Bars & cafes – All our local tips

In the past year, A-Trane became my favourite destination when it came down to enjoying high class jazz. Together with the B-Flat (see the B-Flat article), it is certainly one of the most important jazz clubs in Berlin, although it is way smaller than the B-Flat. But that gives it a much more laid-back and cosier atmosphere. And you can feel that during the concerts.

It was on Monday evenings that I got drawn here more often when local pianist Andreas Schmidt plays (for free!) with friends from around the world. I became obsessed with the weekly varying beauty of the relaxed sounds that Schmidt and his friends create.

Of course, A-Trane has got more to offer than this: concerts of top-class musicians and, last but not least, the “Jam Late Night Session” which is free and takes place during the night from Saturday to Sunday from 0:30. For the programme check the A-trane website.

Concert admission depends on who’s playing. Should be between 5 and 20 Euros.

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A-Trane | Bars, Music | Beer 0.5 l € 4.00
Bleibtreustr. 1 | Charlottenburg | +49303132550
Sun – Thu 21:00 – 02:00, Fri & Sat 21:00 – open end

Throughout its life  (opened in 1873) the Admiralspalast theatre has had an idiosyncratic history. During the 1920’s and 30’s it was a pleasure palace of sorts, hosting in it’s parameters a bath house, restaurant, a speak easy, the worlds first indoor ice skating revue show, as well as the grandiose Art Deco theatre which houses up to 1700 people at a time.

At one point it even housed a DDR “Press Café” at the front of the building where  subversive bohemians would meet.  After years of closure the Admiralspalast was recently revamped and reopened in August 2006.

There are various types of productions staged here, from My Fair Lady to Brechts 3-Penny Opera, to live performances from De La Soul.

My favourite event is their regular quarterly swing dance/music party,  hosted in the main theatre and themed differently each time yet always dedicated solely to swing music, high fashion and old school sophistication. Recently headling the part was an exclusive Berlin performance by sibling trio ‘Kitty, Daisy and Lewis’.

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Admiralspalast | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Theaters | Ticket +/- € 22.00
Friedrichstrasse 101 | Mitte | +493032533144
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 19:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Aufsturz means more than 100 sorts of beer and a big choice of food. The place is always full of people trying to test every beer once. But the choice is difficult: Banana beer or smoked beer (Rauchbier)? German beer or Mexican beer? Don’t worry: The waiters are patient and helpful.

The interior of the Restaurant/Pub is simple but comfortable. Since 1994 the Aufsturz has exhibitions of sculptures, paintings, photography, installations and collages. There is also a club area where they present concerts (Pop, Rock, Jazz), performances, workshops and other events weekly.

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Aufsturz | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (International) | Beer € 2.00
Oranienburger Straße 67 | Mitte | +493028047409
12:00 – 02:00 daily

If took a wrong turn and made it to Berlin instead of Nashville and your heart yearns to hear a bit of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynne then make your way to Bassy Cowboy Club in Mitte,This is by no means fancy dress up club, where you are expected to waltz in with a Stetson and cowboy boots, though some do. However a certain level of effort and style is expected and will ensure easier entry. Turn up with trainers, sweatshirt and fanny pack and you are guaranteed a date with the sidewalk.Once you get past the style police at the door, you can listen to live country and blues bands from Berlin and abroad, as well DJ’s guiding you into the early hours. Fear not, Bassy’s musical catalogue is not just limited to Country music but a host of other genres are also played here from 50’s surf tunes, garage, rockabilly and Rock n’ Roll. They sometimes host performances from a range of local and national Burlesque acts like Tallulah Freeway and The Teaserettes. Bassy is in a prime location just off on the Schönhauserallee (Torstrasse side) underneath the Pfefferberg cultural complex, so you can also enjoy the delights of their beer garden in the summer months and then venture down to Bassy for a for a drink and dance.

It’s free entry if you come before 23:00, and if you don’t feel like dancing there is always the kicker table to play with till the wee hours of the morning.

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Bassy Cowboy Club | Bars, Music | Entry from € 5.00
Schönhauser allee 176a | Mitte
22:00 – late daily

“For me Berliner backyards are like surprises. You never know what’s waiting for you behind the gate.”

On one hand the way apartment buildings were built during the so called “Gründerzeit” (time around 1870-1914) produced the typical apartment blocks in Berlin, now known as “Altbauten” (old buildings) or “Mietskasernen” (tenements). On the other hand it gave Berlin those backyards everywhere.

In a particular area called “Scheunenviertel” (Barn Quarter) you can find a couple of very interesting “Hinterhöfe” where life seems to be hidden. Enjoy theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums, shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and other surprises there!

Except for “Hackesche Höfe“, now a tourist magnet and the most prominent complex of backyards, tourists and even Berliners don’t visit them. That is very unfortunate. And you will understand that if you go out to discover the following backyards:
– Backyard of Haus Schwarzenberg (see the Haus Schwarzenberg article)
- Heckmannhöfe (see the Heckmanhoefe article)
- Hackesche Höfe: a complex of 8 backyards
Rosenthaler Straße 40/41 & Sophienstraße 6
- Kunsthof, contains very nice hospitality and quality galleries
Oranienburger Strasse 27
- Sophie-Gips-Höfe, contains the Hoffmann Collection (see the Hoffmann collection article) Sophienstraße 21
- Rosenhöfe, Rosenthaler Strasse 36
- Panasia/Gallerie Cicero, Rosenthaler Strasse 38

Also, I’d like to encourage you to keep your eyes open for many other backyards in this area and not to be shy to enter them. With a bit of luck you can find real jewels of cultural & night life in them!

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Berliner backyards | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Theaters, Restaurants
Different locations | Mitte
Various opening times

I dropped by Bflat, for the first time, by coincidence on a lazy Wednesday evening. I set down in a corner and leaned on one of the big windows. While I was happily entertained by a Hefeweizen (in case you don’t know, make sure you will get to know this special German beer), I started wondering whether the piano and saxophone players were improvising or not. It was pretty good jazz. The answer came two minutes later when somebody from the audience asked the piano player for his seat and got it.

I go back to Bflat every now and then, on Wednesdays, when they have their free entrance jam sessions, starting with 9pm. Bflat is close to Hackescher Markt, has a mixed public and great acoustics.

Tip: They charge around 10 Euro for concerts during other evenings.

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Bflat Jazzclub | Bars, Relaxing | Beck’s € 2.60
Rosenthaler Strasse 13 | Mitte | +493028386835
Almost daily from 21:00

Once in Buchkantine, a café just a street away from the river, you will wonder yourself: how come not all cafes have books, or how come not all bookstores serve coffee? The books are new, and in case something is missing, one can order new titles from one day to the next. The bulk is in German but there are also a few English titles.

There is Wireless internet available for free, on request, and the music covers jazz and relaxed tones. They also show detective films every Sunday between 20:00 and 22:00. The people from Buchkantine are friendly and have a great sense of humor, too, some of their passwords for the Wireless used to be: I want to stay alone with my sandwich or the horse eats cucumbers.

The mixture of books, music and drinks is a good choice for a relaxed afternoon or simply for a search for new books or new inspiration. While writing this text, I am sitting at one of their tables and I observe with curiosity my neighbour – a middle aged man, alone with his laptop, longer hair, looking at the people sitting around as if they would suddenly become characters in his novel. One thing is sure, now he certainly has become a character on Spotted by Locals.

Tip: A books’ connoisseur is in the café from Monday to Friday, between 09:30 and 18:30, and on Saturday between 09:30 and 17:00 o’clock.

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Buchkantine | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks | Tee € 2.20
Essenerstr 11 | Tiergarten | +493094883728
09:30 – 20:00 daily

Most mornings as I merrily make my way down from Prenzlauerberg to bustling Mitte, I’m lucky enough to pass by the Café Fleury.

On entering the cosy interior with its eclectic blue/white furnishings and wicker chairs, you are immediately accosted with a mouth-watering rustic bouquet of fresh coffee, bread and melted cheese.  Scattered on the walls are little B&W portraits of ‘Nouvelle Vague’ legends Catherine DeNeuve, Jean Paul Belmondo and Romy Schneider to name a few.

This little gem luckily manages to avoid succumbing to the cliché ‘Allo Allo‘ style café.  Saying that, it seems to play with as well as pay homage to this very notion of ‘French-ness’

If you fancy kicking back with a sizeable bowl of Café au Lait (yes a bowl), then you can choose from a selection of French and German lifestyle magazines on offer to accompany you on a leisurely afternoon of lounging.

The menu has a reasonable choice of baguettes, quiches to breakfasts on offer throughout the day.  The ‘Croque Monsieur’ is to die for, it’s the best I’ve eaten outside of Paris. Being a sucker for tiny details, the accompanying edible condiment cups holding marmalade, cream, honey etc. (which are effectively the cut off bottoms of ice cream cones) are delightful.

If you’re more of a sweet tooth, Fleury offers a small selection of delicious homemade cakes and biscuits, naturellement.  Be warned, I’m not the only one who is enchanted by this bijou hotspot, it is regularly busy, but the short wait for a table is, in my humble opinion, is always worth it.

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Café Fleury | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (French) | Lunch € 6.00
Weinbergsweg 20 | Mitte | +493044034144
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 22:00

Morgenrot is one of the many cafes in Kastanienallee. It has a few tables outside, self service and mostly punk music. The atmosphere is relaxed and intimate around the small wooden tables.

What makes Morgenrot a special stop?
- One can borrow here a one chess-set-lacking-a-pawn.
- One can have here wonderful vegetarian brunches (until 15:00) for customer-decided-prices between 4 and 8 Euro.

Additionally, the cafe hosts cultural and political discussions – it is an open space which welcomes and supports such initiatives. This openness, the affordable prices, the great breakfasts and the vicinity to the Volksbuehne im Prater theatre (see the Volksbuehne article) make it worth while to me.

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Café Morgenrot | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Brunch from € 4.00
Kastanienallee 85 | Prenzlauer Berg | +493044317844
Tue – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – 10:00 – 03:00, Sat 11:00 – 03:00, Sun 11:00 – 01:00

The first thing that comes to your mind when you enter Sankt Oberholz is: Is this an office or a cafe? People staring at and typing on their computers can be seen everywhere. From time to time, they take a sip of their Latte Macchiato, watching who enters the room while chatting with their neighbor. The secret ingredient at Sankt Oberholz is simple: Wireless Internet. This is no new concept for cafes in Berlin but somehow this one has become the preferred hotspot for laptop owners and wireless nomads.

But don’t worry, pixel lovers aren’t the only ones welcome here. There are some more things that make St. Oberholz such a special place to visit. For example, lots of interesting, creative and international people frequent the cafe, located in Berlin’s trendy Mitte District.

So it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if the fashionable Asian girl in the corner is a successful media artist, the nerdy boy at the next chair the leader of an electro band, and if you look closer, the gonzo guy buying a fresh-made peppermint tea could be the author of a popular controversial coming-of-age novel. Or maybe they are just normal students like me.

In any case, it’s not just the people that usually frequent St. Oberholz that are unique, it’s also the cafe itself. Don’t just limit yourself to the ground floor where the self-service bar is situated. Be sure to go upstairs to the first floor and try to find a seat next to the huge windows. There you’ll have a great view over bustling Rosenthaler Platz – that means more people to watch plus the beautiful light of the sunset in the evening.

By the way, the self-service bar in the cafe offers a huge plate of delicious Spaghetti Bolognese for € 5.00! For smaller appetites you can chose from cakes, sandwiches, bagels and soups.

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Cafe Sankt Oberholz | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.)
Rosenthaler Straße 72a | Mitte | +493024085586
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 00:00

Calling all sweet-tooths ahoy! The eagle has landed just off Simon Dach Strasse in Friedrichshain; Cupcake offers an impressive spread of rainbow coloured, e-number packed, sugary treats.

Yummy baked goods range from moist butterylicious (yes I made the last word up…) frosting crowned cupcakes to scrumptious traditional brownies and blondies.  All of which are guaranteed to trigger the proverbial diabetic coma or at the very least lead to a bad case of early tooth decay; which may I add is totally worth it.

The balance of kitsch/stylish is just right; not going overboard with pink/white décor and enough cute quirky touches nonetheless.  Being the English lass I am, I like to accompany my choice of cupcake (Pretty in Pink – in case you’re wondering) with a refreshing cup of tea, served in what looks very much like my grandmothers 1960’s crockery.

Don’t be fooled, this is not solely a girly affair, my mates and I are often outnumbered by generously tattooed men with furrowed brows indulging in a cupcake or two. Fear not vegans, you too can feast Bacchus style, as Cupcake offers equally tasty vegan options as well.

Friends and foes, be warned, my advice is ‘come prepared’.  I personally would avoid eating a couple of hours in advance; these sinful delights are calorific bombs waiting to explode! Come on now, how else do you think they taste so damn good huh? If on a diet avoid this place like the plague or if you are anything like me, come here when you’re feeling like being naughtily indulgent.

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Cupcake | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cupcake € 2.00
Krossener Straße 12 | Friedrichshain | +493025768687
Wed – Sun 12:00 -19:00

The window is covered up by paper and the entrance hidden. It looks like a shop under construction but every minute people go in and out. This is Dr. Pong: Prenzlauer Berg’s Ping Pong-Bar.

When you first enter, you get the feeling that this is not an official bar but a member’s only club. The Spartan interior includes little more than a ping-pong table and some chairs. The walls are empty, but the club is crowded. Upon further exploration, you will find a bar, a small lounge and a DJ stand. No luxuries here, just a comfortable, cozy grotto that offers a remarkable alternative to all the normal bars where you just sit, stand or talk.

In the bar’s main room, people with table-tennis paddles run in circular fashion around the ping pong table, playing one of our favorite children’s games, but usually in a big group. Most of the people are not professional players and some have never even played before, so don’t worry if you don’t hit the ball (and as a good excuse, you can always say that beer makes you lose your body control). Anyway, there is always a new round, which gives you the chance to show your hidden talent.

One of the bar’s owner’s interests is, according to the bar’s manifesto, “losing the definition between game/sport and partying”.  A “healthy addiction” to beer and ping pong makes you definitely want to come back to this inconspicuous place.

By the way, you don’t need to bring your own ping pong paddle; you can borrow one at the bar for a deposit of 5 euro.

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Dr. Pong | Bars, Relaxing | Beer € 2.00
Eberswalder Str. 21 | Prenzlauer Berg
Mon – Sat 20:00 – open end, Sun 14:00 – open end

Eastern Comfort Ship is a hostel which casts its anchor next to the East Side Gallery and Warschauerstr. The boat is simply a floating bar and hostel; it will not leave this location. Though, sometimes because of the waves it seems it will.

The event is a weekly get together which takes place on Wednesday, starting at 19.00. It’s  a relaxed evening, with live concerts and an international, friendly and open crowd. The meeting is also meant to bring together people looking for language partners.

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Eastern Comfort Ship | Bars, Music, Snacks | Entry fee until 20:30 € 1.00
Muehlenstr 73 | Friedrichshain | +491635272213
Wed from 19:00

Erdbeer means strawberry and the name is not a coincidental one. Situated at the corner of a graffiti decorated house the bar is befogged in red light. Many young people rather lie on the chairs than sit. Red walls and candlelight make you feel like being inside of a strawberry. The atmosphere is relaxed and the DJ puts some spherical music on. The Erdbeer Bar is comfortable and not overcrowded, at least on weekdays.

The most popular and common ingredient of Cocktails is (surprise!) the strawberry. The list of beverages offers not only many Cocktails and Long drinks but also different kinds of non-alcohol smoothies – mostly made with strawberries.

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Erdbeer Bar | Bars, Music | Cocktails from € 4.00
Max-Beer-Straße 56 | Mitte
18:00 – open end daily

Now, what a bar this is! Though, it’s a bit strange to purely call it a bar. From 2 pm it is open every day. Then, it’s called “Kaffe Kaschemme” – being a cafe. That includes nice coffees, cakes and more plus a seating area outside in the backyard (check the backyard article) of Haus Schwarzenberg (check the Haus Schwarzenberg article) where you are surrounded by a funny metal frog-sculpture and lots of cool street art on the walls.

From 20:00 onwards the cafe is “turned” into the bar “Eschschloraque Rümschrüp”. (If you wonder about the names: they don’t mean anything in German but sound funny, crazy and strange.) All that changes now is the name, the fact that you’ll get cocktails next to the usual menu and that there is some sort of musical act.

And it’s a bit of a surprising gambling, concerning the music (unless you check the website). Either DJs play rarely heard music or you’ll get any sort of live experience: Folk, Pop, electronic, singer-songwriter,… anything, really!

Oh, and did I mention the interior? Green, blue and red lights and alien-sculptures make this place deserve the synonym “The Alien-Bar”, as a friend of mine called it recently. And by the way, the waitresses are always nice and friendly.

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Eschschloraque Rümschrüp | Bars, Coffee & tea | Beer 0.33 l € 2.60
Rosenthaler Straße 39 | Mitte
14:00 – open end daily

Evidenced by the growing number of articles I’ve penned for this site on cafes & bars, you may get the idea that all I do in Berlin is booze and drink coffee – and you would be correct!

With that in mind, there is nothing like a shot of vodka and a good ole coffee,  preferably all in the same place.  As I’m too lazy to go bar hopping, Gorki Park is literally right up my alley.

It’s a great place to hang out with mates or sit down with your laptop and work, with the added bonus of delicious Russian dishes like  pelmini, blini and borsch.  There is nothing like a Soljanka soup to warm you up on one of those often dour and cold Berlin winter days. Lactose intolerant beware, sour cream is served with practically everything. Yum.

Enjoy the many flavoured vodkas on offer, with a backdrop of vintage Soviet propaganda posters and pictures of Yuri Gagarin decorating the walls. Smokers you’re in luck, as Gorki Park has a comfortable smokers room/section; so you do not have to be subjected to smoking outside in freezing temperatures or relegated to the back of the building like naughty school children, as is the case in many establishments.

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Gorki Park | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Russian) | Breakfast € 8.00
Weinbergsweg 25 | Mitte | +49304487286
09:30 – 02:00 daily

My favorite backyard (see the Backyards article): Haus Schwarzenberg.

One could say there are two cafes/bars, two shops, a gallery, a cinema, a museum…But that wouldn’t be enough to describe the importance of Haus Schwarzenberg. For getting a proper feeling of the cultural Berlin you have to go there.

Here is where Otto Weidt saved lives of deaf and blind Jewish workers from Holocaust in his broom and brush workshop. Find out more about this historical place in the “Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt“.

The memorial “Stille Helden” honors and commemorates those people who, like Otto Weidt, risked their own lives to rescue prosecuted Jewish people from assured death.

Go further through to the second backyard. Here’s the lovely cinema “Central” (see this article). Also, you have the café “Kaschemme” which is “turned” into a bar and renamed “Eschschloraque” at 20:00 (see this article), a place with an alien-like decoration and really friendly staff.

Above the “Eschschloraque” is the “Neurotitan” – an extremely unique shop and gallery that sells, supports and exhibits all kinds of works of local artists, be it paintings/drawings, CDs/records or t-shirts/tops, books or other stuff.

Other places in Haus Schwarzenberg that are also worth going to are the “Anne-Frank-Zentrum” – an exhibition about the life of the Jewish girl whose diary became so famous and the lovely “Café Cinema”.

Finally, take some time to look at the walls. Most of Berlin’s famous street artists, such as Alias, El Bocho, Karl Toon or Vectorian, are present here.

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Haus Schwarzenberg | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping
Rosenthaler Strasse 39 | Mitte
Daily

I adore wine and this cosy wine bar/restaurant is literally next door to my apartment, making it a prime location to spontaneously head off for a decent a meal with friends or to wile away a Sunday late afternoon snugly tucked in the corner with a glass of Rioja and a good book on my own.

‘Im Weinstein’ has an inviting ambiance with old wine barrels and dusty bottles circling the interior; added to this are simple brown wooden tables and benches set to a background of soft candlelight, creating a warm and cosy atmosphere.

With a fine selection of wines from Bordeaux to Blaufränkisch, Chardonnay to Riesling, this cosy bar avoids the haughty and intimidating air that can be the fate of good wine bars. The waiters are informed and friendly without the smug pretensions of many a sommelier.

They also serve rustic and tasty European cuisine; seasonal dishes such as scallops served with marinated carrots or braised shoulder of wild boar.  My favourite snack, which I’m addicted to, is their take on garlic bread: pan fried German black bread in butter, served generously smeared with freshly chopped wild garlic and olive oil. A tasty accompaniment to a glass of red, but make sure you take a breath mint with you for afterwards.

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Im Weinstein | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (German) | Main meal from € 7.50
Lychener Strasse. 33 | Prenzlauer Berg | +49304411843
Mon – Sat 17:00 – 20:00, Sun 18:00 – 02:00

Russians know how to party. One of the most famous ones in Germany is the writer Wladimir Kaminer. He came to Berlin in 1990 and started a Russian Disco at the Kaffee Burger near Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz 8 years ago.

It didn’t take a long time until the Russendisko turned into a real Berliner institution. The two DJs, Kaminer and Yuriy present famous Russian Pop, Hip Hop, Rock, Ska and Reggae twice a month on Saturday.

Thanks to Kaffee Burger, which used to be frequented by actors, authors and singers in the 70’s, the atmosphere is authentic. Old velour wallpaper, dark wooden chairs, leather lounges and dim light make this place perfect for Russian parties where Vodka flows freely and the joint is always jumping. An old GDR-list of beverages on the wall and the huge soldier’s head next to the checkroom remind you of times when one part of Germany was run by a socialist regime.

But anyway, nostalgia fits the Russian mentality, so the Kaffee and the Russendisko go perfectly together. The place’s popularity proves it: people from all over the world dance together to the beat on the rather small dance floor. Hot air and lots of romping people create a frenetic party atmosphere that generally gets started around midnight and lasts until 4 or 5 in the morning.

Aside from Russendisko on Saturday nights, it’s also worth it to visit Kaffee Burger for other events. Almost every day they offer readings, live music, movies or parties. Kaffee Burger Bar itself is always open on Friday and Saturday evening.

The next Russendisko dates you will find here.

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Kaffee Burger | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music | Entry fee € 5.00
Torstraße 60 | Mitte | +493028046495
Fri – Sat 22:00 – open end, Sun – Thu open during events

The Kastanienalle is a long lively road lined wtih an abundance of cafes, restaurants and trendy shops; half of the street resides in Prenzlauerberg and the other half in Mitte.  I kind of have a love hate relationship with this street, on one hand its’ a prime location for people watching as you have a coffee, with its mix of fashionistas, young 30 something parents with their bugaboo strollers and locals that have lived here even before the wall came down.

On the other hand Kastanienalle can be tiresome, with the constant flux of painfully hip youngsters sporting their asymmetric hairstyles and nu rave chic, strutting down the street like runway models, which has lead to my friends and I sardonically renaming it Casting-allee. (Gee I’m starting to sound like an old age pensioner)

Despite this, there are a host of little spots that make it well worth a stroll down. You can always find cutting edge new fashion designers showcased at the Temporary showroom, where Kastanienallee meets Schwedterstrassse; or if you are more of a modern classicist there is also a small branch of womans’ prêt-a-porter brand Thatchers.

On a warm sunny spring or summers day/eve it is always pleasant to pop into the Prater beer garden (located near the Eberswalderstrasse end of Kastanienalle) and take in the sunshine with a nice pint of radler and a schnitzel.

There are also a couple of oddball, for want of a better word, ‘post-modern’ shops that don’t actually sell anything, like the Apple Macintosh shop that is never open and displays broken and outdated computer models in the window.

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Kastanienallee | Bars, Relaxing, Shopping
Kastanienallee | Prenzlauer Berg
24 hours daily

It doesn’t happen very often that a very old brewery inhabits places for culture and night life – but here it does. The Kulturbrauerei (literally “Culture Brewery”) is one of these places Berlin is so much loved for (see it as a recipe for Berlin’s venues: Take something old, but don’t tear it down and build new – recycle! Leave it unfinished or renovate and rebuild it – keeping the old spirit and looks in order to create a new (but still old) place; an interesting, historical and architectural landmark.)

I think the Kulturbrauerei is one the highlights of these sort of places. It is a complex of former brewery buildings (boiler house, machine house, stable, canteen,…) that are now host to the places we can find there now:
Night clubs, cafes, bars, a cinema, theatres, an important concert house, a dance school, a billiard saloon, a cooking workshop, but also companies such as publishing houses, a bicycle hire shop (Berlin on Bike also offers guided tours on bikes) and many others.

Fans of old architecture will definitely enjoy Kulturbrauerei which is a wonderful example of the long period of historism. The 1889 complex has a bit in common with a castle from the middle ages. The renovation, completed in 2000, kept the old brewery air and hence made it one of the nicest and most important cultural platforms in Prenzlauer Berg and surely in whole Berlin, too.

The website is user-friendly, in German and English and comes up with cool moving surround views. See here for the cultural program and opening times as well as the presentation of each venue.

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Kulturbrauerei | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters
Knaackstraße 97 | Prenzlauer Berg
Daily

There are many words to describe this little bar just off the Potsdammer Strasse,  garish, offbeat and oddball come to mind.

This place pure and simple is the proverbial dump and that’s what I find so charming.   It’s a a nice change from the painfully self concious and affected bars in more ‘It’ districts.   It’s a bar where I can imagine Iggy Pop off his face their grimey toilet, which does come close to looking like something out of  ‘Trainspotting’.

I normally grab a drink here when I am on occasion in Tiergarten visiting the White Rabbit arts space (check the White Rabbit arts space article) around the corner. My friends and I make a late night stop for a night cap ending up with us always staying until the early morning.

This former brothel turned grotty drinking hole opened in 1987, and not much seems to have changed since.  On entering you are greeted by the doorman, who for good measure wears a bullet proof jacket under his wife beater, or trannies having a little boogie on the mini dance floor, or prostitutes coming in for an end of shift drink.

The music is hit and miss, you can experience anything from cheesy disco, to chart hits, to grinding techno who knows, it’s a gamble and I’m pretty sure it’s all Dj’d via cassette tape too.  I personally really like the gigantic wall tapestry overlooking the dance floor, of a young boy reading a lion a story.

A word of caution to all you hipster dufuss’ out there, please check your post-modern, self referential irony at the door, cause your names not on the guest list mate.

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Kumpelnest 3000 | Bars
Lützowstrasse 23 | Tiergarten
20:00 till late daily

Who ever designed this bar – he must have had a lot of fun. I can imagine if I was to stick all the furniture and other things onto the ceiling I would probably see all the smiling and astounded faces of the future guests.

Well, when I went in there the first time I wished I was that someone as I thought it could have been my idea – what a genius person! Something like that was my first impression of Madame Claude.

The name itself refers to the location’s past as a brothel. But they also call it a “Bar for common people“. That may explain why you’ll get cheap bottled beer and foosball (though the table is slightly battered – but hey, it’s for free!). On top of that there is an extra room further down which they use for either a ping pong table (free, too!) or live music performances (mostly stuff like Brit Pop, Alternative, Electro, Indie Pop / Rock or Folk).

I recommend you to check their Myspace for coming events. Amongst my friends the Madame Claude got famous especially for their music quiz which is on every Wednesday. Recently I found myself more and more attracted to the open mic sessions on Sundays. There might be no one outside on Sunday evenings but seemingly everyone at Madame Claude.

So pay attention to all the details on the ceiling and walls and remember the person who had fun making it!

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Madame Claude | Bars, Music | Beer € 2.30
Lübbener Str. 19 | Kreuzberg | +493084110861
19:00 – open end daily

As if Maria am Ostbahnhof didn’t offer us night trawlers and music junkies enough to sate our insatiable appetite for Berlin nightlife and music , the old bird has roped her hubby in on the deal too.

Josef am Ostbahnhof, which came to the fore in 2006,  is literally a club inside a club located within Maria and offering an intimate party/club environment with a slightly more underground edge.  Josef’s listings tend to be a bit ad hoc and irregular, but every two months, you are guaranteed the best in Dubstep and Grime, with the ‘Bass the World’ party series.

‘Bass the World’ is the longest running Dubstep night in Berlin, where party founders and dynamic duo Dj Maxximus & Mackjiggah, spread their musical gospel.

This April 16th marks the party’s 5 year anniversary. That being the case, the Godfathers of German Grime are hosting a spectacular birthday bash to celebrate. Expect performances from Newham Generals (dirtee stank) Ikonika (Hyperdub) and much much more.

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Maria & Josef | Bars, Music, Festivals & events
An der Schillingbrücke 2 | Friedrichshain | +493021238190
23:00 till late, days vary so refer to listings

Martin Gropius Bau was built in 1881 as Museum for applied arts and reopened after the renovation of war demolitions in 1981. Since 2001 it is one of the projects of the Berliner Festspiele cultural organization. It is located in the heart of Berlin, close to Potsdamer Platz and it is an imposing building. The venue welcomes the viewer with a mixture of elegance, comfort and good art.

MGB is a distinctive and established art space which finds itself in between a museum (as it does not have a permanent own collection) and a gallery (as it does not sell works of art).

It is a venue for many international exhibitions (covering photography, archaeology, art history and contemporary arts) and its profile makes it comparable with the Grand Palais in Paris and Royal Academy of Arts in London. All in all, Martin Gropius Bau is a must.

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Martin Gropius Bau | Art & culture, Bars | On average € 6.00
Niederkirchnerstraße 7 | Mitte | +4930254860
Wed – Mon 10:00 – 20:00

You’d be forgiven for not even noticing these two inconspicuous clubs deftly hidden on the Skalizterstrasse on Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg (fondly referred to as Kotti) above a supermarket and a couple of hundred döner kebab snack bars.

Paloma and Monarch are situated in coverted former dentist/doctor’s surgeries (yes you heard me right) located in different sections of what is seemingly a residential block.

Due to the lack of any signage anywhere, you may at first be wary as you climb the dark staircase to the first floor, with the distinct stench of urine accompanying you on your way up.  However once you enter the grey doors of Paloma or Monarch you feel like Alice in Wonderland stepping through the looking glass.  Awaiting you on the other side are two pretty cool and rocking clubs/bars.

Both offer a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, decorated with kitschy patterned wallpaper from the 50’s, where you feel like you’ve walked into someone’s living room.  There are banks where you can sit on pillows and lean against the big full length windows, offering a view out across urban detritus of Kotti. Secret tip, try the Ahoi Vodka shots.

Paloma plays mainly Indie and Electro Pop music, whilst Monarch is more versatile, ranging from post punk, garage to vintage disco.

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Monarch and Paloma | Bars, Music | Entry from € 2.00
Skalitzer Straße 134 -135 | Kreuzberg
Wed – Sat 21:00 – till late

This is the story of a small bar, a little below the street level, in a quiet street, on the border line between Kreuzberg and Neukolln. The prices are affordable, the location is unpretentious and the bar keeper is happy to see you.

What makes Narr bar special is the intended intermingle of art space with every day life space. While many bars exhibit works of art for aesthetic reasons alone and show a subsidiary interest in what might dress up their walls, in Narr bar there are official exhibitions on rotation and vernissages.

Whether you are a young emerging artist looking for a place to exhibit your work, or interested in places which combine leisure and art or simply looking for a drink in a place with a little extra, Narr bar might be just right.

Tip: Exhibition Opening, 13th of February 2010, Karl Kneidl, Paintings, 20:00.

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Narr Bar | Art & culture, Bars | Cola € 1.50
Böckhstr 24 | Neukölln | +49306929600
From 16:00 daily

Calling all urban cowboys, Rock n Rollers and 50’s enthusiasts, Roadrunners Paradise is the place to be. This gig venue is where it’s at, if you’re looking for quality live classic Rock n’ Roll, Bluegrass, Country or Rockabilly music. You need not dress like or be a vintage enthusiast to feel at home (though it does help), as there is something very welcoming about roadrunners. Perhaps due its location, hidden away from passing traffic, it creates the feeling of an exclusive and friendly members club, feels like a bit of an insiders secret tip.

Located just off Saarbrücker Strasse in Mitte, tucked away at the back of commercial courtyard right next to an Alpha Romeo car workshop. You realise you’re there once you see the impressive variety of classic American cars parked outside, from Chevrolets to Cadillac’s.

This place has great acoustics and hosts both national and international acts; I recently saw a great Bluegrass band from Memphis perform here, as well as a rockabilly quartet from Hanover and Miss. Mospy a local Berlin Burlesque performer.

It’s charm also lies in the stylishly quaint decorative touches, like a vintage Harley Davidson mounted on the wall, pictures of Elvis, Herb Ritts and Charles Bukowski in classic gilded frames.

As Roadrunners hasn’t got fixed opening times, it is worth checking the website to see the concert schedule, generally it is always open Saturdays and costs 10 euros entry for enjoyable night of 50’s era inspired bands and DJ’s.

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Road Runners Paradise | Bars, Music | Entry € 10.00
Saarbrückerstr. 24 | Mitte
Check website for opening times

On weekends you can party everywhere else, but Thursday night belongs to Sage Club. For some people it’s their after-work relaxing zone, for others it’s better than Saturday because the club gets crowded early. Every Thursday Sage Club, located inside the U-Bahnhof Heinrich-Heine-Straße, turns into a music fest for finest Indie rock, Alternative and Metal.  But not only DJs reign this three floor venue.

The main floor is dedicated to live upcoming bands. After that Britpop, Indierock and All time favorites can be heard in the hall. The so-called Dragonfloor satisfies those addicted to a harder pace.  Here Metal, Hardrock and Hardcore are the DJ’s specialties. Downstairs you’ll find a smaller booth where Classics and Alternative music are played. But you better keep track of yourself and your friends: Sage Club is quite big and it’s not unusual for you or your friends to get lost in the crowd.

The interior of the Sage is reminiscent of a dominatrix studio. Every Friday and Saturday the club hosts KitKat, a techno-party that’s geared for anyone who dresses up in leather, latex, glitter, glamour and extravagant clothes (or no clothes at all). But of course this special interior fits well for Rock’n'Roll too.

The special attraction of the Sage Club is the swimming pool in the smoking/lounge area. Unfortunately a big sign forbids you to get in but the view into the deep blue water helps you come down after excessive dancing.

Make sure to get to the club before 22:00 for free entry (and don’t be put off by a possible long queue), after 22:00 you have to pay 6 € to get in.

If you need some great food on the next day keep in mind that Sage has also a restaurant. It doesn’t remind you at all on the dirty Rock Club. This place is rather chic, stylish and a little expensive – a hanseatic dream in white. But have a look at the wSage restaurant website and be sure to book before you come.

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Sage Club | Bars, Music, Restaurants | after 22:00 € 6.00
Köpenicker Straße 76 | Mitte | +49302789830
Thu 19:00 – open end

This delightful retro inspired bar is a recent discovery of mine, after trying to find shelter from the down pour of a sudden torrential rain storm, as I was walking down the Kollwitzstrasse one evening.

Inside i came across a warm and cosy watering hole, with an almost Twin Peaks feeling interior. There are red velvet furnishings, an old 50’s TV and eclectic mix of patterned wallpaper. You can make your self comfortable chatting as you sip a cocktail or two, with the Andrews Sisters, Billie Holiday or Johnny Cash playing in the background.

I warmed myself up with a reasonably tasting Whiskey Sour. Cocktails are fairly priced and tasty, but this depends on the bar tender.   I have had great cocktails and friendly service and other times underwhelming ones served with a slice of attitude.

Don’t let this put you off, it is well worth a visit on a cold evening or in the summer take advantage of the terrace area directly on the Kollwitzstrasse.

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Scotch and Sofa | Bars, Relaxing | Whiskey Sour € 5.50
Kollwitzstrasse 18 | Prenzlauer Berg | +493044042371
14:00 – till late daily

Simon-Dach-Strasse became very famous over the last couple of years. It is not at all a secret, hidden road but still more than worth to choose for going out.

Restaurants, cafes, bars, snack bars (such as the “Pizza Dach” (see the Pizza Dach article) or “Tigris” (see the Tigris article) and even barber shops, ice cream parlours, shops and bakeries – the whole road is lined with them. There is always a bar that offers Happy Hour for cocktails (then € 3.50 – € 4.50). Beers cost between € 2.70 – € 3.00 in most places.

Find all styles of bars: rock, retro, old school or modern ones. One bar, the “DK – Dachkammer” even has a very atmospheric lounge on the floor upstairs.
On Saturdays and Sundays people gather for “Brunch” when all cafes and restaurants offer quality buffet (all you can eat) for between € 5.00 and € 10.00.

When walking through Simon-Dach-Strasse pay attention to the recently renovated old buildings that are now probably more beautiful than they were in the times when they were built – an extraordinary example is on corner Simon-Dach-Str./Krossener Str. – check it out!

Important to know: Many more restaurants, cafes and bars are located at close by roads “Gabriel-Max-Strasse”, “Grünberger Strasse”, “Wühlischstrasse”, “Boxhagener Strasse” and “Gärtnerstrasse”. Although the most important road of all, “Simon-Dach-Strasse” can be used as a synonym for the whole area (in German called “Kiez”), including famous Boxhagener Platz (see the Boxhagener Platz article).

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Simon-Dach-Strasse | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Simon-Dach-Strasse | Friedrichshain
Daily

My secret tip : Sonntagstrasse.

For going out, most Berliners know and use trendy areas like around Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article) or Kastanienalle (see the Kastanienalle article). But if you go to Sonntagstrasse (regularly or not) you are either a real local or have read this article. Even those tourists who stay in nearby hostels are rarely seen here.

Get yourself a cheap pizza, kebab or beer in one of the cheaper stores and have it on a bench in adjacent Lenbachplatz (a little green area including meadows, a playground, table tennis tables, swings and soccer/basketball courts).

Or go for cocktails, coffee, beer, breakfast or foosball (here better known as “Kicker”) in one of the hip bars and cafes, such as the “Geronimo”, “Uebereck”, “Coffe Karma”, “Sunday”, “Tonart”, “Sieben” or “Lykia”. Or enjoy fine dining in the Asian restaurant “Transit”.

Sonntagstrasse even satisfies lovers of culture, e.g. in the theater “Zebrano” (simultaneously a bar & cafe). Also, unique clothing stores invite for shopping.

Located in the very east of trendy district Friedrichshain, Sonntagstrasse is extremely easy to reach by public transport. It starts exactly at one of two exits of S-Bahn station “Ostkreuz” (the northern exit!). Also, bus no. 240 and tram no. 21 pass by (get off at “Neue Bahnhofstrasse”). The famous Simon-Dach-Strasse (see the Simon-Dach-Strasse article) is within a walking distance of about 10 minutes.

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Sonntagstrasse | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Several)
Sonntagstrasse | Friedrichshain
Daily

Spielwiese is a one room, rather small but cosy bar/ shop close to Warschauerstr.
What make it a special bar are its walls – they are packed with over 1100 games. Chess, Siedler, Monopoly, Risk and Magnet Table Football and many others one could not yet imagine. Games are available for rent and sale too.

The owner of the place, Mr. Michael Schmitt will amaze you with his knowledge of games. There might be people guessing with coffee, others in stars, Mr. Schmitt might be able to guess the game matching your personality.

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Spielwiese | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Shopping | Wine € 2.92
Kopernikusstr 24 | Friedrichshain | +493028034088
Mon, Thu & Fri – Sat 14:00 – 00:00, Tue & Sun 14:00 – 21:00

Stattbad Wedding was a public swimming pool complex, but the story here is about what it is today. A place for site-specifc installations. A place for parties. A place for performances. A place for filming. A place for what you can imagine building there. Because the managers of the space are open for your suggestions.

Of this assured me Jochen Küpper, cultural manager at Stattbad Wedding. The first time I met him was for a short interview, or better say, he answered a curiosity call. We set down on a couch by the swimming pool. The light was warm and we were surrounded by fishing nets, which managed to provide intimacy to the conversation, despite the constant movement around us. The place was getting ready for a weekend event. Jochen works around the clock for the Stattbad, no wonder he has nights catching him sleeping there.

Stattbad Wedding is a contemporary cultural centre, so its definition remains open. There is however a focus on urban arts. One of the first exhibition openings I have attended there was a urban affairs show spread throghout the swimming pool and the lockers. Alive butterflies were flying everywhere. Incredibly cruel and beautiful. The second time I’ve been to the Stattbad was an underground experience – we were literally under the swimming pool. Imagine pipes everywhere, video installations, bars and music which lasted til the morning. The space does offer unfolding possibilities.

Go there to be surprised. Or to surprise.

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Stattbad Wedding | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Ticket +/- € 4
Gerichtstrasse 65 | Mitte
Please make sure to check the website

Go to Kunsthaus Tacheles! If I was to recommend you one place in Berlin to go to – it would be the Tacheles!

This ruin is basically the rest of a 1909 shopping mall. The rest of it which still exists today has survived bomb hits in WW II and plans of blasting. That could be avoided in 1990 by an initiative of artists, called “Tacheles”. As time passed it became a place full of life and a very important Berlin art center.

You should check out the Kunsthaus (= art house) Tacheles for many reasons:
- an extremely special, creative, alternative and lively place
- galleries and studios of at least 50 here working artists
- the wide range of their interesting art: paintings, sculptures, photos, collages, installations, videos
- High End 54 – a bar and cinema screening non-mainstream movies (program)
- the “panorama bar” on the top floor and the Café Zapata downstairs
- the “Goldener Saal” (”Golden Hall”): a huge and flexible hall for any sort of performing arts
- the backyard with the beer garden: full of interesting details such as sculptures and installations
- the architecture of the building (protected as a monument)
- here you can really feel the way the city of Berlin ticks
- uniqueness, independence from money

The website of Tacheles is partly in English, German and Spanish; other languages appear out of the blue. Though without structure about the languages, you’ll get on with the site to find out more about Tacheles.

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Tacheles | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Theaters
Oranienburger Str. 54-56a | Mitte | +49302826185
Daily

One play I have seen there some time ago was a jam session and had an improvised open ending, which slowly transformed into a competition: who will last longer? The actors improvising on the stage, or the spectators invited already to leave? It was not until after midnight that the curtain was down.

Volksbuehne is an experimental theatre. Like any experimental endeavor, it is not for everybody. Expect most of the times live filming, simultaneous video projections and loud music.

The theatre has another small stage in Kastanienallee, the Volksbuehne im Prater. This is right next to the Prater beer garden, which is a delight during warm days. Besides the great plays, there is a wonderful gigantic wooden table next to the bar in the Volksbuehne im Prater. While waiting to enter the play, the spectators can sipp a drink around this table – this circle gives an uncanny warm feeling and it creates a familiarity among people who haven’t met before.

Note: The plays are in German.

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Volksbuehne | Bars, Relaxing, Theaters | Students € 3.50
Linienstraße 227 | Mitte | +4930240655
Plays almost every day of the week

Fra Rosa is one of 3 branches of the Weinerei restaurant/café collective all located 100m apart from each other on Zionskirchplatz.  It has that typically cosy and inviting Berlin DIY style, as if you had just walked into someone’s living room.  Its’ eclectic mismatched furniture and random decorative accessories are all set against the backdrop of paint chipped walls with red toned fresco style murals depicting lascivious half dressed femme fatales – a knowing nod to Toulouse-Lautrec style illustrations.

I have to be honest when I was first introduced to the Weinerei I was a bit sceptical, especially the whole concept they present of renting your wine glass for the evening for 2 euros and drinking to your hearts content.  This made me ask the natural question ‘what’s the catch’?  Well after many visits I can safely say there isn’t any; you rent your glass and at the end of the evening it’s up to you to bestow upon the establishment and staff a fitting contribution at your own discretion. Needless to say failure to do so is a mortal sin and social faux pas!

It is not only wine that is on offer, there is a fixed lunch and an evening three-course menu available everyday, and I have to say it’s pretty decent.  Brazilian Head chef Hugo de Carvalho describes his style of food as ‘con-fusion’ cooking

Sit down, rent a glass and keep the vino flowing…Prost!

“Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eye.”  William Shakespeare

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Weinerei | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Fusion) | Glass rental € 2.00
Zionskirchstr. 40 | Prenzlauer Berg | +4917628209047
12:00 – 16:00 & 20:00 – till late daily

For those who like it cheap, cheerful and with that dash of trash ambiance, should make their way to West Germany. In the same vein as Paloma and Monarch, West Germany is also a converted former dentist/doctor’s surgery located on the Skalitzer Strasse in Kreuzberg.

In contrast to Paloma and Monarch (check the Paloma and Monarch article) though, West Germany offers a dirtier, grungier and edgier club/bar experience. Space is effectively what it is, as very little has gone into refurbishment, evidenced by the makeshift stage where you can watch Punk/Electro/Psychobilly bands perform, while their amps precariously balance on beer crates and live wires dangle above their heads.

There also a host live acts and artists performing, once a month West Germany hosts the Gay/Lesbian night called ‘Poopsy Club‘. One particularly memorable time, I watched a small Japanese man clad in a white spandex body suite ’sing’ through a vocoder in something I could discern as a hybrid of German/English/Japanese against an techno beat; as his two transgendered assistants entered the stage through a giant papier-mâché vagina…hey but at least drinks were cheap.

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West Germany | Bars, Music | Entrance from € 3.00
Skalitzer Str. 133 | Kreuzberg
Wed – Sat 21:00 – till late

For those that like their music loud, dirty and live should pay a visit to Wild at Heart in Kreuzberg.  First time visitors may think they have inadvertently stumbled into some grotty biker bar, and they would only be half right.  It definitely has that unapologetic rock shabbiness with its dilapidated chairs, questionable restrooms, band posters wall to wall and for some inexplicable reason a Persian carpet nailed to the ceiling.

I have been fortunate enough to experience this gig spot both as a viewer and a performer.  As a regular frequenter there are always cool local and international punk, garage and rock bands playing, and despite its compactness, it still manages to have good clear acoustics.

As a performer I always found the intimacy and cosiness of the stage area really fun when interacting with the very responsive crowd.

As would be expected the bar staff are all rockers with piercings, tattoos and standard issue attitude. Don’t expect fancy cocktails served in pretty glasses, this place is strictly hard liquor and beer, if you’re lucky they may begrudgingly make you a whiskey or vodka sour.

Let’s be honest if you come here you’re in for some old fashioned live music done analog style, fun ambience and you can always spot some real characters who still think it’s 1982.

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Wild at Heart | Bars, Music | Entry from (free after 02:00) € 5.00
Wienerstr. 20 | Kreuzberg | +490306119231
20:00 – till late daily

The alternative look of the Zosch’s façade seems not to belong in the tidy area of Oranienburger Straße. You could imagine it in Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg but Mitte has turned more or less into the home of fancy chic in the last years. The Zosch is one of the survivors of the first pubs that established itself after the political turnaround in 1989. And it still remains true to itself. The staff and the people are down-to-earth and the interior is rustic. But the attention belongs to the music.

Downstairs in the cozy cellar which reminds you of an old larder in a medieval castle, mostly every night jazz bands or songwriters play. The atmosphere is familiar even if the pub is full of people. The big wooden tables and benches almost fill out the whole room and the place is quickly crowded.

Especially on Wednesday evening when the Goethe Institute of Berlin holds its student’s regulars’ table in the pub. But normally Zosch is a place where you find a lot of native people. It’s not overcrowded by tourists and most of the bands playing here are from Berlin. The Zosch is always trying to satisfy different tastes of music. Not only jazz but also songwriters, blues or gypsy bands enter the small stage.

Every Wednesday the band La Foot Creole which is committed to New Orleans Jazz plays in the Zosch’s catacomb.

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Zosch | Bars, Music, Snacks | Beer € 2.00
Tucholskystraße 30 | Mitte | +49302807664
16:00 – open end daily

I love their concept: Every night a DJ, comfy seating, concise design, cheap beer.

First time I entered – I was so surprised about the atmosphere. A room that is completely soaked in reddish and orange illumination, walls that are covered with cool photos printed on canvas and flowers on the tables. I got a nice feeling about “Zu mir oder zu dir” (engl. “To my place or to your place”).

I quickly felt comfortable. It must have been the designer’s priority to have cosily designed couches and chairs. It seems here one is much rather supposed to lay down than to sit.

The music is not at all too loud but always contributes perfectly to my mood. I wanted to give tips to the DJ for playing such good music but he refused: He is hired anyway. I heard him playing anything between minimal techno and “Mack the Knife”. But it always works. Nothing for dancing, but for chilling out.

More impressions about the venue: Check the website – “Impressionen” includes the slide show.

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Zu mir oder zu dir | Bars | Beer 0.5 l € 2.50
Lychener Str. 15 | Prenzlauer Berg
From 20:00 – open end daily

Zyankali Bar – the name is the program. The dark cellar pub in Kreuzberg looks freaky and creepy but you’ll succumb to its charms quickly. The dark rooms are sparely illuminated by some colorful LED lights. The glassy bar houses some dead spiders and the guy behind the bar is a nice punk. The menu contains a huge offer of cocktails, long drinks and beer.

When you enter the bar in the week you will probably meet only a dog lying on the floor and some guests sitting in a hidden corner. Then it’s a calm place with loud music which can be cozy too. On weekends the bar is mostly full. Every Sunday evening at 20:30 they show movies of selected directors and actors for free.

The music in the bar is mostly alternative like 70’s Rock, World Music and Jazz. They also present Playstation parties (Singstar, Guitar Hero, EyeToy,Buzz) every Thursday and acoustic concerts (twice a month).

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Zyankali Bar | Bars, Music | Beer 0,33l € 2.30
Großbeerenstraße 64 | Kreuzberg | +49302516333
Mon – Sat 19:00 – open end, Sun 20:00 – open end