Newton Bar
This posh bar in Mitte has been around for ages. Helmut Newton's larger-than-life photos of nude women decorate the walls.
49 Best Bars in Berlin, Germany
Nearly a century after Weimar-era Berlin redefined the meanings of decadence and excess, the city is still pulsing at pretty much all hours of the night. Berlin nightlife still pushes boundaries and takes risks. In fact, to non-Berliners who aren’t used to it, some of the clubs and bars here can appear to be operating far out of the boundaries of decency—or even the law.
Many Berlin bars will often open as cafés in the afternoon, slowly getting darker and smokier as the hours wear on and the coffee and tea turns into beer and wine. In Germany the term Kneipen is used for down-to-earth bars that are comparable to English pubs. These places are pretty simple and laid-back; you probably shouldn't try to order a three-ingredient cocktail at one unless you spot a lengthy drinks menu. If you're looking for something more upscale, elegant bars and lounges can be found in Mitte’s Scheunenviertel, in Charlottenburg, and in Berlin’s five-star hotels, and new cocktail bars are cropping up in unexpected places, like Kreuzberg, Schöneberg, and even Neukölln.
The best and most notorious clubs in Berlin occupy old industrial buildings in formerly shabby, alternative neighborhoods like Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. As with bars, the snazziest clubs and lounges can be found near high-end hotels in Mitte around Unter den Linden and Gendarmenmarkt, or in Charlottenburg. Clubs are notorious for getting a shockingly late (or should we say early?) start: many don’t open until midnight, and aren’t worth visiting before 2 or 3 in the morning. Happily, the club scene is far less snooty and self-absorbed than in other major cities: for the most part, you’ll encounter lax door policies and casually dressed revelers. Since the fall of the Wall, Berlin has become a mecca for electronica, and that means club goers take dancing as seriously as partying. Prepare to be swept up in waves of endless, exuberant movement, much of it—especially in the case of Berlin’s most popular techno club Berghain—fueled by drug use. If that’s not your thing, though, don’t worry: there’s something for everyone in the city these days, especially now that the landscape has gone a bit more upscale. Note that clubs often switch the music they play nightly so the crowds and popularity can vary widely. Though club nights are driven by the DJ name, the music genres are written in English in listing magazines.
Berlin is unmistakably Germany's gay capital, and many Europeans come to partake in the diverse scene, which concentrates on Schöneberg (around Nollendorfplatz) and Kreuzberg. Check out the magazines Siegessäule (includes English-language listings and articles), (030), and blu.
You might not know to look at it, but Berlin is a veritable jazz destination. Home to one of Germany’s earliest programs of jazz study (at the Üniversitat der Kunste or University of the Arts) Berlin attracts serious jazz musicians from around the world, and nurtures its own homegrown talents. Aside from the large, long-running clubs focusing on international acts, smaller, cozier jazz clubs, barely larger than living rooms, are sprinkled throughout the city. The Berlin Jazz Festival takes place every November, uniting many of them.
Prince Charles
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.
Quasimodo
To get to Quasimodo, the most established and popular jazz venue in the city, you'll need to descend a small staircase to the basement of the Theater des Westens. Despite its college-town pub feel, the club has hosted many Berlin and international greats. Seats are few, but there's plenty of standing room in the front.
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Ritter Butzke
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.
Roses
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).
Rum Trader
This cocktail bar, which bills itself as the oldest in Berlin (it opened in 1975), may have the right to be a bit snooty: there is only room for around 30 people, and if they're full you'll be waiting outside in the cold. But inside, the bar is classic and cozy, with built-in shelves for spirits, and every patron has a front-row seat to the bartenders' show. The drinks, too, are worth the wait—just don't let the bartender catch you showing ignorance about alcohol or, God forbid, treating your cocktail as anything less than a work of art.
Sage Club
Affiliated with nearby Sage Restaurant, this eclectic club is open only on Thursday. Different floors play different music, from rock to electro, so expect to see diverse crowds depending on the vibe (check the program on the website).
Sameheads
This bar, club, and performance venue has anchored the district’s nightlife scene ever since it was founded by three visionary British brothers in 2006. The upstairs is a straightforward bar, cozy and local, while the cavelike cellar hosts live bands and a range of shows including experimental fashion, open-mic, and underground vinyl parties.
SchwuZ
SchwuZ moved to the newly hip Neukölln neighborhood from its original location on Mehringdamm, in Kreuzberg, and the new digs in the old Kindl brewery serve it well: in addition to 1980s music and house dance nights, expect more varied offerings like drag shows, concert performances, and art exhibitions. The venue prides itself on being a "shelter" for queer communities and non-heteronormative lifestyles.
Sisyphos
This sprawling adults' playground, located Spree-side in an old dog-biscuit factory in a former no-go neighborhood, has a cobbled-together feel: you'll find a sandy beach, a man-made pond with a raft in the middle, a camper van, and a number of wooden huts. The club is truly a late-night spot; don’t expect much to be happening here before 3 am.
TiER
On a popular corner of Weserstrasse, the TiER cocktail bar's lively crowd often spills out into the street. It's often crowded and large groups aren't admitted to keep a more intimate atmosphere inside, but if you do get past the door, you'll find a cozy inside with top-quality cocktails. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto the street.
Tipi am Kanzleramt
Tipi is a tent venue between the Kanzleramt (Chancellor's Office) and Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Artists featured are well suited for an international audience, and you can opt to dine here before the show. Even the back-row seats are good.
Twinpigs
A new bar and café opened by a Chilean architect and a Swedish filmmaker, this locals' haunt has quickly become a favorite hideout thanks to it top-quality cocktails and a cozy, raw interior that reminds you more of a friend's home than a trendy nightspot. Friendly bartenders will happily recommend drinks. The candlelit bar is open daily from 4 pm, with small sandwiches served during the afternoon. It's closed Monday.
Vagabund
This scrappy little bar and brewery opened in summer 2013 after a successful crowdfunding campaign and has already become a local favorite for all ages. The three friendly American proprietors are beer aficionados who began brewing for fun, but soon realized there was a market for their small-batch craft products. On any given night, they’ll have a selection of local beers on tap, including brews from Wedding compatriots Beer4Wedding or Kreuzberg favorites Heidenpeters, as well as an impressive selection of imported bottles.
Visite Ma Tente
A sweet little French-owned bar with a slightly naughty name, this spot has been a local favorite for several years now—simple and comfortable yet tres chic. Come here when you’re tired of Berlin’s beer-dominated bar culture, and order a kir royal or a glass of excellent French wine, paired with a meat-and-cheese platter. In good weather, nab a rickety sidewalk table; the bar’s corner location is great for people-watching.
Weinerei Forum
It sounds like a recipe for disaster: pay 2 euro for an empty glass, fill it with your choice of wine from a number of bottles, and when you're ready to leave, pay whatever you think you owe. But this pay-as-you-wish bar has survived for more than 15 years; in fact, Weinerei is one of three such "Communist wine bars," all on the border between Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg. Although the wines aren't extraordinary, the charming concept has attracted cash-strapped Berliners steadily over the years. Note that the pay-what-you-want option is only available after 8 p.m.
Wintergarten Varieté
The Wintergarten Varieté pays romantic homage to the old days of Berlin's original variety theater in the 1920s.
Würgeengel
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.
Yorckschlösschen
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.
