The club and bar scene in Berlin is one of the biggest and most progressive in Europe. Even though there are some 200 clubs in the city, it's sometimes difficult to find the right club for you since the best ones are a bit off the beaten track. Entrance is cheap compared to other big European cities, normally from 5 to 10 € (usually no drink included).

The main nightlife districts are in the east: Mitte (especially north of Hackescher Markt and tucked away behind Alexanderplatz), Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (around Schlesisches Tor) and Prenzlauer Berg (around station Eberswalder Str.). Some mainstream clubs are located in Charlottenburg and at Potsdamer Platz. Electro and techno are still the biggest in Berlin, with lots of progressive DJs and live acts around. But there are also many clubs playing '60s beat, alternative rock and of course mainstream music. Clubbing days are Thursday, Friday and especially Saturday, but some clubs are open every day of the week. Partying in Berlin starts around midnight (weekends) and peaks around 2AM or 3AM in the normal clubs, a bit later in many electro/techno clubs. Berlin is famous for its long and decadent after hours, going on for days on end.

Jazz Clubs

Yorckschlösschen

Listen to blues, jazz, funk, or soul in this brilliant Kreuzberg haunt which has been serving locals for over 100 years. It is a favourite hangout for Berlin’s musicians and generally a melting pot of young and old rich and poor – truly a special place. The kitchen is very good, it also has a pretty beergarden. 

    * Daily 9 am – 4 am
    * Yorckstrasse 15 / corner of Grossbeerenstrasse,
    * fon: 215 8070
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg
    * Mehringdamm (U7) bus M19 or 119 (or a short trip taxi from Tempelhof Airport)

Soultrane

This is one hip jazz bar and bistro restaurant  situated in downtown Charlottenburg. The menu is  sophisticated but really very reasonably priced  (4 €– 14 €), relax in its stylish interior enjoy the food and listen to great music. Artists have included  Herbie Hancock and Ute Lemper.

    * Daily Tue – Sun from 10 am
    * Kantstrasse 17,
    * Simply turn up or fon 315 1860
    * www.soultrane.com
    * Berlin-Charlottenburg 
    * S-Bahn Savignyplatz

Junction Bar

This basement level venue has Jazz in all varieties – swing, Latin, contemporary... and sometimes blues and rock. Stay around for the after concert party: DJ’s spin soul, funk and R&B. 

    * Thur – Sun from 9 pm
    * Gneisenaustrasse 18,
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg. 
    * Gneisenaustrasse (U7).

b-flat

Nearby the Hackescher Markt this cavernous bar has a paired down architecturally cool interior designed to enhance the acoustics. Plays generally mainstream jazz with vocals. Tango on Sundays! 

    * Daily from 8 pm
    * Rosenthaler Str. 13,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Rosenthaler Platz (U8)

IRISH PUB

The Oscar Wilde

This is a favourite for expats and visitors alike with its big screen Sky Sports channel, Irish stew and an all day breakfast. On Fridays and Saturdays there’s live music and a rollicking atmosphere gets underway. If you want to catch the latest game you now know  where to go.

    * Open 12 pm – 1 am Sat & Sun 1 pm – 2 am
    *  Friedrichstrasse 112a,
    * Berlin-Mitte. 
    * Oranienburger Tor (U6).

Evening fun: the Original Pub Crawl
BARS

Wohnzimmer

The ‘living room’ is named so as its furnishings are compiled of threadbare divans and worn in armchairs as if it were from the flat of its patron philosophy students and maudlin poets. In keeping with the  theme the bar is suitably made from an assortment  of kitchen cabinets. The candlelit gold painted walls add to the bohemian den like atmosphere – knock back your Hefeweizen (see ‘Summer Drinks page 23) and ingratiate yourself with the artsy.

    * Daily 10 am –  4 am
    * Lettestrasse 6,
    * Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg 
    * Eberswalder Straße (U2)

Green Door

Not surprisingly there is actually a green door. Behind it is quite an intimate little cocktail haunt with a long curvy bar. It truly  has an impressive cocktail menu which is worth going there for in itself. A pretty location just off  Winterfeldplatz which is a vibrant hub of shops, bars and restaurants, the crowd can be a bit yuppyish but who cares – have a drink.

    * Daily 6 pm - 3 am
    * Winterfeldtstr. 50,
    * Berlin-Schöneberg 
    * Nollendorf Platz (U1/U15/U4/U2)

Kumpelnest 3000

The Kitsch deco i.e. carpeted walls, is authentic, the interior of this former brothel has simply been left as it was. Usually the locals' traditional last stop of the evening it not surprisingly has a wild reputation as both gays and  heteros mingle on the tiny dance floor. They have bottled beer and the  Caipirinhas are among the better mixed drinks.

    * Daily 5 pm – 5 am
    * Lützowstrasse. 23,
    * Berlin-Schöneberg 
    * Kurfürstenstraße (U1/U15)

Haifischbar

The "Shark Bar" has a stylish cool beige interior and plays hip and tasteful ambient techno. Good selection of whiskies, cigars and expertly mixed gin (and other) cocktails. The service is equally stylish, it's simply a great place for a Martini to kick start the evening. The back room also has a sushi bar.

    * Daily 8 pm – 4 am
    * Arndtstrasse 25,
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg
    * Mehringdamm (U6/U7)

Hard Rock Café

A place of pilgrimage for many a traveller – we can’t not mention it! Enjoy the familiar surrounds and the rock ‘n roll paraphernalia which generously  decoratesthe interior. Missing a burger and Bud or Corona? Needless to say this is the place. Visited by both locals and foreigners. Grab your T-Shirt and shot glasses from the souvenir shop. See ad page 3.

    * Meinekestrasse 21
    * www.hardrock.com
    * Berlin-Charlottenburg. 
    * Kurfürstendamm (U15)

Reingold

This bar lounge is a perfect example of just how much things have changed since Mitte was the heart of the east German capital. It has a chic design with amber tones and a sophisticated 30’s styled interior with leather and velvet seating and the bar is impressively long. The house specialises in cocktails and oysters while DJ’s mix relaxing techno tunes.

    * Daily from 6 pm
    * Novalisstrasse 11,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Oranienburger Tor (U6)

Red Rooster

This is a great place for travellers and locals to meet with reasonably priced drinks & food, regular movie nights, dj's, skat contests, live music, open mike & stage. The Odysee Hostel (see page 5) next door also offers a "play4stay" special here – if you can rouse the audience into giving you a  10 € tip or more by delivering an entertaining performance they’ll supply your drinks and much needed bed after free of charge!

    * Open late.
    * Grünberger Str. 23,
    * Berlin-Friedrichshain 
    * Frankfurter Tor (U5)

top movies FROM BERLIN

    * Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders
    * Far Away So Close!  by Wim Wenders
    * Good bye Lenin  by WolfgangBecker
    * Run Lola Run by Tom Tykwer
    * Olympia 1936  by Leni Riefenstahl 
    * Metropolis  by Fritz Lang


Evening fun: the Original Pub Crawl

clubbs n' dancin'

Delicious Doughnuts

This is a great little club that is a DJ orientated venue. The staff are cool, the interior loungy. The cover is  3 € from Wed – Sat, standard cocktails only 5 €.  Plays house, electro, freestyle beats, funk soul and dance-floor jazz.  

    * From 10 pm
    * Rosenthaler Str. 9,
    * Berlin-Mitte 
    * Rosenthaler Platz (U8)

Icon

Icon  is one of Europe's best drum and bass clubs. A groovy setting located in the cellars of an old brewery – its well ventilated labyrinth of corridors connect Icon’s various bars, dance floors and the lounge areas which are insulated enough to carry a conversation. Friday nights hip hop and funk is played. 

    * Open Fri, Sat & Sun from 11.30 pm
    * Cantianstr. 1, corner of Milastrasse,
    * Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg
    * Eberswalder Strasse (U2)

Kit Kat Club

While named after the club where Sally Bowles  performed in Cabaret this place has bypassed the naughty lyrics and has just gone for the sex – literally. Half the crowd are in fetish gear the other half in  nothing at all, both however partake in every form of sexual activity in full view of anyone who cares to watch. Because it’s a straight forward affair, i.e. you will almost certainly get some, it’s not in the least bit  seedy. Plays uplifting trance & techno.

    * Dress code: less is more, you won't get in if you aren’t looking the part.
    * Open Fri & Sat from 11 pm, Sun after-hour 8 am
    *  Bessemerstr. 4,
    * Berlin-Schöneberg 
    * Alt-Tempelhof (U6) Papestrasse (S41/S42)

SO36

This old ballroom come club venue is an institution. Monday is the "electric ballroom" evening, the hot and heavy techno attracts a largely gay crowd, lots of  lesbians and heteros too – it’s a fun packed and very sociable night and the dance floor heaves. Café Fatal on Sundays (from 5 pm) is also lots of fun taking the form of a gay tea dance to German Schlager hits. Other nights anything from hip hop to punk is  performed by live bands.

    * From 11 pm
    * Oranienstrasse190,
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg 
    * Kottbusser Tor (U1/U8)

Mudd Club

The namesake stems from the famous Mudd Club which served as the hub of downtown NY’s new wave post modern nightclubbing where talents such as  Madonna and Jean-Michel-Basquiat emerged from. The same owner has set up a great venue in underground cellars in a courtyard off Oranienburger Strasse which plays host to live bands and DJ parties.

    * Wed – Sun from 9.30 pm
    * Grosse Hamburger Str. 17,
    * Berlin-Mitte 
    * Hackescher Markt

Café Moskau

This former Russian restaurant set amidst the  Stalinist monumentalism of the fabulous Karl Marx Allee is itself a gem of socialist realism (the brilliant mosaic at the entrance makes you want to reminisce about the good old days of the USSR.) Cafe Moskau is at the forefront of Berlin’s dance music scene attracting top local and international DJ’s. Its two bars and dance floors play drum and base and house.

    * Admission costs 5 €– 8 €
    * Thur – Sun from 10 pm
    * Karl-Marx-Allee 34,
    * Berlin-Mitte 
    * Schillingstrasse (U5)

Hotelbar

This is a cosy retro venue with plenty of 70’s detailing. Located in a basement off the leafy Zionskirchplatz the Hotelbar attracts a cool but friendly mix in its  personable setting. DJ’s spin an assortment of soundsfrom funk, electro pop to classic disco and soul. There’s no dress code, here it’s about enjoying a dance and the good atmosphere.

    * Open from 10 pm, Fri & Sat from 11 pm
    * Zionskirchstr. 5,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Bernauer Str. (U8).

Kaffee Burger

This place would have provided the perfect foil in Goodbye Lenin. An old east Berlin pub that has the look and feel of the GDR circa 1960s you just can’t recreate – it’s the real thing. Suitably the now famous "Russian Disco" club nights spun by author Vladimir Kaminer are held here every 2nd Saturday. Evenings sometimes begin with poetry readings before descending into DJ’s mixing anything from Balkan, soul, funk to reggae.

    * Open from 7 pm, Fri – Sat from 11 pm
    * Torstr. 60,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Rosa-Lusemburg-Platz (U2)

Sage Club

Sage Club is one of Berlin’s leading clubs, yet somewhat upmarket and self consciously fashionable. It has a cool ‘underground’ type venue, literally, located in a formerly disused part of Heinrich Heine Straße underground station. Rock and metal on Thursdays, "Funky Friday" is always popular, as is the groovy mix of house, soul sounds and techno played on Saturdays and Sundays.

    * Admission costs 5 €– 7 €
    * Thur – Sun from 10 pm
    * Köpenicker Str. 78,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Heinrich-Heine-Strasse (U8).

Sophienclub

One of the youth oriented clubs that existed in east Berlin prior to  reunification. It has a comfortable lounge area and two dance floors. Music played ranges from funk, soul, to Britpop and disco classics, attracting  people looking to party and not overly concerned about what’s "hip."

    * Thur – Sun from 10 pm
    * Sophienstr. 6,
    * Berlin-Mitte
    * Weinmeister Strasse (U8) S-Bahn Hackescher Markt

Spindler & Klatt

Setting a new trend in Berlin with a quality club restaurant, this is a great place to enjoy Asian fusion food while reclining on the over-sized oriental styled lounge beds. Afterwards make a transition to the dance floor and club with a variety of top local DJ’s and international acts. The huge interior is stylish, (i.e. beige, and mocha browns), the aphrodisiacal mix of food, cool music and oversized beds should work its wonders.

    * From 8 pm
    * Köpenicker Str. 16 – 17,
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg
    * Heinrich-Heine-Platz (U8)

Watergate:

Probably the coolest club in Berlin at the moment with a brilliant view overlooking the River Spree, the medieval styled Oberbaum Bridge and straight into Universal Music’s European HQ. It has two dance floors, the lower of which (the "waterfloor") is more cosy and looks directly out over the Spree, where Berlin's top DJs spin minimal house to drum & bass. Names like Smith & Mighty perform here.

    * Admission costs 7 €– 10 €
    * Wed – Sat  from 11 pm
    * Entrance: on the right just before heading north over the Oberbaum Bridge.
    * Falckensteinstr. 49,
    * Berlin-Kreuzberg
    * Schlesisches Tor (U1/U15)


Evening fun: the Original Pub Crawl