your well-earned Berliner. Along with the beer taps, each table also has a touch pad fitted to the center of the table thatВ allows you to order food, drinks, and even split the bill at the end.
Bareburgers | В© Jaysin Trevino/Flickr
Address & Phone
Opening Hours
This multi-roomed Brauhaus ensures the right ambience for any visitor, whether stopping in for dinner and a drink orВ coming in a large group. For a quieter evening, it is advised to book a table in the more intimate dining area where you are situated near the bronze brewing tanks. Enjoy the house’s George pils, a high-quality beer brewed with the expertise and attention expected of a microbrewery. For the real beer lovers, one-liter tankards are also available. If you find yourself in a large group looking for some traditional German dishes and beer, head to the more relaxed beer hall well suited to accommodate a crowd. Their permanent special offer. вЂ˜The Brauhaus Hit,’ allows peopleВ to try the best of everything on offer at once. This consists of a boiled knuckle of pork, peas, sauerkraut, and potatoes, all of which is, of course, served with a glass of George pils and a grain schnapps.
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Address & Phone
Opening Hours
Located slightly closer to Hackescher Markt than Alexanderplatz, this classy cocktail bar is stylish in every sense of the word. The bar staff is more than happy to recommend a drink to suit your taste. If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t be afraid to ask for something a bit different as these bartenders are more than capable of coming up with an original recipe on the spot. The laid-back atmosphere and top-quality drinks makes Riva a favorite among a trendy crowd. There is also a terraced outside seating area in the back with a view of the Alexanderplatz tower to remind you that you’re still just a stone’s throw from the city center.
The Best Hidden Bars in Berlin
Berlin is a city of secrets. The busy thoroughfares and unassuming residential streets conceal a wealth of subterranean spaces and unmarked doors, labyrinthine courtyards and crumbling factories that may or may not be abandoned. It is also a city where the best things are sometimes hiding in plain sight: you may walk past the same building every day for a year before finding out that it is also home to a rooftop club. And it may be by accident that you discover one of the best cocktail bars in the city just two doors down from your flat. The variety of hidden spots in Berlin ranges from intimate cocktail rooms to sprawling rooftop beach. While some bars cultivate an atmosphere of exclusivity to mask a fairly average selection of drinks, others employ discretion as a means of maintaining a civilized atmosphere. Even more so than in London or Paris, Berlin takes great pride in its wealth of arcane and obscure bars, and while the best places rarely remain hidden for very long, there are always new secrets waiting to be discovered. –Jesse Simon
Becketts Kopf
The name means "Beckett’s Head"—as in Samuel Beckett—and you’ll have to look for his iconic face if you want to locate the entrance to this intimate cocktail bar in Prenzlauer Berg. Although the tastefully decorated room may be one of the smallest in town, all you need is a stool or two by the bar to enjoy a selection of cocktails that range from the time-honored to newer more adventurous creations, like the Rashomon, which mixes gin and sake with a touch of cream. The selection of individual spirits may not be as exhaustive as in some bars, but it’s always well-curated and they keep a selection of cigars on hand, .
- craft cocktails
Buck and Breck
This small cocktail bar—which recently earned the distinction of best bar in Germany at the Mixology awards—has a devoted following among those who know how to find it. Although it is located along a major street in Mitte, just north of busy Rosenthaler Platz, you might end up walking past what appears to be an abandoned shop front. Behind the unmarked door awaits an ultra-minimalist interior featuring a single table with fourteen stools built around a modest bar area. The menu—which, in the spirit of Milk & Honey, follows the "bartender knows best" model—offers a reasonably small selection of modified classics, but .
- craft cocktails
It seems like such an obvious idea: take the top deck of a multi-story car park attached to a bland shopping centre on the northern fringe of Prenzlauer Berg and cover it with sand. Then add some picnic benches, some low, faux-leather sofas, some beach umbrellas and a few walkways made of shipping pallets, and suddenly you’ve got a rooftop beach bar with spectacular views of the city. Although it tends to fill up on summer nights, Deck 5 is also a relaxed and pleasingly unconventional place to enjoy a cold beer on a hot afternoon.
- outdoor / patio
- bar food
- dancing
Fahimi Bar
The brutalist (and, for Berliners, somewhat iconic) shopping and housing complex that dominates the north side of Kottbusser Tor might not be the first place you’d expect to find a low-key lounge bar. The entrance is an unmarked door covered with stickers and graffiti that looks as though it should lead to a housing project; and the harshly-lit concrete staircase does little to ease the feeling that you are, in fact, venturing somewhere you shouldn’t. But up the stairs and through the door on the first floor is an elegant room with a well-stocked bar—featuring a reasonable selection of cocktails and highballs in .
- craft cocktails
Klunkerkranich
Step into the large, nondescript Neukölln Arkaden shopping centre, find the elevator and ride it up to the top floor of the car park. Then walk through the empty parking area toward the circular exit ramp in the centre. Follow the chalk arrows on the ground if you get lost. Pay the cover charge—usually no more than €3—and walk up the circular ramp, where you're confronted with a ramshackle wooden village scavenged from the props department of Gilligan’s Island. While not explicitly beach-themed like its cross-town carpark rival Deck 5 – there is a small sandbox, but that’s mostly for the kids who accompany their .
- bar food
- dancing
- day drinking
Bar Marqués
The tapas-themed Restaurant Marqués, located in Kreuzberg’s Graefekiez, isn’t exactly hidden, but you might not suspect that its basement contains a small, very civilized cocktail bar. However the cosy Bar Marqués, with its waistcoated bartender and low-lit décor, is a pearl of refinement hiding in a once-edgy, now middle class residential neighborhood. Just don’t ask for a menu; there isn’t one. The bartender is your friend here. Let him know what you like and he'll mix you something to your liking.
- craft cocktails
Monkey Bar
One of the newest rooftop hotspots in Berlin, the Monkey Bar is attached to the 25hours Hotel and next to Bikini (the city’s newest shopping experience). Rum is the focus of their cocktail menu—most of their signature concoctions are best described as new-wave tiki—although they also have a number of intriguing variations on the classic gin and tonic. But the real reason to visit the Monkey bar is the roof terrace, which offers unparalleled views of Breitscheidplatz—home of the iconic, half-destroyed Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Church—to the south, and the treetops of the Tiergarten to the north. One of the best places .
- dancing
- craft cocktails
- outdoor / patio
- tiki
- lots of rum
Rum Trader
Rum Trader is one of Berlin’s oldest cocktail bars, and certainly among its most legendary. A speakeasy before speakeasies came back into fashion, the bar does almost nothing to announce its presence to the residential street on which it’s located. Even if you know where to go, you might not gain admittance to the very intimate barroom area. (Dressing up will help.) If they have space for you—there can’t be room for more than 20 or 30 people—and if the bartender/owner likes the cut of your style, you can enjoy some of the most delicious (and potent) cocktails Berlin has to offer. As the name suggests, they specialize .
- craft cocktails
- historic
- lots of rum
- tiki
Bar Tausend
Bar Tausend’s increasing international reputation as a hot Berlin nightspot has not made it any easier to find. Its well-concealed entrance—an unmarked door by the train tracks down by the river, literally—tends to dissuade all but the most dedicated searchers. But despite its hidden location, the bar never suffers from a lack of patrons. If you find the door and make it past the doorman, you will discover a tastefully modern lounge, with mirrored vaulted ceilings, loud music (DJs are the norm, but there are occasional live acts) and a not-too-young, not-too-old crowd drawn from all over Europe. The cocktails, while .
The 6 Best Bars In Berlin
Image credit: Stue Bar
A testament to the city’s love of cocktails, Berlin plays host to countless legendary bars and has a great nightlife scene, ensuring that there is something for everyone’s taste.
Situated within one of Berlin’s most prestigious hotels, Stue Bar serves unusual whiskies and cognacs, not otherwise available within Berlin. They serve drinks that are adaptations of the forgotten 1920s and 30s cocktails. As well as this, guests can enjoy Stue Bar’s dedication to celebrating Berlin’s old world glamour with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Take a look at our guide to the best bars in Berlin.
Berlin Cocktail Guide
Antlered Bunny
Aunt Benny – the cosy café on a corner of Traveplatz – transformed their dinky office into the intimate Antlered Bunny a couple of years ago, and since then its been at the forefront of Friedrichshain’s craft cocktail scene. Bar manager Damian Guichard takes his place behind the tiny bar surrounded by an outrageous selection of gins and whiskies on the back wall, and homemade bitters and syrups on the bar. Try his excellent Eastern Dawn which blends gin, sake (from Friedrichshain’s Sake Kontor, no less), sweet vermouth, maraschino cherry juice, Peychaud’s Bitters and a quick dash of absinthe. Since there’s only enough seating for 15 thirsty souls at the bar (no standing allowed), it’s best to get there early.
• Oder Strasse 7, Friedrichshain, Facebook, open Tue-Fri 6pm – 2am Sat-Sun 12pm-2am.
Becketts Kopf
It’s unmarked save for an eerily glowing photograph of Samuel Beckett in the window, so you’ll need to ring a doorbell to gain access to this Prenzlauer Berg bar. Inside are two elegant, dimly lit rooms (one reserved for smokers) with low tables and chesterfield sofas. The comprehensive drinks list – ensconced between the pages of a Beckett tome – is divided into sections such as fresh and funky, and herbal and floral, and always features seasonal specials. The ice is hand-cut, and staff are happy to tailor-make drinks for the undecided. Absinthe fans may wish to sample the bar’s take on the classic Monkey’s Gland, made with English marmalade.
• Pappelallee 64, Prenzlauer Berg, 0162 237 9418, becketts-kopf.de. Open Tues-Sun from 8pm
Bryk Bar’s mission is simple: to bring back aperitifs. To do this they’ve created an menu of wine and vermouth based drinks which can be paired with interesting nibbles, like their popcorn with dill. The leather armchairs and vintage wooden furniture create a sophisticated ambiance, and the staff can knock up a mean cocktail too. While there are a couple of well-known classics on their cocktail menu, most of the drinks – and their memorable titles – are the bar’s own creative inventions; try the Oily Bondage For Beginners and you’ll realise that whisky and Guinness syrup were made for each other.
• Ryke Strasse 18, Prenzlauer Berg, 030 3810 0165, bryk-bar.com, open Tue-Sun from 7pm
Buck and Breck
The newest and most low-key of Berlin’s cocktail spots, this tiny black room, named after former American president James Buchanan and his vice-president, John Breckinridge, occupies a prime location in Mitte. It’s disguised as an art gallery from the outside – the sole window is usually blocked out with crates or quirky decor – and the dark interior has enough room for just 14 people, seated around a large, square bar (no standing allowed). Owners Gonçalo de Sousa Monteiro and Holger Groll churn out exquisite drinks such as the eponymous house special: a tasty, muscular mix of cognac, bitters, absinthe and champagne, from a small but perfectly formed menu that’s heavy on the arcane and historical. Reservations recommended.
• Brunnenstrasse 177, Mitte, no telephone, buckandbreck.com. Open daily from 8pm
Green Door
Tucked away in bohemian Schöneberg, the chosen stomping ground for everyone from Christopher Isherwood to David Bowie over the years, Green Door is a veteran “locals” spot that takes its drinking seriously. Owner and playwright Fritz Müller-Scherz opened the bar 15 years ago to promote what he calls “the power of positive drinking”. Hiding behind the rudimentary green sign and nondescript curtains lurks a kitsch interior that’s all gingham wallpaper, 70s framed photos and a dog mascot that rests on the bar. The cocktail list is impressively long, features specials every month and includes the bar’s eponymous signature drink, a mix of champagne, lemon, sugar, and mint.
• Winterfeldtstrasse 50, Schöneberg, 030 215 2515, greendoor.de. Open Sun-Thurs 6pm-3am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am (happy hour 6pm-9pm)
Newton Bar
With its characteristic red-leather seats and imposing 18ft photographs of stiletto-heeled nudes, this classic cocktail bar bows deeply to renowned fashion photographer Helmut Newton. The upmarket atmosphere is emphasised by heavy oak tables and a lavish, colourful bar that serves up a wealth of distinguished drinks: superbly mixed classics like Manhattans and Martinis as well as “city specials” such as the Metropolis Berlin, which features Jägermeister, and the Shanghai, which has lychee and plum. There are also direct views on to the Gendarmenmarkt through large picture windows. Expect to mingle with businessmen, fashionistas and well-heeled tourists. An upstairs cigar lounge is available for private tête-à-têtes.
• Charlottenstrasse 57, Mitte, 030 202 9540, newton-bar.de. Open Sun-Thurs 10am-3am, Fri-Sat 10am-4am
Reingold’s 1930s speakeasy theme is supported by a cast of bartenders with slicked-back hair, braces and cigarette lighters at the ready. Frequented by office workers, hipsters and local barflies, the long, narrow room has amber-painted walls, a giant mural of Thomas Mann’s children Klaus and Erika, and some German bar snacks for peckish punters. The soundtrack switches between swing and Motown and the staff are well-schooled in classics, as well as seasonal drinks: the One in a Million is a fruity-herby blend of aged Indian rum, fresh lime, rosemary, pineapple juice and vanilla liqueur, and the Chocolate Agavioni tweaks the classic Negroni cocktail by blending 100% agave tequila blanco with campari, sweet vermouth and chocolate liqueur.
• Novalisstrasse 11, Mitte, 030 2838 7676, reingold.de. Open Tues-Sat 7pm-4am
Schwarze Traube
Another knock-to-enter, speakeasy-style venue, Schwarze Traube is one of the comfiest cocktail bars in town. There’s dark wallpapers and birdcages and a purposeful lack of menu; simply tell the staff what kinds of spirits and flavours you’re in the mood for and they’ll suggest you a winner. If you’re lucky to have owner (and 2013’s World Class Bartender of The Year) Atalay Aktas behind the bar, ask for his signature drink; his My Destiny (rosemary and thyme infused Kettel One Vodka, fresh lime juice, agave syrup and ground black pepper) is an example of the bar’s holistic cocktail style.
• Wrangel Strasse 24, Kreuzberg, 030 2313 5569, Facebook, open daily from 7pm
Stagger Lee
Ring the doorbell to enter into this quirky bar, which aims to transport guests back to a time of gold diggin’ gun slingers. With a faux bear skin on the wall, saloon doors, a huge antique till and blues and jitterbug tinkling from the sound system, Stagger Lee is in reality more ‘upmarket saloon’ than rough and ready cowboy hangout. Drinks take on an inevitable Deep South theme, with an emphasis on Bourbons and Ryes, but there’s also the odd Tiki cocktail thrown in to the menu for good measure. Our drink of choice is their Bucket of Blood: tequila and zesty tomato juice are given the usual Bloody Mary garnishings, but the real treat is that crispy rasher of bacon that’s dipped in the glass.
• Nollendorf Strasse 27, Schöneberg, 030 2903 6158 , staggerlee.com, open daily from 7pm
Rum Trader
This tiny bar has a big history. With roots that allegedly stretch back to the prohibition era, it consists of just one table, several bar stools and a small bar that hosts around twenty patrons at a time. The entire ensemble is commandeered by the smartly attired, bespectacled Herr Scholl (and an occasional assistant), whose flawless drinks are served in vintage glasses and made with old school paraphernalia like strainers, muddlers and scoops. The menu is heavy on gin as well as, of course, rum, stretching from heavenly Hemingways to spectacular Rum Sours.
• Fasanenstrasse 40, 10719 Berlin, 030 8811 428. Open 7pm-1am Mon-Fri; 9.30am-2am Sat-Sun.
With its raw interior and laid-back atmosphere, Twinpigs has quickly established itself as a heavyweight amongst in Neukölln nightlife spots. But the venue prides itself high above its peers when it comes to the quality of drinks, which is justified once you’ve sampled the goods. Ranging from the traditional to the inventive, every ingredient is painstakingly matched to ensure a perfect mix each time…even their gin and tonics are spruced up with homemade tonic. Those wanting something a little more hoppy can ask for the menu of craft beers, which including brews from the local Heidenpeters and Rollberger breweries.
• Boddin Strasse 57a, Neukölln, Facebook, open Tue-Sat 7pm-3am
Victoria Bar
Before Potsdamer Strasse turned into a hip hangout, the Victoria Bar was first to bring a dash of class to the area. Its award-winning interior features a classic wooden bar and walls decorated with satirical artworks by the likes of Sarah Lucas, Marcel Dzama and Martin Kippenberger. Popular with a refined yet unpretentious clientele, the Victoria offers expertly mixed drinks: try the Prince Charles, a heady mix of cognac VS, apricot brandy, angostura and champagne, or the psychedelic Sun Ra, which blends tequila, mezcal, Old Pascas 73°, dry orange, almond syrup, and fresh lemon and lime to aptly psychedelic effect. Cocktail classes are available at the venue’s School of Drunkenness.
• Potsdamer Strasse 102, Tiegarten, 030 2575 9977, victoriabar.de. Open Sun-Thurs 6.30pm-3am, Fri-Sat 6.30pm-4am (happy hour 6.30pm-9.30pm)
Despite being a briefcase-lob from the US Embassy, this quiet, one-room bar is far from a haunt for diplomats. Owner Günter Windhorst has crafted a place that’s loose-limbed and intimate, egged on by his own jazz and Latin collection (vinyl only), and paintings of jazz musicians on the wall. There’s an emphasis on American-style drinks within the 52-page menu but innovative touches balance out the classics (try the lemongrass Gimlet – an exotic adaptation of the gin and lime juice classic. It’s a great place for a pre- or post-theatre tipple – or just settle in at the bar and watch the staff apply their craft with impressive diligence.
• Dorotheenstrasse 65, Mitte, 030 2045 0070, no website. Open daily from 6pm (9pm Sat-Sun)
Würgeengel
Würgeengel means “Exterminating Angel” after the Luis Buñuel film – and is much easier to pronounce after a few drinks. One of the city’s more relaxed cocktail bars, it matches a winsome, old-school interior (leather booths, candles on wooden tables, a glass-latticed ceiling) with a drinks menu that has great cocktails and a fine selection of whiskies and wines from Veuve Cliquot and Dom Pérignon to great rieslings from Rheinhessen and deep red riojas that go with the tasty, well-priced tapas (large mixed plate €10.50, tapas-for-two for €16). There’s good Italian food at the Gorgonzola Club next door, and the atmosphere retains a pleasant neighbourhood feel.
• Dresdener Strasse 122, Kreuzberg, 030 615 5560, wuergeengel.de. Open daily from 7pm
Other posts by Paul Sullivan
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A gallery of spring-themed photos by the readers of Slow Travel Berlin.
Stacked: Photos of Berlin’s Plattenbauten
Berlin's tower blocks, as photographed by Marte Brandenburg
Berlin: Be Our Valentine?
STB Contributors on the things they love about Berlin.
Oskar Schlemmer’s Bauhaus Parties
A look at the flamboyant theatrical tradition of the Bauhaus movement.
Berlin: Winter Wonderland
Photos of Berlin covered in ice and snow.
Becketts Kopf
Grashina Gabelmann experiences expertly-mixed cocktails at this Prenzlauer Berg institution.
Berlin Cocktail Guide
The best spots to score a superior mixed drink in Berlin.
Stories from the City
To celebrate Slow Travel Berlin's fifth birthday: a curated anthology of articles and photography on a wide range of topics and places that you won’t find in the guidebooks.
100 Favourite Places
Instead of highlighting the city’s hippest ‘hotspots’, we’ve taken a more patient and personal approach to bring you 100 special places, many of which would not be mentioned in conventional guides.
Mauerweg: Stories From The Berlin Wall Trail
Walking the entire 160km length of the Mauerweg (Berlin Wall Trail) , a journey through and around the city that only a handful of individuals have ever made.
The Green Door is trash. I’ve been there a few times and the staff was incredibly rude.. even more so than what people expect of the Berlin service industry 😉
Also been there a few times, always enjoyed it/had okay service. Comme ci, comme ça.
Because it’s just down the street from us, I’ve always been partial to the well-prepared cocktails at Hefner Bar @ Savignyplatz!
I must say I truly enjoyed touring the bars and nightlife in Berlin. I have only tried one of the spots listed above, Becketts Kopf, and had a fabulous time there. You never really know what you might find around the next corner in Berlin. The bars are very hit and miss, but when you find a gem, you’re going to have a great night!
Haven’t been to that one, will have to give it a whirl.
This is great. I also have a soft sport for hotel bars. Any chance for a review or two sometime in the future?
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The best bars in Berlin, Germany.
For nightlife, particularly away from summer, there's probably no better city in Europe than Berlin. The many small independent bars in the Eastern side of the city complement the fantastic cocktail bars in West Berlin's posh hotels and the world famous techno nightclubs with all their decadence
- Most Berlin bars only get busy (some do not even open) until after 8pm even during the week. They usually remain busy until the early hours. Most bars close at 3am (or when the last person leaves) and many clubs close as late as lunchtime the next day
- Summer is a lot quieter, with some bars closing from June to September
- Berlin is a huge city so it's best to plan your route ahead and use the U Bahn or S Bahn
- You'll need cash as most Berlin bars do not take card payment
- You're more likely to hear people speaking English than German in some parts of Berlin, especially the hipster bars in Mitte and Kreuzberg
- Many bars and nightclubs in Berlin are incredibly liberal, so don't be too shocked if you see people openly having sex in some clubs
- It's fair to say that Berlin tries to be too-cool-for-school and you're more likely to be frowned upon for overdressing in most Berlin bars. Hipster clothes, false glasses, running shoes and a mountain man beard is the look to go for, and expect to be refused entry for no apparent reason
- Smoking is still allowed in most Berlin bars
- Generally, the locals tip by just rounding up the bill, however 5%-10% is also acceptable. Tip by saying the amount you want to pay in total when actually paying (not after you've been given your change)
Best Bars Berlin
Fairytale / Photo: Fairytale Facebook
This tiny and absolutely beautiful bar in Friedrichshain opened in January 2015 just across the road from the Märchenbrunnen (Fountain of Fairy Tales) in Volkspark. Cocktail guru and Berlin legend, Mike Meinke has devised a concept and menu that delivers cocktail dreams to discerning drinkers with various nods to Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. Staff wear full face paint and fairytale costumes, the mirror in the toilet turns your eyes square, "Drink Me" potions tempt you in, and the stunning menu card comes in an old pop-up fairytale book, from which its contents will literally jump out and surprise you. Not just the best bar in Berlin, but also one of the best bars we have ever been to. Non smoking too.
Best Bars Berlin
Prinzipal Kreuzberg / Photo: prinzipal-kreuzberg.com
Opened in February 2014 and hidden behind black curtains next to a florists on Oranienstraße in the cool Kreuzberg district, this real 1920s tiny speakeasy and Burlesque show bar is accessed by pressing a door bell. Behind the long bar, you'll find suited-up or corseted bar staff mixing excellent cocktails - the short menu contains drinks named after famous Burlesque dancers. The show starts at 11pm on Thursdays.
Best Bars Berlin
Fragrances / Photo: Ritz Carlton Berlin
If the 5 star Ritz-Carlton Hotel's main Curtain Club bar (see below) is not enough to amaze cocktail connoisseurs, the brand new concept bar in the back room, takes it to another level. Opened in June 2014, it is the first bar in the world dedicated to the art of cocktails in combination with the world of perfume. Hand-picked fragrances from Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Guerlain are the inspiration for the unique drinks created by legendary bar manager Arnd Heissen. Follow your senses and be enchanted with the outstanding drinks which are based on the exclusive aromas together with your personal memories and presented in stunning artistic fashion. There's also a Perfume Cocktail Tasting package available for groups of 7 or more. Non-smoking.
Best Bars Berlin
Le Croco Bleu Berlin
CLOSED UNTIL DECEMBER 2017 DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
Best Bars Berlin
THE ROOFTOP TERRACE
Opened in May 2015, the terrace bar on the 4th floor of the plush Hotel de Rome simply offers the best views in Berlin, together with some fantastic drinks. The State Opera House on Unter den Linden, St. Hedwigs Cathedral, Berlin Cathedral, the Television Tower and other city landmarks all appear to be in touching distance. Open daily in the spring and summer from 12:00 to 22:00, weather permitting. The hotel's ground floor bar, La Banca, is also celebrated for offering some of the best drinks in town and can be visited all year round, serving up amazing cocktails in the plush surroundings of the former Dresdner Bank headquarters.
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Best Bars Berlin
This amazing 1930s inspired cocktail bar and Michelin-star restaurant is located in the former Jüdische Mädchenschule (Jewish Girls' School) in Mitte, which dates back to 1928 and was taken over by the Nazis in 1930. The large courtyard at the back was used for deportations until 1941 but now offers a delightful place to sip cocktails in the summer. From the same team behind King Size Bar, the drinks are fantastic and the decor is absolutely stunning, transporting you back to a more happier pre-Nazi time Berlin, with its brown leathers, green walls and high ceilings.
Best Bars Berlin
100 years old in the summer of 2013, this amazing club offers the chance to experience Berlin nightlife of a different era. Expect to see people aged from 18 to 81 hitting the two ballroom dancefloors to quick step, waltz or foxtrot to the sound of live music. Split over two floors, the larger dance hall on the ground floor boasts a big disco ball and is surrounded by wooden tables whilst upstairs is a breath-taking 1920s hall with chandeliers, cracked mirrors and high ceilings. Truely historic Berlin.
Best Bars Berlin
Typifying Berlin better than most, this unpretentious project opened in summer 2013, mixing the idea of a bar, live music venue, restaurant and a community garden all on top of the Neukölln Arcaden multi-storey car park, which also happens to offer a great view of Berlin. There's a coffee bar which becomes a cocktail bar at weekends for the adults, alongside sand pits and paddling pools for children, plus sun decking and even Christmas markets. You can expect to queue in the car park as it does get busy, especially on warm summer nights and there's a small entrance fee after 18:00.
Best Bars Berlin
One of the most celebrated cocktail bars in Berlin, this popular Kreuzberg speakeasy-style kneipe is accessed by having to knock three times on the black door, smiling and then hoping they'll invite you in. Opened by the magnificently-bearded Atalay Aktas and Yalcin Celik in 2012, the amazing cocktails with their incredible presentation helped win the award for 'Germany's Best Mixologist' in 2013, amongst many other top prizes. The three rooms are elegant yet still Berlin trashy and there’s no menu – drinks are based on whatever is best at the market, located opposite, that day.
Best Bars Berlin
Named after a famous 1970s Swiss TV and radio presenter, this beautiful cozy bar in Kreuzberg boasts authentic 1970s wallpaper and furnishings, with a fantastic liquor collection. The cocktails are good and the emphasis on whisky and gin is almost as impressive as the music soundtrack of 1950s, 60s, 70s soul, funk and jazz, which is provided by DJs spinning vinyl LPs on the old 2x6 watt mono record player in the corner.
CLICK HERE FOR BEST BUDGET HOTELS IN BERLIN
Best Bars Berlin
The Curtain Club
THE CURTAIN CLUB
Without doubt, the first stop for cocktail connoisseurs in Berlin should be the elegant bar of the 5 star Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Postdamer Platz. The interior design resembles the style of a 1920s English Gentlemen's Club with its leather seats, working fireplace and, as you guessed, large curtains. On the stroke of 18:00 every day, the curtains open in a ceremony conducted by a British Beefeater, which seems to attract a crowd. There's live jazz music and a relaxed ambiance but its the creative cocktails, made by celebrity bar man Arnd Heissen and his excellent international team of staff, that will have you coming back for more. Once here, you should also check out the new Fragrances bar (see above) in the back room.
Best Bars Berlin
Gambrinus Trifft Bacchus
GAMBRINUS TRIFFT BACCHUS
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Berlin in the 1920s in the basement of this very friendly pub and restaurant on the historic Oranienburgerstrasse, where, since 1896, locals and tourists have been meeting to enjoy the locally brewed beers and traditional Berliner cuisine. The imposing beer counter with its impressive back wall cabinet and old cash register is worthy of note and, watching the entrance, you half expect Franz Biberkopf from Alfred Döblin’s legendary novel “Berlin Alexanderplatz”, to walk in and order his favourite “Molle mit Korn” [beer with clear spirit].
Best Bars Berlin
This sky bar, cocktail lounge, restaurant and club is located on the 16th and 17th floors of a nondescript office block near Checkpoint Charlie, offering some of the best 360° views of the city. More formal than many Berlin bars and slightly more expensive, it's still well worth visiting, especially to sit on a swinging chair and watch the sunset in the early evening with an innovative cocktail. It's made even cooler by the fact it is so hard to find - through a black door in a run down office block behind the Novotel and Pit-Stop motor mechanics. The glass elevator to the 16th floor, adds to the experience.
Best Bars Berlin
Recognised as one of the best cocktail bars in the world, this very hidden speakeasy is so exclusive it only has capacity for 14 customers. Hidden behind a secret door on Brunnenstrasse, opposite Weinbergspark in Mitte, it is celebrated for its fine cocktails and cosy atmosphere. Named after former U.S. president James Buchanan and his vice-president, John Breckinridge, it is dimly lit with all 14 guests sat around the long black bar, which is manned by one bartender.
Best Bars Berlin
Open only from May - September, this floating swimming pool and open-air beach bar in the middle of the Spree is one of Berlin's most vibrant hang-outs. One of the coolest places in town, it offers a great view of the city and is the perfect place to enjoy a cold beer or summer cocktails. The swimming pool also remains open in winter when it is covered with three impressive looking pods, the sunbathing decks making way for two Finnish saunas.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN BERLIN
Best Bars Berlin
A Berlin institution since 1902, this authentic Grade II listed Old Berlin wirtshaus (inn), named after Wilhelm Busch's 1865 children's book, is one of the busiest bars and restaurants in Kreuzberg. The tardis like interior boasts many finely painted blue-green wall tiles, stained glass windows, and many Art Nouveau details transporting you back 100 years. A back room houses live music and cabaret, giving you a real feeling of the pre-Nazi Berlin described in Christopher Isherwood's famous novels which inspired the Broadway musical, Cabaret, as well as Breakfast At Tiffany's. Upstairs is a library and a private dining room whilst the fayre is traditional German. A particular specialty of the house is the "Kreuzberg Molle," a naturally cloudy beer, which is brewed specifically for the bar, as well as the Westphalia import, Barre Brau Pilsener, unique in Berlin.
Best Bars Berlin
Lost In Grub Street
LOST IN GRUB STREET
Opened in 2015 and located in the government quarter next to the imposing Auswärtiges Amt (Foreign Ministry) building, this delightful bar from Oliver and Cristina Ebert, the celebrated mixologists behind Becketts Kopf (below), takes you on a journey back in time. Press the doorbell and enter the dark L-shaped room for a friendly no-smoking bar inspired by the infamous 1800's London street, which was home to brothels, cheap coffeehouses and punch bars. Expect large bowls of punch made using locally distilled liquor, a short cocktail list, German destillates and Berlin ales. A good enough reason to head to this area of town for late night drinks.
Best Bars Berlin
Hidden in the basement of this popular artist's hang out in Wedding is an original 1950's two-lane Kegeln (German ninepin bowling alley), which varies slightly from the more familiar version, in that the balls are smaller and have no finger holes, whilst the lanes are narrower and funnelled. Away from this antique attraction, the venue itself offers regular art exhibitions, weekly live music events and DJ sets.
Best Bars Berlin
On the first floor of Cafe Einstein in the more upmarket West Berlin area of Schöneberg, you'll find the multi-award winning bar in which Quentin Tarantino filmed "Inglorious Basterds“. This oak-paneled high-class cocktail bar, with its subtly lit drink cabinets and comfy chairs, boasts over 600 kinds of rum (supposedly the largest open collection in Europe), 450 whiskies, 200 kinds of gin and many other quality liquors, all available by the glass with flights representing each also available. Paying homage to the roaring Twenties, when the place was an illegal gambling casino for Berlin's haute-volée, it's simply one of the best bars in Europe. Smokers are welcome and there's an outside terrace in the summer.
Best Bars Berlin
This hidden away speakeasy in Prenzlauer Berg is accessed by pressing the buzzer on a door to a building which is only highlighted by the photograph of Irish novelist Samuel Beckett in the window. Reservations are recommended as the two tiny rooms are strictly no standing. The bar area itself is small but inviting and the non-smoking room in the back is decorated with elegant Chesterfield sofas. The cocktail menu is the highlight, small but impressive, whilst the ice is actually hand cut.
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Best Clubs Berlin
BERGHAIN & PANORAMA BAR
Probably the most famous nightclub in the world, this 1500 capacity techno heaven is located in an abandoned power plant on the edge of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain (its name is a composite of the two). As famed for it's 'almost impossible to get in' door policy, stern bouncers and non-stop parties which last from Friday night until well into Monday morning, this really is the place to go if, like most Berliners, very loud techno music is your thing. The main dance floor is a gigantic cavenous industrial room but for those who prefer more relaxed house music, head up the stairs to Panorama Bar with its huge windows and views of East Berlin. Strictly no cameras or VIP access, don't be surprised to see people getting rather intimate with each other in the darker areas of the club, which are reserved for such hedonism. But be warned though, it's not unknown to queue for three hours and still be turned away for no apparent reason, so get their early (it normally gets busy after 4am), don't turn up in groups, do not dress to impress and keep your phone firmly in your pocket, be yourself but try not to be seen having fun in the queue and it also helps if you talk fluent German and have an actual interest in the DJ that is playing. And, if after all that, you still don't get in, expect to queue again for taxis with fellow rejects.
Best Clubs Berlin
"Kitty" has been a Berlin institution since it was opened by two Austrian pornographic film makers in 1994 and is possibly the most famous sex club in the world. Named after the infamous venue in the Broadway musical, Cabaret, which was inspired by Christopher Insherwood's Berlin diaries, it is not for the prudish. Best described as a fetish and electronic music nightclub, it allows clubbers to engage in sexual intercourse openly on the three dancefloors and the outdoor swimming pool area. Open Friday, Saturday and Sundays and popular with hetrosexual, gay and transgender clubbers, a strict dress code requires guests to dress kinky in fetish, latex, leather, transvestite, goth, uniform, extravagant, high style or glamourous costumes. Unlike other Berlin clubs, the bouncers are friendly but expect to leave your clothes in the cloakroom if you don't look the part.
Best Bars Berlin
If it's old school German you are looking for, then this wine bar is the place to go. The dark wood decor is filled with hundreds of German and Austrian wines, many available to drink by the glass, whilst there is an impressive traditional German food menu to help soak up that booze.
Best Bars Berlin
The oldest cocktail bar in Berlin and largely unchanged from when it opened in 1976, the "Institut für Fortgeschrittenes Trinken" (Institue for Advanced Drinking) is accessed by pressing a buzzer on the door. This tiny venue in West Berlin from eccentric bartender Gregor Scholl (previously of the legendary Paris Bar Berlin), only has room for around 30 people. Liquor cabinets grace the walls and the cocktails are fantastic, served in vintage glasses and made bespoke to suit your preferences by bartenders in waistcoats and bow ties. As you would expect, the drinks are largely rum based however there's also a decent gin collection.
Best Bars Berlin
Opened in May 2014, this craft ale bar in Kreuzberg, which translates as "Hoppy", offers 14 beers on tap alongside 30 or so bottles, including local brews like Potsdamer Stange, Heidenpeters, Spent Collective, Rollberg and Hops & Barley as well as international craft beers. There's popular weekly tasting sessions and a small selection of Berlin made gins, vodkas and kräuterlikörs.
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Best Bars Berlin
When the guys from the neighbouring Amano Hotel (see below) announced they were going to open a speakeasy in late 2013, you just knew it would be the best in town and a lot more upmarket than most of the bars in this hip part of town. Hidden underneath a mural of Albert Einstein on Rosenthaler Straße in Mitte, just across the street from the hotel, you'll need to press the doorbell and impress the doorstaff to get in, where you'll find a stylish cocktail lounge with a tiny dance floor. Going against Berlin's electronic and trance addiction, they opt for wonderful funk, soul and hip hop alongside live modern jazz and soul bands. The menu is seasonal, using fresh ingredients, premium spirits and infusions that contatin handmade syrups and jams, with servings in beautiful glassware and even teapots.
Best Bars Berlin
Located in the run down shabby 1970s concrete pref-fab above Kaiser's supermarket opposite Kotbusser Tor station, you will be very surprised to find this stylish cocktail bar, which opened in 2014 - especially if you are familiar with the other three bars in the same venue. Look for the door which is covered in stickers, to the right of the supermarket and to the left of the kebab shop (there's a tiny "Fahimi" sign if you can spot it). Then take the scary-looking graffitied stairs up to the first floor. Eclectic DJs play each night and there's a Berlin quiz on Sundays. If you're more into Berlin's alternative scene, head up one more flight of the scary stairs to find the grungy West Germany club, a great no-frills indie music venue and gallery set in the ruined shell of a former dental surgery. The same ugly concrete block also houses two more secret hipster/student friendly cheap venues, the kitsch Paloma electro bar (top of the stairs, turn left to the nondescript metal door) and the larger Monarch bar, which also boasts live music and danceable tunes (behind the sticker-covered door under the 'Turkische Gemeinde zu Berlin' sign, and up to the first floor).
Best Bars Europe
Jigger, Beaker & Glass
JIGGER, BEAKER & GLASS
This celebrated cocktail bar named after Charles H. Baker Jr.'s 1930s travelogue of Prohibition bars opened during June 2015 in the trendy Friedrichshain area of East Berlin by English barman Tony Galea (formerly of the now closed Antlered Bunny) and Frenchman Yannick Marty (from Stagger Lee). As you'd expect from the two top mixologists, the drinks are some of the best in Berlin made with unusual ingredients like bacon gin, chestnut liquor and torched cheddar. The speakeasy venue is dark, intimate and non-smoking.
Best Bars Berlin
Zukunft Am Ostkreuz
ZUKUNFT AM OSTKREUZ
This arty "ranch" is another great example of Berlin's alternative scene. Located next to Ostkreuz station, and with plenty of GDR relics, there is a cinema bar, a theatre, art gallery, jazz bar, heavy metal venue, and of course, the microbrewery which serves unfiltered, cloudy light beer in what is perhaps the prettiest beer garden in Berlin. Underneath the trees, you can relax on a deckchair and enjoy the open air cinema whilst drinking the homebrews in the sun.
Best Bars Berlin
Neue Odessa Bar
This popular hipster bar on Torstrasse in Mitte is designed like a 1920s speakeasy and identified only by a canopy of lightbulbs above the door. The cocktails are some of the best in Berlin whilst the beautiful unisex toilets are also a talking point.
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Best Bars Berlin
Opened in February 2014, on the the top floor of the new hip 25 Hours Hotel Berlin in the listed Bikini-Haus building, this trendy cocktail bar serves great cocktails with a fantastic panoramic view and perfect 360° rooftop terrace, offering first-class views of the city and the famous Tiergarten park and Berlin Zoo with its monkey enclosure, from which the bar takes its name. An international choice of drinks and fine wine alongside regular DJ line ups and live music events make it one of the hottest places in town. A direct express lift takes you up from street level.
Best Bars Berlin
Berlin has always had hidden secret bars, long before the Prohibition themed speakeasys started to spring up all across Europe. This swanky cocktail bar and nightclub is one of the originals however, with DJs and live bands that appeal to a very mixed glamorous crowd of all ages - locals, tourists, gays, hipsters and business types alike. To enter it, you'll need to find the bare iron door in the railway viaduct underneath Friedrichstrasse station (it's on the North side of the Spree). Ring the door bell and a very choosy bouncer will decide if you're worthy enough to gain admission to the narrow arch venue. Inside it's all very futuristic with a beautiful huge 'O' shaped light display and large mirrors.
Best Clubs Berlin
Salon Zur Wilden Renate
SALON ZUR WILDEN RENATE
Located in a converted Friedrichshain apartment block close to Treptower Park and spread over many apartments with three main dance floors, this wild underground techno and house nightclub boasts theatrical nights, a large summer courtyard and even a labyrinth. It represents underground Berlin better than most with its kitsch decor and popular themed party nights with most clubbers getting dressed up for the occasion whether it be a circus night, Alice In Wonderland or Transvestite party. Like all Berlin clubs, go there expecting to queue and then be turned away by unfriendly bouncers for no apparent reason.
Best Bars Berlin
This historic brewery, bar and gardens on Kastanienallee in Prenzlauer Berg dates back to 1837 making it Berlin's oldest beer garden. Also used as a theatre and entertainment space since its creation, it was taken over by the Soviets following WWII and, after the collapse of The Wall, was given government-protected status for its historic contribution to the city, with the council renovating and redesigning it as late as 1996 to become the popular place it is now. Its 600 capacity is often tested to the limit in summer with the chestnut trees offering protection from the heat of the sun. The beautiful old bar and restaurant on site serves homemade Berlin cuisine all year round to complement the homebrew Prater Pils and Prater Lager Schwarz. The beer garden outside is open from April - September and if you're wondering what the bright red or green drinks are that you'll see people drinking through a straw, it is "Berliner Weisse mit Schuss" wheat beer with Waldmeister (woodruff) or Himbeere (raspberry) syrup added to make it sweeter.
Best Bars Berlin
Down in a basement in the hip area of Kreuzberg you will find this very popular upside down bar. Located in a former brothel, it hosts live music and open mic concerts, DJs and music quiz nights every night from 19:00 till late. Very much in need of a paint job and structural repairs, it's a friendly drinking den that sums up Kreuzberg better than most, with the furniture hanging upside down from the ceiling adding a quirky surreal touch, alongside ping pong and table football.
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Best Clubs Berlin
One of the world's most historic clubs, this legendary trance and techno mecca opened on Leipziger Straße in 1991, with young people from both sides of the recently reunited city dancing to hard industrial music, surrounded on all sides by hundreds of old, walled deposit boxes. Most of the world's best known DJs have performed there however it is the influence of Detroit’s musical groundbreakers which grounded the famous and enduring "Tresor sound" that has since influenced the likes of Berghain and other clubs in Berlin. The club finally closed in 2005, eventually resurfacing two years later in an abandoned heating plant on Köpenicker Straße in the heart of Berlin Mitte. Concrete passages maze into basement vaults and industrial halls. Within this factory labyrinth there are three separate but connected floors, one offering house music, another experimental electronic music and, of course, the vault which carries the famous "Tresor sound".
Best Bars Berlin
Named after the influential Serge Gainsbourg 1971 concept album, "Histoire de Melody Nelson", this cool cocktail bar just off Torstrasse was once a former East German bar for Stasi members and whilst it has changed significantly with its dim lighting, concrete walls and great cocktails, you still get the sense that you're being spied on with a large picture of "Melody Nelson", Gainsbourg's sexy English actress girlfriend Jane Birkin, watching over.
Best Bars Berlin
BRAUHAUS LEMKE AM SCHLOSS CHARLOTTENBURG
Berlin's oldest craft brewery has been making beer on its site next to Charlottenburg Palace since 1987. A summer terrace overlooks the famous landmark whlst inside, long wooden tables, decorative columns, beautiful old wall paneling and the visible brewing process creates a wonderful traditional place to drink. Fresh, seasonal specialities such as Maibock, Stout, a range of ales, Fest Bock and the popular Lemke Original and Lemke Pilsner make up the beer offerings with traditional German food available to help soak up the booze. There's the option to take a beer flight of four different varities and brewery tours are also available. If you want to try their ale without travelling to Charlottenburg, then head to their more centrally located second venue which is housed in a protected railway arch at Hackescher Markt in Mitte.
Best Bars Berlin
Named after the notorious 1920's cabaret dancer and actress who was was the subject of an Otto Dix painting. Having moved to Berlin, aged just 16, her performances broke boundaries with their sexual ambiguity and total nudity, but it was her public appearances that really challenged taboos. Her overt drug and alcohol addiction and bisexuality were matters of public chatter. As well as her addiction to cocaine, opium and morphine, she also mixed chloroform in a bowl, stirring it with a white rose then eating the petals. It's no surprise that she died aged just 29 from an overdose, having already gone through three marriages and various lesbian lovers. Fast forward to September 2013, and hidden on the second floor of an inconspicuous building, accessed by having to walk through several backyards near Wedding station, you'll (eventually) find this beautiful loft styled bar named in her honour. She'd probably approve of its decadent weekend parties, which include DJs, late night dancing and of course, burlesque girls.
Best Clubs Berlin
Located in a 150 year old mansion in the heart of Kreuzberg, this hipster-popular night club radiates the atmosphere of the 19th century with vintage decorations, including a piano, comfy sofas and an antique bar, set over three floors (although the toilets are to be avoided). Open 7 days a week, there's a stunning romantic garden with a pond and its own outdoor bar. Owned by the same people behind the legendary but defunkt Bar 25, the DJ line-ups include big names from the world of Trance. As with all Berlin clubs, the bouncers can be particularly unfriendly - especially towards tourists - with no explainable door policy. With the popular Club de Visionaere late night club and cool White Trash Fast Food rock club and tattoo parlour both next door, you can easily try your luck there instead if you're on the wrong end of a typical Berlin welcome.
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Best Bars Berlin
This very popular cocktail bar just off Oranienstrasse in the Kreuzberg district of East Berlin seems to attract people of all ages. Named after the German title for Luis Buñuel’s 1962 Mexican film "El Angel Exterminador", in which the guests at an upper-class dinner party are inexplicably unable to leave and resort to living like animals. The red walls, leather booths and smartly dressed bar staff reflect the film's sophisticated Old World feel. There's a great selection of liquors and also a non-smoking room in the back.
Best Bars Berlin
This dark, tiny, living room bar from barman Ricardo Albrecht is accessed via a residential door bell just off Prenzlauer Allee and offers some of the finest cocktails in Berlin. With over 100 bourbons and ryes and 50 gins, plus some rare liquors not available elsewhere in the city, you are unlikely to leave the comfy leather chairs in a hurry, once you've sat down. If you're in the area before 20:00 (when the bar opens), we also recommend poppng two blocks down to Immanuelkirchstrasse, where you will find the Dr. Kochan Schapskultur shop, a haven of artisanal spirits and family-owned liquors, gins, cognacs, grappas, whiskies and rums from around the world, all available to sample in store.
Best Bars Berlin
This 1920's style American-style speakeasy from International award-winning barman, David Wiedemann, sits in a residential street in Mitte, offering classic cocktails dating way back to the 18th Century, alongside the current trends from London and New York. To enter, you'll need to ring the door bell on the massive steel door, and once inside you'll be taken aback by the dark but beautiful long bar with its period furnishings, complete with staff wearing 1920s attire. Sadly, the music doesn't always represent the era however it is still excellent, with Motown, swing and soul tracks adding to the ambience. Smoking is still allowed so it can get uncomfortable after a while but the team behind the bar certainly know how to mix drinks - they also run the respected Barschule Berlin (Berlin Bar School). A huge mural of Klaus and Erika Mann, the eldest children of legendary anti-Nazi novelist Thomas Mann sits at the end of the long room. In 1933, whilst travelling in France, Mann heard from his son and daughter that it wasn't safe for him to return to Germany, so he fled to safety in Switzerland. From June 2015, you will find a secret backroom, hidden behind this giant painting and accessed by a code, that if you're lucky to have, will enable you to dance the night away on the other side.
Best Bars Berlin
From 20:00 each day, this mega popular winebar from the owners of the Weinerei wine shop, just around the corner, operates a unique "pay what you want" policy. It seems to attract drinkers of all ages and backgrounds, tourists and locals alike. After paying a small cover charge for your glass, you can then sample as much of the selected seasonal wines as you like in the context of a dynamic wine tasting, choosing to pay what you feel it was worth afterwards. There is also a buffet included. During the day, the venue doubles up as a cafe too.
Best Bars Berlin
This stunning brewery and restaurant can be found on the banks of the River Spree in the historic Nikolaiviertel quarter. Eight individually designed rooms give you a typical Berlin atmosphere and the home brew ales can be enjoyed in traditional German steins under the beautiful oak tree in the beer garden or on the busy terrace alongside the river, overlooking Museuminsel.
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Best Berlin Bars
One of the remits when compiling our list of best bars in Berlin, is that each bar should be unique, representing the city in a way that you will not find its type in any other European town. So, you are probably wondering how a British-style sports pub in Wedding makes it onto our shortlist? Well, away from the Bundesliga football screenings, check out the decor in this amazing place and you'll see a Berlin twist; furniture, typewriters, birdcages and railway tracks hanging from the ceiling. Alongside Guinness, Kilkenny, many English ciders, Veltins and Maisel's, the beer list is heavy with local breweries, including Berliner Pilsner and Eschenbräu on draft, plus bottles from Bierfabrik Berlin, Berliner Weisse, Wedding Pale Ale, Rotbier Berliner, Heimat, Schabrackentabier, and Neuzeller Klosterbräu. But it is the whisky collection that is the main attraction here. There's almost 750 varieties to choose from, largely Scottish, with regular tasting sessions and distillery showcases.
Best Bars Berlin - Panke
This typical Berlin alternative bar in Wedding supports edgy creativity that happens away from mainstream culture, basically anything that needs more exposure than it currently receives. Housing a vegan/vegeterian café and run by a collective of creative people and registered as a non-profit members organisation, it covers everything from live music and DJs to artists, poets and art house cinema.
Best Bars Berlin
Bare walls, vintage furniture and uncovered floors maybe typical of many a Berlin bar, however this nice hangout in Neukölln seems to do it better than most. Doubling up as a cafe bar during the day, there is large open space, the furniture is spread out sparsely over the different rooms, an LP player provides the soul music and there's often live music. As for the drinks, there's the local Potsdamer organic beer, a good wine selection and exquisite cocktails, which can also be enjoyed outside too in the summer.
Best Bars Berlin
Owned by playwright Fritz Müller-Scherz, this hidden away cocktail bar in Schöneberg, boasts a kitsch 1970s interior and an impressively long cocktail list including the signature "Green Door", a mix of Champagne, lemon, sugar, and mint. A speakeasy given away by the big green neon sign outside, access is by gained by pressing the door bell.
Best Bars Berlin
THE BAR MARQUÉS
This vintage bar, hidden in a candle lit basement underneath the Restaurant Marqués tapas restaurant in Kreuzberg offers some of the best cocktails in Berlin, invented using their huge premium spirits collection and homemade syrups and served in stunning crystal glasses. To enter, look for the red neon "The Bar" sign inside the restaurant and a friendly waiter will take you downstairs past a wall of bottles. Reminiscent of the British colonial period, it boasts a low ceiling, a piano and a real fireplace that is actually used in winter. Comfy velvet chairs, green walls, antique furniture and lots of paintings add to the ambience. Although the feel is more 1900s London than modern day Berlin, this is still a bar worth checking out.
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Best Bars Berlin
Split into two rooms, this attractive art deco speakeasy in Schöneberg is accessed by actually using an old door knocker. Waistcoated barmen make some great cocktails, using homemade ingredients and you can choose to drink in two rooms littered with plush Chesterfield sofas and vintage lights whilst oil paintings hang on the bare brick walls. In the summer months, it has less of a speakeasy feel, with outside seating also available.
Best Bars Berlin
This lively cocktail bar on the ground floor of the plush Hotel Amano in Mitte, boasts some of the best cocktails in East Berlin. The classy bar decor and its dark lighting create a club-like ambience with the long L-shaped marble bar the highlight. DJs spin funk and house at weekends with a stylish more upmarket crowd adding a different feel to the hipsters which are normally everywhere in this part of town. In summer, the bar's rooftop expansion offers great scenery.
Best Bars Berlin
Bar Am Lutzowplatz
BAR AM LUTZOWPLATZ
Located in the basement of a shopping centre, this classy cocktail lounge takes you aback with its huge wooden interior, which is famed for housng the longest bar in Berlin. There's live music almost every night, covering everything from psychedelic, progressive and folk to soul, funk and jazz, whilst alongside the modern and classic cocktails there's over 150 kinds of Champagne and 65 whiskies to choose from.
Best Bars Berlin
Excellent low-key and very popular 1920's art deco style cocktail bar in the Schöneberg area of West Berlin that could easily be a set from Mad Men. In keeping with the feel, the menu comes as a book whilst period jazz and soul provides the soundtrack. Take advantage of Happy Hour each day (18:30 - 21:30 or all night Sunday) to enjoy cheap cocktails.
Best Bars Berlin
This hipster haven in Neukölln is smoky, dark and normally packed. Behind the huge window, the long bar encourages interaction between drinkers and the cocktails are well made, earning it a reputation well beyond its neighbourhood. Popular with expats and locals alike, it's slightly more expensive than some of the other bars which make Weserstraße such a cool place to hang out, but the drinks are worth it, the liquor collection great and, for us, anywhere that plays David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash is worth visiting.
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Best Gay Bars Berlin
Run by celebrity drag queen Lena Braun, this kitsch gay bar and eccentric queer art space in Kreuzberg is home to the more bourgeois members of Berlin’s cross-dressing community. The performances are often outrageous and there's even an in-house hairdresser. The decor is 1970's shabby and very pink with a mixed LGBT crowd rubbing shoulders with straight tourists, local students and a fair share of drag queens.
Best Bars Berlin
Named after the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds song, this tiny Americana themed 19th Century saloon in the upmarket area of Schöneberg is well worth checking out for some great cocktails and its party style atmosphere. The drinks list is heavy with American whiskies and tequila whilst an old piano and the most old-fashioned, ornate cash till in Berlin act as beautiful props. It can get quite smoky.
Best Clubs Berlin
The former Schultheißbrauerei on Schönhauser Allee is now home to the Kulturbrauerei (Culture Brewery), a complex of theatres, bars, clubs and live music venues. Whilst sadly there is no longer a brewery on site, it remains one of the few well-preserved examples of 1840's industrial architecture in Berlin and is home to this beautiful industrial design bar, restaurant and discoteque, which is dominated by the old architecture of the brewery. Red brick walls, large windows and a terrace overlook the Kulturbrauerei courtyard from the lobby bar whilst the nightclub, popular with a young good-looking crowd, is one of the biggest in Berlin with five floors and a capacity of 1,500. It is known for its variety of music and dance floors, covering R'n'B, dance classics, latest disco, house, salsa and merengue rhythms. Kulturbrauerei is also the perfect place to visit for New Year's Eve or during interntational football tournaments, where a large screen dominates the courtyard just outside Soda.
Best Clubs Berlin
The old Willner Brauerei Berlin in Pankow is an industrial monument which dates back to 1883, exuding charm for its brick buildings which were left empty from the brewery's closure in 1999 until 2012 when it became an arts space, live music venue, open air cinema, flea market and beer garden. The flourishing GDR era beer garden has been revived as "Emil's Biergarten", one of the coolest places to spend sunny afternoons from April until October and tours of the historic building are offered in the summer months. A pizzeria has been opened on the ground floor of the former customs house and the ImproKDR (Klub der Republik) nightclub has also relocated here offering electro club nights.
Best Clubs Berlin
Mixing the concept of a bar and a club, this secretive venue is decorated with vintage pieces in a concrete Cold War bunker style environment. Live music and DJs spinning deep house, soul and more are complemented by good cocktails and drinks served only in bottles, beer wrapped in paper bags and spirits delivered in carafes. To find it, look for the unmarked steel door and two large windows alongside Hackescher Markt station and enter to the large red cross that states you are now "Closer to God in Heels". Open Thursday - Sunday from 22:00 until 05:00
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