Berlin is known for its versatile and varied bars, which have something to offer for almost every taste. The scene is lively and exciting, and you’ll find plenty of options for a nightcap or two or even a night out. There’s no need to commit with this offer, you can spend many different evenings with friends here.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE BERLIN BAR SCENE
The capital has an almost uncountable number of bars in every neighborhood. Many of them come and go, some stay. Finding the best bars in Berlin doesn’t usually require a long search. They can be found in every district and offer you great cocktails, varied music and always a special feature that sets them apart.
Cocktail bars and dance bars in Berlin are not just random places for a quick drink. They each have their own history and bring a personal touch that makes them appreciated and popular. Various distinctive bars with an international character and individual flair await you.
THE BEST COCKTAIL BARS
Finding the best cocktail bar in Berlin is not easy given the large number. Here are five impressive top locations that are well worth a visit. If you appreciate cocktails and creative creations, these bars are definitely a good choice.
SPHERE BAR BERLIN
The Sphere Bar is one of the best cocktail bars in Berlin Mitte. The name says it all: the bar is located 203 meters up in Berlin’s TV tower, making it the highest in the entire city and the highest bar in Germany in a single building. The panoramic view over Berlin is correspondingly impressive. The drinks are also extraordinary: the Sphere Bar is known for its creative beer cocktails made by BRLO.
SCHWARZE TRAUBE
You’ll find the Schwarze Traube in Kreuzberg’s Wrangelkiez district. The atmosphere is described as very authentic and cozy, just like in your own living room. Don’t be surprised, you have to ring the bell to get in. The bar is small and when it’s full, the entrance is closed. It’s worth arriving early if you want to secure a seat.
HERR LINDEMANN
This cocktail bar on Neukölln’s Richardplatz is absolutely exceptional, because you can get the best herbal cocktails here. The cocktail menu reads like an encyclopaedia for plants and offers you an exciting range of high-proof drinks, each with a perfectly balanced herbal mixture. The ambience is stylish and cozy, a bar for something special.
GREEN DOOR BAR
The Green Door Bar is located in the popular Winterfeldstraße in Schöneberg. In addition to classic cocktails, you can also enjoy delicious home-made creations that are worth a visit in themselves. The Chesterfield furniture at the entrance is just as classic as the furniture from the 1990s, which was brought in specially from New York. The bar itself is furnished somewhere between the set of a David Lynch movie and a private salon.
LE JARDIN
There are many good bars in Berlin. One of the most impressive is probably the extremely glamorous Le Jardin Bar in Berlin Mitte. The interior is award-winning and is reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s. To set itself apart from the classic cocktail world, the bar also serves experimental botanical drinks. Here, all the ingredients end up in the centrifuge before serving and the taste experience is considered exquisite.
The best dance bars in Berlin
If you’re not just looking for a great cocktail, but also want to dance, then you should check out the following locations. Here you will find rousing music and all the conditions you need to turn night into day.
Clärchens Ballhaus
The legendary dance bar Clärchens Ballhaus is located in Berlin Mitte. The name goes back to a ballroom that is more than 100 years old and is now a listed building. Here you will find delicious drinks, tasty food and varied music. It is also worth visiting during the day as part of a historical tour, which is offered regularly.
MADAME CLAUDE
The very chilled dance bar Madame Claude is located in Kreuzberg’s Wrangelkiez district and is housed in the premises of a former brothel. The cozy interior with lots of sofas is reminiscent of a so-called upside-down house, where everything is upside down. The bar is known for its delicious cocktails and music parties, which often take the form of experimental quizzes.
MONKEY BAR
On the 10th floor of the listed Bikini Berlin hotel on Breitscheidplatz, the rooftop bar offers a great view of Berlin Zoo. In addition to cocktails and music, you can also enjoy small dishes from the legendary NENI kitchen of the famous Israeli chef Haya Molcho.
ON A SUNDAY IN AUGUST
In Pankow you will find the cozy bar with the sonorous name “On a Sunday in August”. The origin of the name is unclear, but the feel-good atmosphere with Hollywood swings and beach chairs leaves no questions unanswered. The location is only a bar in the evening, during the day you can have breakfast or a burger here.
PRINZIPAL BAR
The Prinzipal Bar in Kreuzberg has a burlesque interior from the 1920s. The bar is stylish and offers first-class cocktails and a variety of burlesque shows. If you are interested in variety shows from the past, this bar is a must.
BEST BARS IN BERLIN FOR THE LGBTQI* SCENE
If you want to enjoy your evening in a queer-friendly setting, there are plenty of options in Berlin. Here are three bars that focus on comfort and openness.
MARIETTA
Marietta is one of the best-known and most popular queer bars in Prenzlauer Berg. All groups are welcome here, whether lesbian, gay, trans or straight. Age doesn’t matter, nor does clothing – everything from chic to alternative is represented. The friendly bar has a vintage look and offers delicious drinks and rare types of gin for connoisseurs. Important to know: Marietta is a smokers’ bar.
SILVER FUTURE
This cheerful and lively bar in Neukölln is highly regarded in the community for its informal atmosphere. Even though the location is mainly favored by lesbians, there are also plenty of gays here. The drinks prices are generally considered to be particularly reasonable. During the day, Silver Future functions as a queer café with delicious cakes.
BAR SAINT JEAN
Saint Jean in Mitte is open to all queer guests and is particularly popular with gays. The bar is very stylish and at the same time minimalist and rather reserved. You can get excellent long drinks and many mule variations here.
TWO INSIDER TIPS AT THE END
There are plenty of cool bars in Berlin, including unusual ones off the beaten track. If you want to see something different, these two locations are an option.
KLUNKERKRANICH
The Klunkerkranich is not just a bar. The Neukölln location calls itself a cultural roof garden and offers you a varied program. It’s always worth taking a look at the event area, where you can often experience creative events in the afternoon and relax in the roof garden bar from 6.00 pm. By the way: the entire area is barrier-free.
TRAIN COCKTAIL BAR
A special feature is the train cocktail bar, which is set up in a discarded and specially converted Berlin S-Bahn carriage from the 1920s. It is permanently stationed in Schöneberg, not far from Kleistpark. The atmosphere is cozy, the cocktails are varied and the clientele is diverse. However, you should always check the current opening hours, as the bar is not open every day of the week.
And if you want to round off your night and go partying, you can find the best clubs in Berlin here.
