Entertainment in Germany
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A
Zakk
Parties, concerts, readings, theatre, discussions - the menu sure varies at this well established cultural centre in a former factory. The beer garden is a convivial place to spend a balmy summer night. It's a couple of kilometres east of the Hauptbahnhof; take tram 706 to Fichtenstrasse or the U-Bahn 75 to Kettwiger Strasse.
reviewed
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B
Stone Im Ratinger Hof
The venerable Ratinger Hof has returned to its rock roots and is now the ‘it’ place for lovers of indie and alt-sounds. Depending on the night, tousled hipsters, skinny-jean emos and sneaker-wearing students thrash it out to everything from noise pop to neo-garage to punk and roll.
reviewed
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C
Netzer & Overrath
This alt-flavoured double-pub is named for two members of the German national soccer team that won the FIFA World Cup in 1974. Overrath is the quieter one, more a daytime place where for reading, sipping coffee or snacking. After dark Netzer puts 'fun' in 'funky' with loud rock, Britpop, cold beer and a Fussball table.
reviewed
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D
O2 World
reviewed
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E
Zum Flaucher
This congenial restaurant-cum-beer garden in the Isar River meadows feels a like a micro-vacation from the city bustle. The spare ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, kids can wear themselves out on the imaginative playground and soccer fans descend for big matches beamed onto a giant screen. Take the U3 to Brudermühlstrasse.
reviewed
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F
Backstage
Refreshingly nonmainstream, this groovetastic boîte has a chilled night beer garden and a shape-shifting line-up of punk, nu metal, hip-hop, dance hall and other alt sounds, both canned and live.
reviewed
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G
Orient Lounge
Heed the call of the kasbah at this classy nightspot infused with ambient Arabic sounds and the sweet aroma of apple and honey. Find your favourite cushion in the sultry shisha (water pipe) lounge or reserve a private niche to sip your cocktails behind a tinkling pearl curtain. The entrance is through the Rote Harfe pub.
reviewed
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H
Brauhaus Peters
This relative youngster draws a somewhat less raucous crowd knocking back their Kölsch in a web of highly individualistic nooks, including a room lidded by a kaleidoscopic stained-glass ceiling. On Tuesday, insiders invade for the freshly made potato pancakes. The wood carving over the main entrance translate as: 'Hops and malt, God preserves'.
reviewed
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Insel der Jugend
The ‘Island of Youth’ is a former GDR youth club housed in a mock medieval castle on an island in the Spree. There’s something for everybody, from workshops (DJing, guitar etc) to rock concerts (Stagediver, Wednesdays) to easygoing café afternoons with live music (Lazy Sunday) and kids’ programmes.
reviewed
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Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel
This leading ensemble has a bit of a conservative streak but still manages to find relevance for today's mad mad world in works by Shakespeare, Schiller and other tried-and-true playwrights. Performances are in the Residenztheater, the Theater im Marstall and the now fully renovated Cuvilliés-Theater.
reviewed
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Spielbank Berlin
Vegas it ain't, but there are still plenty of opportunities to challenge Lady Luck over a game of poker, roulette or black jack at this casino. Slot machines in the basement, poker on the ground floor, and roulette, black jack and poker upstairs. Bring ID. No entry under 18.
reviewed
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Berliner Symphoniker
Founded in 1966, the Berliner Symphoniker has no permanent home and performs mainly in the Berliner Philharmonie and the Konzerthaus. Israeli conductor Lior Shambadal has been the man in charge since 1997. After going bankrupt in 2004 due to state budget cuts, the orchestra is now in private hands.
reviewed
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J
Saigon Bar
Do as Nurembergers do and make this your last stop after a night on the town. With a background beat of drum 'n bass, this essential late-night bar does a top-rate caipirinha, the Brazilian drink that's at least as popular in Bavaria as it is in Rio, made from smashed limes, brown sugar, crushed ice and white pitú rum.
reviewed
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K
O2 World Arena
Hamburg’s huge O2 Arena was extensively refurbished for the 2006 football World Cup, and is home to Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. Take S-Bahn 21 or 3 to ‘Stellingen’, which is linked by free shuttle buses with the stadium.
reviewed
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L
Pub Crawl
New Munich's (in)famous Pub Crawl makes stops in five bars and clubs, includes free vodka shots and meets at the corner of Münzstrasse and Orlandostrasse.
The Beer Tour (around €16) leaves earlier at 14:30 and takes a more, ahem, academic approach, but includes a free litre of beer and entry to the Pub Crawl…
reviewed
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M
Radialsystem V
Contemporary dance meets medieval music, poetry meets pop tunes, painting meets digital. This progressive performance space in an old riverside pump station blurs the boundaries between the arts to nurture new forms of creative expression. Nice riverside cafe-bar from 10am.
reviewed
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TSV 1860
reviewed
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Schützenhof Beer Garden
For a drink with sun and a bucolic view, head for this delightful beer garden about 500m south of the Käppele chapel on the east bank of the Main. The main ingredients are ultra-fresh - listen for the farmyard animals protesting to the rear - and the beer (try the Balthasar Neumann) is served with a donkey-shaped Brezel (pretzel).
reviewed
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N
Greenwich
So hip it doesn’t even bother with a sign, this highfalutin fixture on the cocktail circuit is another Midas-touch venture by Heinz Gindullis, the man behind Cookies. You’ll have plenty of time to study the mamba-green bar and sofas, illuminated aquariums and eye-candy crowd while you’re waiting for your expert cocktail.
reviewed
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O
Cassiopeia
The college-age crowd at this grungy, chill party den defines the word eclectic and so does the music. Dive deep into a sound spectrum ranging from vintage hip hop to hard funk, reggae and punk to electronic beats.
reviewed
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P
Deutsche Oper
The German Opera was founded by local citizens in 1912 as a counterpoint to the royal opera (today’s Staatsoper) on Unter den Linden. The original building was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt by 1961 as a huge, modernist venue with seating for nearly 1900 people. It boasts a repertory of around 70 operas, which are all sung in their original language.
reviewed
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Q
Kato
This former department store below the elevated U-Bahn tracks is now a rockin’ hard place for indie and alt-sounds, from noise pop to ska to mash-ups. Drinks are cheap and the crowd of scruffy party patrons, faux-hawked hipsters and skinny-jeansters keeps attitude to a minimum. Rock-It Tuesdays and Thursdays are parties with cult status.
reviewed
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R
Aufsturz
The crowd’s young and tourist-heavy but if you’re in the market for obscure beers, this tap room is the place to go. Choose from over 100 different suds, many from small private breweries, including rarities like the bacon-flavoured Rauchbier from Bamberg or bestsellers like Staropramen from Prague. Live music in the basement club.
reviewed
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S
Ratskeller
Augsburg's hippest new hangout is the reconfigured, multilevel Ratskeller. Ambiently lit corners, ante-rooms and mezzanines are strewn with comfy lounges, and there's a wide terrace out the back. Ratskeller's kitchen also has a strong local following, especially for its Schweinebraten - roast pork with dumplings and red-cabbage sauerkraut.
reviewed
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T
Bellmann
This funky glamour bar is always packed, mostly with low-key, talkative local folks. ‘Glamour’ because of the high ceiling, stucco ornamentation, great cocktails and candlelight. Funky because of the plain tables, DIY ambience, unembellished walls and…candlelight. If you get the munchies, pick from the small but satisfying menu.
reviewed