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Oranienstrasse has long been a favorite nightlife center of decidedly affordable and colorful hipster-favored bars and clubs. The stretch of Kreuzberg between Kottbusser Tor and Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn stations, as well as either side of Görlitzer Park, abound with trendy bars and classic cocktail joints. Along the canals, especially in summer, you'll find plenty of outdoor drinkeries, cafés, and clubs humming into the wee hours.
It may not be much more than a series of wooden rafts and a few shoddily constructed shacks, but this club is one of the most beloved outdoor venues in town. The place is packed at all hours, either with clubbers on their last stop of the evening, or with locals and tourists soaking up the sunshine on a Sunday morning.
Facciola looks like a lovely little wine bar from the outside—large windows with some greenery, a red awning, a handful of Berliners sitting on the stoop. Inside, fresh Italian foods and snacks are available on candlelit tables, but it’s the impressive selection of Italian wines that makes the place stand out—and the over-the-top-friendly bartenders.
Named after owner and head brewer Johannes Heidenpeter, this brewery has transformed its little corner of the bustling Markthalle Neun market hall into a pleasant taproom (the brewing happens just below, in the basement). Enjoy the six beers on tap here, or take them with you in hand-labeled bottles; choices typically include an IPA and a couple of seasonal ales. Open Tuesday and Thursday–Saturday only.
This club, located under the multipurpose art space Planet Modulor Aufbau Haus, has become a neighborhood hangout. DJs, live bands, flea markets, and even food events have all found a home in here. The club is a bit hard to find—look for the ramp leading down to what seems like a parking garage off Prinzenstrasse. It's next to Parker Bowles restaurant, which the club also operates.
This club may not enjoy the breathless hype of some of its brethren, but it has consistency, and perhaps staying power (it's been open since 2007—a lifetime in Berlin). Only the determined will find the place: it’s in an old factory that you reach via a courtyard off a quiet street. Three dance floors with different kinds of music allow you to pick and choose, and the club’s decor includes some Alice-in-Wonderland-like objects like a giant teapot, strangely illuminated stacked cubes, and a ceiling made of umbrellas.
If you don't find any eye candy at tiny Roses there are always the furry red walls and kitschy paraphernalia to admire. It opens at 9:30 pm and keeps going until very late (and is usually very smoky).
Named after a 1962 surrealist film by Luis Buñuel (known as The Exterminating Angel in English), this classy joint offers an elaborate cocktail menu in a well-designed space off Kottbusser Tor. The bar's loyal fans spill out onto the streets on busy nights, and an evening tapas menu comes from the neighboring restaurant, Gorgonzola Club.
A bit rougher around the edges than most Berlin jazz clubs, Yorckschlösschen ("little York castle") has become the unofficial living room of the area's musicians and jazz aficionados. The club is plastered with posters and decorated with old instruments, and the stage isn't much more than a slightly raised platform—but some of the area's best play here. The Thursday-night jam session is free; other nights, a music charge will be added to your bill.
