8mm Bar
The kind of cramped, stuffy hole where desperate but culturally literate 30-somethings stand around soaking their liver in gin till 4:00 am on a Monday night. But it’s better than that: a lot of the barflies there are actually talented, multi-lingual filmmakers or over-the-hill cutting edge DJs. Yes, it’s smoky and a bit grimy. But the DJs have class and they project the same weird movie all the time. All in all, a beacon on lower Schönhauser. Schönhauser Alle 177B, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 4050 0624, www.8mmbar.com, open daily 24 hours, cash only
Alarabi
Lounge back on the enormous cushions in the candle-lit Alarabi (literally meaning ‘the Arab’) shisha den. Choose from 13 types of tobacco or go for the boss’ apple recommendation (patrons’ favourite too!). Combinations also available upon request. Sample one of their specialised Arabic wines from Lebanon or Algeria and soak up the culture. Krossener Str. 19, U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor, Tel 0172 4603250, daily 10:00- late, from 3.50-9 euros, credit cards accepted
Alt-Berlin
Cosy two-room pub - an island of wood-panelled ‘old Berlin’ amidst a sea of designer shopping and hip restaurants. The walls are decorated with oddities (like a diagram of a V2 rocket), and they usually play blues or classic rock - which doesn’t seem to bother the chatty, rather intellectual looking drinkers. There’s a no-surprises selection of beer (though not the cheapest) and drinkable wine, and the affable bartenders are always pleased if you try some of the superb hand-crafted German Schnapps. Order a tasty Boulette (meat patty) or pickle if you get the late-night munchies. Münzstr. 23, U-Bhf Weinmeisterstr., Tel 281 9687, daily 18:00-late, cash only
Ambulance
An oasis of style on a touristy drag with large cocktails and dancing. Oranienburgerstr. 27, Mitte, S-Bhf Oranienburger Str.
Ankerklause
Settle back and enjoy this fanciful maritime bar nestled bang-smack on a busy corner, by a canal, opposite the bustling Turkish market (Tue/Fri) in southern Kreuzberg. It’s a prime location to hang out with a cool, laid-back and fresh crowd. Thursday night is party night, with electronic and disco beats, ice-cold drinks and party people spilling out across the wooden canal deck - their reflections dancing over the water. The juke-box is the best in town. Kottbusser Damm 104, U-Bhf Kottbusser Tor/Schönleinstr., Tel 693 5649,www.ankerklause.de, Mon 16:00-3:00, Tue-Sun 10:00-3:00, food 2.50-6 euros, cash only
Belushi`s
A great new sports bar and backpackers lounge located in friendly the St. Christopher’s hostel directly across from the infamous Volksbühne theatre on Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse. Equipped with projector screens for sports (Sky Sport for the Ashes and Premiership coming soon), pool table, foozeball table, internet terminals and a live rock music program, there is always something fun going one here. Rosa Luxemburg Str. 39-41, Mitte, U-Bhf Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Tel 8145 3960, www.belushis.com
Club der Visionäre
Set in the rooms of an old boathouse, this rustic, atmospheric and tranquil bar glows with the warmth of summer. The large wooden terrace hugs the banks of the Landwehrkanal and floats on its back a myriad of sofas and tables perfect for a cold drink whilst soaking up the sun. Club der Visionäre hosts regular weekend after-parties playing minimal electro and house. Things heat up in the evenings as the crowd and the party kicks off. Am Flutgraben 1 (off Schlesisches Str.), U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor/S-Bhf Treptower Park, Tel 6951 8944, www.clubdervisionaere.com, Mon-Fri 16:00-late, Sat-Sun 12:00-late, cash only
Click here to find Club der Visionäre on the map
Dr Pong
Austere, smoky, ultra-popular table tennis bar. Big with the arty, studenty crowd – maybe because of the cheap beer. A must see.
Eberswalder Strasse 21, Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str. www.drpong.net
Enoiteca il Calice
Technically more a restaurant than bar, but the oenophile in your group will be eternally grateful after an evening here. A wine cellar with over 400 varieties is periodically perused to offer a varied by-the-glass menu ranging from full-bodied and barrel-reminiscent to fruity, crisp, and refreshing. After the waiters perform a ‘disinfecting’ ceremony to your glasses - with wine, naturally - let them advise you on what to choose, and if you’re hungry, which ‘degustation platter’ to enjoy alongside. Walter-Benjamin-Platz 4, U-Bhf Adenauerplatz, Tel 324 3208, www.enoiteca-il-calice.de, Mon-Sat 12:00-2:00, Sun 17:00-2:00, wine 4-16 euros, AmEx accepted
Erdbeer
The name of this retro hipster hang-out means strawberry and the bar is famous for its strawberry daiquiris made with vodka or rum. Max-Beer-Str. 56, Mitte, U-Bhf Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Ex ‘N Pop
A more-than-welcome change from all those bars that adhere to crap litehousemusic. This place really rocks. Great music prevails - no punk or techno, thank you very much. Grab your beer by neck and prepare to get rowdy, or at least play Kicker. Cinema as well. Potsdamer Str. 157, U-Bhf Bülowstr., Tel 2199 7470, www.ex-n-pop.de, Mon-Sun 22:00-late
Felsenkeller
Don’t drum your fingers: it takes almost as long to pull a Pils here (one of eight on tap) as it can to drink one, proper-style. This drives away any ruffians, perhaps, as a serious
crowd mulls philosophy over their brews. This small 1920s-style watering hole is a Berlin institution, where the art of beer-drinking is truly appreciated. Akazienstr. 2, U-Bhf Eisenacher Str., Tel 781 3447, Mon-Fri 16:00-2:00, Sat 12:00-2:00, Sun 18:00-2:00, cash only
Gainsbourg Bar Américain
Named after risqué French musician Serge Gainsbourg, who was influenced by sounds from Britpop to hip hop, this bustling bar offers an equally wide, creative selection of drinks, taking especial pride in cocktails invented by award-winning bartender Frido Keiling. Sample a winner from the 1995 German championship, the Juliette Gréco, a
Creamsicle-like concoction of rum, orange liquor, OJ, vanilla, and cream. Savignyplatz 5, S-Bhf Savingyplatz, Tel 313 7464, www.gainsbourg.de, daily 16:00-late, major cedit cards accepted
Gasthaus Lentz
So, you want to go to a Berliner Kneipe without several ancient Stammgäste interrupting their Hartz IV complaints to glare at you? Try this place, a homey corner with relaxed service, a mixed crowd, and plenty of beers on tap. Favorites like Bouletten or Maultaschen soup will provide energy for a long, comfortable evening of drinking and talking. Stuttgarter Platz 20, S-Bhf Charlottenburg or U-Bhf Wilmersdorferstr., Tel 3241619, daily 9:00-1:30, cash only
Goldfisch
The dim corners of this snappy yet rustic cocktail bar can keep you occupied for hours just reading through the cocktail selection! The velvet-clad brick interior compliments its funky couches and even funkier people. Quiet enough to talk and yet noisy enough to entertain, Goldfisch is a place to take friends who appreciate fine cocktails and teetotalers alike. Grünbergerstr. 67, U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor, this place is too cool for contact details (seriously), just head on down, daily 20:00-3:00 at least!, cash only
Green Door:
Ring the bell at the green door and enter the ‘experience of positive drinking’. A wide selection of outstanding cocktails and trendy retro feel, including a glowing Labrador at the bar (’Moritz’), give this well-heeled bar a high style unique in Berlin. Winterfeldtstr. 50, U-Bhf Nollendorfplatz, Tel 215 2515, www.greendoor.de, Mon-Thu 18:00-3:00, Fri-Sat 18:00-4:00, EC accepted
Click here to find Green Door on the map
Greenwich :
Top-notch trendoid NY-style cocktail lounge, done out in green with an aquarium thrown in for good measure. Gipsstr. 5, Mitte, U-Bhf Weinmeister Str., open from 22:00
Greenwich:
One of the oldest cocktail bars in the Scheunenviertel, this long, aquarium-fitted padded cell with cowhide for wallpaper continues to attract a well-groomed, affluent crowd every night of the week. It’s the kind of place that knows how to make a proper dry martini. They can get a little picky about who they let in when it’s busy, so don’t show up in shorts and flip-flops. Gipsstr. 5, U-Bhf Weinmeisterstr., Tel 2809 5566, daily 19:00-late, cash only
Hairy Mairy’s:
Tiny, dark, cosy and friendly Scottish-American-run basement-level watering hole adorned with a few bits of secondhand vinyl furniture and quirky artwork. No fuss, low prices - virtually unheard of these days around the Wasserturm. Try the ‘Iceberg’ (Pernod, vodka and 7-Up) or the secret-recipe Bloody Mary. Owner Mark’s a Scot, ensuring a fine malt
whiskey selection. They show all relevant international football on the telly. Diedenhofer Str. 5, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, www.hairymarys.de.tt, daily 20:00-late, cash only
Hausbar:
Open till 5:00 am every single night of the week, there are few other alternatives for nightowls in the toddler-dense Kollwitz neighbourhood. The inviting, warm redand- gold interior (cherubs on the ceiling watch over you) of the single room snuggled up against
the Rykestrasse synagogue feels like a home away from home. It’s so intimate, it’s almost impossible not to talk to people, and the well-made cocktails are sure to make the conversation flow. Happy hour Mon-Sun 19:00-21:00, all cocktails 4.50 euros. Rykestr. 54, U-Bhf Senefelder Platz, Tel 4404 7606, daily 19:00-5:00, cash only
Kim:
Midnight Friday: the after-party of one of the new Brunnenstrasse galleries has spilled over into Kim, the new bar above the northern Rosenthaler Platz U-Bahn exit. It’s packed with art-folk enjoying Kim’s reasonable drink prices and unembellished look. Kim is that
bare space - with a few low key touches like a mini-mezzanine and lowered false ceiling - that Mitte insomniacs have been waiting for. Reminiscent of when the area was filled with little illegal nightlife spots 10 years ago. Reminds Mitte what Mitte is supposed to be. Brunnenstr. 10, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel, daily 21:00-late, cash only
Metzer Eck:
The oldest traditional Eckkneipe (corner pub) in the neighbourhood, Metzer Eck has been run by the same family for four generations. The dark, smoke-filled interior - adorned with miscellaneous photos and knickknacks - attracts a mix of Prenzlauer Berg natives and newer arrivals. Like any proper Eckkneipe it has a Sparverein (savings club) box where members deposit a few euros every week - the savings are spent on a Christmas bash for members. Metzer Eck serves old-fashioned German pub grub (Schnitzel, Kassler, Boulette, etc.). Metzer Str. 33, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 442 7656, www.metzer-eck.de, Mon-Fri 16:00-1:00, Sat 18:00-1:00, EC accepted
Pony Bar:
The crowd here is quite a bit younger than at most Mitte watering holes, which nowadays seem to cater to 30- and 40- somethings. In fact, half the drinkers look like upand- coming web-designers or else fashion-conscious interns from ad agencies and galleries in the area - not a bad thing! It’s always pleasantly full and they seem to play mostly hip hop at a sane volume. Serves Astra beer from Hamburg and the bar is well-stocked with spirits, including a handful of reasonably priced single-malts. Alte Schönhauser Str. 44, U-Bhf Weinmeisterstr., Tel, Mon-Sat 12:00-late, Sun 18:00-late, cash only
Schwarzsauer:
Should you find yourself on Kastanienallee at 2:00 am, you’ll inevitably stumble into the smoke-filled Schwarzsauer, where you’ll encounter a mix of barflies and trendy young things. In warm weather, it’s all about seeing or being seen at tables outside - which, for some reason, are always packed with the highest density of hipsters within a mile radius. Schwarzsauer serves café food like bagels and lox during the daytime. Kastanienallee 13, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., Tel 448 5633, daily 8:00-6:00, bagels from 2.50 euros, cash only
Scotch & Sofa :
Think bourbon and the blues in a smoky, comfortable environment. Kollwitzstr. 18, Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz
Tagung:
Die Tagung Soviet theme bar comes complete with authentic Ossi bar flies, more than excited to show off their wenig Englisch with some native speakers. Put a coin on the Kicker table at the back to reserve a game and a free German lesson. A great place to start a night with a quiet (cheap!) beer or to see out an evening of raucous behaviour, Tagung is immer für Sie da, open all night and morning. You won’t walk away without a new acquaintance you’ll probably never see again! Wühlischstr. 29, S+U-Bhf Warschauer Str., Tel. 2977 3788, Mon-Sun 19:00-late, cash only
Wendel:
Cluttered with airplane seats, graffiti tags, artwork, bottles and books, organic bar Wendel has established its ambient tone for body and mind. Serving organic snacks, beers and liquor in an atmospheric and gritty Kreuzberg Altbau, this place simply has character and charm. An open-art gallery sprawls the walls under soft lighting whilst atmospheric records spin on the decks. Try a bottle of Pinkus, a fruity organic
beer, or the special homemade lemonade. Schlesische Str. 42, U-Bhf Schlesisches Tor, Tel 6107 4029, www.nstp.de, Mon-Sun 12:00-3:00, food 2.50-13 euros, cash only
Wohnzimmer :
It’s called “living room” and that is what it is. Second-hand sofas and coffee tables strewn around a cosy retro interior, with an electronica soundtrack. Lettestr. 6 , Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str.
Zoulou Bar:
Laid back lounge with specials every day, cocktails, Berliner Pilsener or Kölsch from the tap. The slightly older and super-friendly crowd make this American bar a winner. Happy hour every day between 19:00 and 21:00, midnight and 2:00. A large garden makes it perfect for the summertime, and when it’s gloomy outside the writing lamps from the 1940s lining the walls make for a cozy evening. Hauptstr. 4, U-Bhf Kleistpark, Tel 7009 4737, www.zouloubar.de, daily 19:00-6:00