Kreuzberg
The ‘Drink Devil’ punk pub (subtitled ‘gateway to hell’) made international headlines back in 2009, when singer Pete Doherty downed some shots here before…
Must-see nightlife in Berlin
Kreuzberg
Tarted up nicely with vintage furniture, baroque wallpaper and whimsical wall art by Berlin-based street artist Chin Chin, Luzia draws its crowd from…
Friedrichshain
Named for a lane in Hamburg’s red-light district where the Beatles cut their teeth, Grosse Freiheit is a popular men-only harbour for a drink and meet-up,…
Prenzlauer Berg
Potent java, homemade cakes, and flowers from the attached shop perfume the art nouveau interior of this corner cafe named for a 1919 Dadaist poem by…
Neukölln
Quite literally a bastion of the Berlin ‘underground’ is this warren-like cellar in a back courtyard. The charmingly improvised dancing den is affiliated…
Berlin
Watch the city light up from this 17th-floor glass-walled sky lounge above a posh restaurant. With its dim lighting, soft black leather couches and…
Kreuzberg
Berlin's third-wave coffee pioneer started in a tiny cafe in Prenzlauer Berg and, on its 10th anniversary, opened this second branch in a Kreuzberg…
Kreuzberg
One of Berlin’s original techno labels and dance temples, Tresor has not only the pedigree but all the right ingredients for success: the industrial maze…
Berlin
Nothing to do with either coffee or meat patties, this sweaty cult club with lovingly faded retro decor is a fun-for-all concert and party pen. The sound…
Prenzlauer Berg
Proof that the boho spirit is not dead in Prenzlauer Berg, Chagall gets flooded with a congenial mix of locals, expats and visitors. They come for cold…
Berlin
Next to an idyllic lake in Tiergarten, this restaurant gets jammed year-round for its sumptuous breakfast and seasonal fare, but it really comes into its…
Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke
Friedrichshain
Knock back a couple of brewskis if you need to loosen your nerves before belting out your best Adele or Lady Gaga at this mad, great karaoke joint, which…
Museumsinsel & Alexanderplatz
Berlin’s premier Sunday club is known for excessive SM (standing and modelling) with lots of smooth surfaces – and that goes for both the crowd and the…
Kreuzberg
Behind a long window front, at eye level with the elevated U-Bahn tracks, Monarch is a fun DJ bar with an international crowd, strong drinks and danceable…
Prenzlauer Berg
Soak up the rays, grand city views and colourful cocktails at this beach bar in the sky while sinking your toes into tonnes of sand lugged to the top…
Berlin
Ben and Gekko's 'castle' is a comfortable lair that has just the right amount of contemporary cool without hitting the hipster needle. There's coffee and…
Friedrichshain
The successor of the legendary Bar25, Kater Blau showers freewheeling club-goers with fine electro in a rambling indoor-outdoor playground, featuring two…
City West & Charlottenburg
A top libation station, Zentral is run by two local bar gurus who offer up a seriously crafted palette of classics and new-falutin' potions, amid decor…
Neukölln
With its daily line-up of Berlin-based electro DJs, table tennis, low prices and 5am closing time (8am on weekends), Promenaden Eck ticks all the boxes of…
Berlin
Plop into a red-velvet armchair at this seductively lit art deco–inspired retreat for a civilised evening with a classic G&T or perhaps a highly…
Prenzlauer Berg
Part circus, part burlesque bar, this vibrant venue dressed in Victorian-era exuberance is a fun and friendly addition to the Prenzlauer Berg pub culture…
Berlin
At this drinking salon devoted to gin-based libations, a black-and-gold colour scheme sets the mood for a night of civilised sipping. A vast selection…
Kreuzberg
All comers descend on punk-rock-pedigreed SO36 for the ultimate rainbow tea dance that goes from ‘strictly ballroom’ to ‘dirty dancing’ in a flash. If you…
Friedrichshain
A slice of the Caribbean on the Spree River, this reggae and dancehall institution attracts an all-ages, cross-cultural crowd to its live concerts,…
Museumsinsel & Alexanderplatz
This high-octane club has taken up residency at Café Moskau, a protected East Berlin landmark. Dress to impress the door staff in order to gyrate on the…
Friedrichshain
New owners have given the former Kosmonaut a seriously pimped-up look and a slick new sound and light concept. The action spreads across three dance…
Schöneberg
This legendary men-only party den, with two dance floors, a huge cruising area and a three-floor cinema, was a techno pioneer way back in the '80s;…
Kreuzberg
In this tiny shrine to spirits tucked beneath the eponymous Spanish restaurant, the emphasis is on drinks that have written cocktail history. From Old…
Neukölln
Always wall-to-wall with globalists, this Kiez (neighbourhood) pioneer is a dressed-down watering hole with a fridge full of beer to fuel your inner party…
Prenzlauer Berg
Named for owner Bart Neirynck's German teacher, Herman offers up a bewildering range of Belgian beers, 100 in all, from abbey ale and wheat beer to Lambic…
Berlin
What was once an East Berlin broadcast centre from the 1950s is now a recording studio but also hosts big club nights, festivals and concerts. Tours of…
Schöneberg
A former brothel, this trashy bat cave started out as an art project and is kooky and kitsch enough to feature in a 1940s Shanghai noir thriller. Famous…
Kreuzberg
For a short night’s journey into day, check into this high-octane riverside club with two floors, panoramic windows and a floating terrace overlooking the…
Friedrichshain
An East Berlin institution since 1973, the reed-thatched Pavillon serves breakfast (€5-10) until 4pm and is best on sunny days, when you can enjoy the…
Berlin
Walking up Müllerstrasse, coffee-nistas will be lured by the irresistible aroma of freshly roasted beans emanating from this little shop in the Wedding…
Berlin
Steel frames, industrial lamps, hard edges – this particular 'witch's lair' has a decidedly stylish, masculine look and feel. Strong and creative drinks,…
Schöneberg
A long line of renowned mixologists has presided over this softly lit bar behind the eponymous green door – a nod to Prohibition-era speakeasies. Amid…
Schöneberg
Chic yet loungey, the 'Perfect World’ gets high marks for its chatty vibe, high flirt factor and handsome laddies (and the occasional lady). It’s a great…
Kreuzberg
One of the friendliest bars in town, ‘Larks & Owls’ plies an international crowd with cold Augustiner beer, kick-ass cocktails and fair-trade java – all…
Prenzlauer Berg
Birra is living proof that Italy does more than cappuccino and Chianti. In this rustic beer bar, the selection on tap includes Lambrate, which is…
