Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bierstube Alt Berlin
Münzstr. 23
T
030 281 96 87;
U-Weinmeisterstrasse; map pp.72-73.
A traditional
corner pub,
Alt Berlin
has successfully resisted time (and
gentrification) in an area that hasn't. Traditional jazz or Tom
Waits features on the stereo, and since it's a small place that
values atmosphere, don't show up in a large group as you'll
probably be turfed out.
Daily from 8pm.
Bohannon
Dircksenstr. 40
T
030 69 50 52 87,
W
bohannon.de; S-Hackescher Markt; map pp.72-73.
Named after funk legend Hamilton Bohannon, this club is
one of the few places in the city with regular hip-hop, funk
and dancehall sets, though the sound system could be
better. Entry €5-10.
Mon, Fri & Sat 10pm-late.
Ì
Clärchens Ballhaus
Auguststr. 24
T
030 282 92
95,
W
ballhaus.de; S-Hackescher Markt; map pp.72-
73.
Opened in 1913, providing a hedonistic venue
throughout the 1920s and just about surviving fascism and
communism, this dancehall is back in style, hosting a range
of dance nights, from swing to tango and waltz, with
instruction provided (times on website). Sun afternoons
see the upstairs mirror room - unused during GDR days for
being too glitzy - acting as a concert venue. Great pizza,
too.
Daily 10am until late.
Delicious Doughnuts
Rosenthaler Str. 9
T
030 28 09
92 74,
W
delicious-doughnuts.de; U-Rosenthaler Platz;
map pp.72-73.
The one place in Mitte open to anybody, at
any time of night: part club, part dive bar, it comes into its
own in the small hours, when it fills with post-club
casualties, the odd transvestite and anyone looking to
drink themselves to bed.
Daily 9pm-late.
Grüner Salon
Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz 2
T
030 24 59 89
36,
W
gruener-salon.de; U-Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz;
map pp.72-73.
Club beside the
Roter Salon
(see p.209)
that preserves something of the 1920s in its chandeliers
and velvet. Renowned for salsa courses and Fri tango
evenings, but with a varied programme of live music,
comedy and cabaret besides. Entry €4-15.
Thurs
9pm-4am, Fri & Sat 11pm-4am.
Kaffee Burger
Torstr. 60
T
030 28 04 64 95,
W
kaffeeburger.de; U-Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz; map
pp.72-73.
Russian-owned smoky 1970s retro-bar
legendary for its Russian-themed disco nights, but good at
any time, not least for the mad mix of genres - Balkan, surf
rock, samba, rockabilly - that fills the small dance floor.
Readings and poetry often start evenings off, but it really
fills up later on. Entry €1-5.
Mon-Thurs from 8pm, Fri &
Sat from 9 or 10pm, Sun from 7pm.
Kim bar
Brunnenstr. 10
W
kim-bar.com; U-Rosenthaler
Platz; map pp.72-73.
Art space, bar and locals' hangout,
Kim
is a firm favourite among Mitte's trend-conscious residents.
There's no sign on the door, just a glass facade (the entrance is
through the adjacent courtyard) onto a perpetually dark,
white-walled space. Check the website for information on art,
film and DJ nights.
Tues-Sat 8pm-late.
TOP 5 PLACES TO START A
NIGHT OUT
Cassiopeia
See p.213
Oscar Wilde Irish Pub
See p.209
Verkehrsberuhigte Ost-Zone
See p.209
Zoulou Bar
See p.210
Zu mir oder zu dir
See p.215
14
ALEXANDERPLATZ AND AROUND
2BE Club
Klosterstr. 44
T
030 89 06 84 10,
W
2be-club
.de; U-Klosterstrasse; map p.60.
Arguably Berlin's
premier hip-hop club, spread over two big dance floors,
with a playlist that encompasses reggae, ragga and r'n'b.
Attracts many big-name DJs and artists. Entry €10.
Sat
11pm until late.
Ì
Golden Gate
Dircksenstr. 77-78
T
030 282 92 95,
W
goldengate-berlin.de; S-Jannowitzbrücke; map p.60.
Lurking beneath the S-Bahn tracks, this club consists of two
wilfully shabby rooms kitted out in secondhand furniture
and is dedicated to two- or three-day-long free-for-alls. The
crowds here tend to be a dressed down, unpretentious lot
who arrive well after midnight to try their luck with the
di
cult bouncers. Music is mostly house and techno with
some surprises.
Wed from 10pm, Thurs-Sat from 11pm.
Weekend
Alexanderplatz 5
T
030 24 63 16 76,
W
week-end-berlin.de; U- & S-Alexanderplatz; map
p.60.
Occupying the former GDR state travel agency, this
club is typical of Berlin's creative transformations. The
twelfth-floor views over central Berlin are spectacular and
the roof terrace wonderful. All this makes up for the coolly
offhand manner of many of its patrons as they groove to
house and techno. Very popular Sun gay night. Entry €10-
12.
Thurs-Sat 11pm until late.
SPANDAUER VORSTADT
Acud
Veteranenstr. 21
T
030 44 35 94 99,
W
acud.de;
U-Rosenthaler Platz;
map pp.72-73.
Rock and blues are
the mainstay of this ramshackle venue, with hip-hop and
drum 'n' bass thrown in. There's also a gallery and movie
theatre tucked inside. Entry €3-5.
Daily 11pm until late.
am to pm
Am Zwirngraben 2
T
030 24 08 53 01,
W
amtopm.de; S-Hackescher Markt; map 72-73.
Though it's nothing special, this non-stop café-cum-bar-
cum-club under the S-Bahn tracks is a good people-
watching spot during the day, and a handy spot to start, or
finish, a night out.
Daily 24hr.
Bang Bang
Neue Promenade 10
T
030 60 40 53 10,
W
bangbangclub.net; S-Hackescher Markt; map
pp.72-73.
Small venue, a stone's throw from Hackescher
Markt, that packs a punch when it comes to live music:
expect everything from avant-garde to British and US indie
acts as well as soul, rock and electro DJs. Attracts a
youngish, muso crowd.
Tues-Sat 9pm-late.
