Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
here are several distinct
nightlife districts
, making it easy to spend an evening trawling
the bars of a particular area before ending up in a late-night club nearby. hat said, with
the
U- and S-Bahn
running nonstop on Friday and Saturday nights - and restarting from
about 4am on other nights - jumping between areas of town could hardly be easier. Most
of the “in” places are to the east, where glitz is out and raving in.
Friedrichshain
and
eastern Kreuzberg
are good areas for the grungiest and most cutting-edge clubs. More
established places are in
Prenzlauer Berg
and the
Spandauer Vorstadt
, and also in
Schöneberg
and
western Kreuzberg
,
where they tend to attract a slightly older crowd.
However, like in most major cities, Berlin's nightspots change rapidly: although we've
included reviews of both well-established and newer places, the scene changes rapidly,
so be prepared for some places to have changed by the time you arrive.
he distinction between cafés, bars, clubs and arts venues in Berlin is notoriously
fluid, with
considerable overlap
between each, meaning that many cafés, bars and beer
gardens listed in “Eating and drinking” (see p.186) may well double as venues of some
sort into the small hours. he places we've reviewed here are particularly good for a
night out. Gay bars and clubs are covered in “Gay and lesbian Berlin” (see p.236).
ESSENTIALS
Listings
To find out what's on where check listings
magazines
Tip
(
W
tip-berlin.de) and
Zitty
(
W
zitty.de),
available at any newsstand, and the free magazine
030
14
before midnight and some stay open beyond 6am.
Admission policies
Berlin's clubs are smaller, cheaper
and less exclusive than their counterparts in London or New
York. And don't worry too much about a dress code - the
city's prevalent shabby-chic aesthetic means you can get
into most places without making much of an effort.
Costs
Clubs are often free - though cover charges tend to
run from €5 to €11 on weekends and can change
dramatically depending on the event.
(
W
berlin030.de), mainly distributed in bars and cafés.
Opening times
Opening times are very relaxed and there
are no last orders. Typically bars will close between 1am
and 5am, often depending on how busy they are and the
mood of the staff, and then may reopen around 9am. Club
hours are also open-ended - it's rare for any to get going
BARS, CLUBS AND MUSIC VENUES
UNTER DEN LINDEN AND AROUND
Newton Bar
Charlottenstr. 57
T
030 20 61 29 99;
U-Stadtmitte; map p.36.
Helmut Newton's lifesize shots
of nude Amazons stare out at the leather and marble
interior of this chic bar, popular with a mature, well-heeled
crowd. Watch Berlin's sharp dressers puff on cigars and sip
well-made cocktails.
Daily 10am until late.
Shochu Bar
Behrenstr. 72
T
030 301 11 73 28,
W
shochubar.de; U-Brandenburger Tor; map p.36.
This
swanky bar offers flamboyant yet elegant cocktails made
from the Japanese spirit it's named after. Japanese food is
served until 11pm and there are sometimes live jazz
performances. Expect a dressy, upmarket crowd.
Mon-Sat
6pm-2am.
Tausend
Schiffbauerdamm 11
T
030 41 71 53 96,
W
tausendberlin.com; U- & S-Friedrichstrasse; map
p.36.
Signposted by an enormous eye emitting a golden
glow over the tunnel-shaped space, this upmarket club
attracts a decidedly dapper crowd - so be sure to look the
part. Inside you'll find a mix of upbeat disco and 1980s
nights. Entry €10.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm-late.
Windhorst
Dorotheenstr. 65
T
030 20 45 00 70; U- &
S-Friedrichstrasse; map p.36.
This little cocktail haven is
tucked away, and though it's not a residential area, feels
like a neighbourhood spot. It's a smart, fairly simple place,
but the cocktails are above average and go well with the
jazz (on vinyl) that they love to play.
Mon-Fri 6pm-late,
Sat 9pm-late.
PUB CRAWLS
If the idea of venturing into Berlin's legendary nightlife seems daunting, or you fancy the
company of young visitors, consider a
pub crawl tour
. For around €12 (cover charges
included) you'll be taken to half-a-dozen or so watering holes and a club. You'll be given free
shots on the street along the way, so it's not the most dignified way to spend an evening, but
it can be good fun if the crowd's right. Pub crawls trawl Berlin every night and companies
include: New Berlin Tours (
W
newberlintours.com), Insider Tours (
W
insiderberlintours.com) and
Alternative Berlin (
W
alternativeberlin.com). The last offers something a bit different, hitting
more unusual nightspots than the competition and with smaller group sizes.
