Haus Schwarzenberg (haus-schwarzenberg.org) is the last holdout in the heavily gentrified area around the Hackescher Markt. Run by a nonprofit organization, it's an unpretentious space where art and creativity are allowed to flourish beyond the mainstream and commerce.
Festooned with street art and bizarre metal sculptures, the courtyards lead to studios, offices, the underground "amusement park" Monsterkabinett (monsterkabinett.de; tours €10), the edgy-arty Eschschloraque Rümschrümp (eschschloraque.de) bar, an art-house cinema – outdoors in summer – and a couple of small museums dealing with Jewish persecution during the Third Reich.
Other highlights include the Anne Frank Zentrum (annefrank.de; adult/concession/family €8/4/17) pays tribute to the life and legacy of the young Jewish girl whose poignant diary touched hearts around the world. Upstairs, Neurotitan Gallery (neurotitan.de) champions non-mainstream art, with a soft spot for comics, illustrations and urban art.
