Monkey Bar, 25h Hotel
One of the things that’s awesome about Berlin is the fact that it has something for every taste. This applies not just to the art galleries that range from big snobby ones to small playful ones, or the theater culture that has big name actors on huge stages on the one side and experimental pieces in improvised settings on the other. It is also something that you will notice in terms of nightlife. There is basically a party for every type of crowd and for every taste in music. The same goes for the bars and this is something I want to explore today.
What bar type are you? You like the classic ones with the best cocktails in the city? Or are you all about friendly and cosy atmosphere? Or do you like to have an awesome view over the city while sipping on your long drink? In our new comprehensive Bar Guide for Berlin we tried to split up the bar scene of Berlin by different types and give you some recommendation for every taste and occasion.
To save you from having to study the drinks menu for 10 minutes in every bar before you know what to order we consulted the cocktail archive of theBar.com and selected a few suitable drinks for each of our bar types. This website comes in handy when you are looking the right cocktail for you as you can search by occasion, spirit or ingredient and also have a look at the recipes that range from cocktail classics to new trendy drinks. Very practical! But now enjoy our bar and cocktail guide after the jump!
The Classic Bar
You like it traditional with the best trained bar tenders and the most delicious cocktails? Than the classic bar is your type of place. The Victoria Bar at Potsdamer Straße is one of the most established and popular classic cocktail bars in Berlin and you can’t go wrong here. The Reingold at Novalisstraße close to Torstraße in Mitte is also a really respected place that serves excellent cocktails. If you are looking for a place further in the West of Berlin you should check out the Green Door which is a bit hidden, but well worth the commute over to Schöneberg. Embedded in the heart of Kreuzberg near Kottbusser Tor you will find that the Würgeengel is also solid place to have a classic cocktail and a nice atmosphere and crowd.
Victoria Bar
Victoria Bar, Potsdamer Str. 102, 10785 Berlin-Schöneberg
Reingold, Novalisstraße 11, 10115 Berlin-Mitte
Green Door, Winterfeldtstraße 50, 10781 Berlin-Schöneberg
Würgeengel, Dresdener Straße 122, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg
What to drink? If you go to a serious cocktail bar, you have to have a series drink and not just the standard longdrink or beer. Try our the Angus Collins which is a refreshing mix of a Whiskey Sour with soda and orange juice. The Gimlet is another great classic cocktail based on Gin and lime juice.
The Alternative Bar
Berlin is known for it’s thriving alternative culture and therefor also has a lot of bars that have an alternative appeal far off the glamour and snobbism of other places. The Panke in Wedding at Gerichtstraße is one of those colorful and culturally mixed places bringing together a art, music, food and nightlife culture in one crazy place in an industrial backyard. If you are a more into rock and indie music there are two other well known and popular bars for this taste wich are the 8mm in Mitte and the Astro bar in Friedrichshain.
Panke
Panke, Gerichtstraße 23, 13347 Berlin-Wedding
8mm, Schönhauser Allee 177b, 10119 Berlin-Mitte
Astro Bar, Simon-Dach-Straße 40, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain
What to drink? You will probably just want a beer or a Whiskey on ice, but hey, how about and alternative cocktail like the Kamikaze which is a variation of the Gimlet but with some extra Grand Marnier orange liquor. Or if you don’t want to be too fancy how about a good old Cuba Libre?
The Secret Bar
Are you looking for those type of places that the mainstream crowd has never heard of or even walked by? You like the excitement of discovering something new and hidden? Than one of the many hidden bars in Berlin will be just your cup of… well, glass of Whiskey. A really nice hidden bar in Wedding is called Anita Berber and it’s at Gerichtstraße. You have to go through several backyards and enter an inconspicuous looking building before you will find the nice bar in the second floor. On the weekends it actually turns into a nice party with dancefloor.
Anita Berber, Gerichtstraße 23, 13347 Berlin-Wedding
What to drink? Mysterous places require mysterious drinks. Penny Black already sounds like a dark tale and also tastes like one with its blend of Whiskey, Grapefruit, lime and some bitter. The Negroni is an equally interesting cocktail made of Gin, Vermouth and Campari.
The Gay Bar
Okay, this is an easy one that needs no further explaining. If you’re gay you probably sometimes like to go to a gay bar. Fair enough! One of the most popular ones, especially on a Thursday, is Möbel Olfe at famous Kotti. Easy atmosphere, cool crowd, a good place to flirt. If you like it a little more alternative and crazy check out Barbie Deinhoff’s at Schlesisches Strasse or Silverfuture at Weserstraße in Neukölln. If you prefer the picturesque and residential area of Prenzlauer Berg you should check out the bar Marietta at Stargarder Straße on Wednesdays.
Möbel Olfe
Möbel Olfe, Reichenberger Str. 177, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Barbie Deinhoff’s, Schlesische Str. 16, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Silverfuture, Weserstr. 206, 12047 Berlin-Neukölln
Marietta, Stargarder Str. 13, 10437 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg
What to drink? Not to indulge to much in clichees, but just for the fun of it I picked two very pink and funny sounding drinks for this bar type: The Woo Woo is a very fruity and easy vodka drink and the Pink Gin is a grapefruit version of a Gin Tonic.
The Hip Bar
Some like it hot and others like it hip and of course the majority of our readers probably like it hipster 😉 Surprise! We do have a bar type for this, too. TiER bar at Weserstraße in Neukölln is one of my personal favorites because it’s a beautiful bar with a really nice crowd. Fahimi at Kotti is a pretty new cool place at Kotti and Neue Odessa Bar at Torstraße in Mitte is more of an old classic for the hip crowd of the city.
Fahimi
TiER, Weserstr. 42, 12045 Berlin-Neukölln
Fahimi, Skalitzer Str. 133, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Neue Odessa Bar, Torstr. 89, 10119 Berlin
What to drink? If this is your bar type you probably have a lot of rules of what is cool and what not. But you can’t go wrong with a classic Moscow Mule. And if you want to be a little bit more trendy try the Elderflower infused Gin&Tonic.
The Fancy Bar
It’s probably not the most typical style for Berlin to be fancy, because let’s face it, Berliners like it dirty, rough and unconventional. But we do have quite a growing number of fancy bars with glossy black bars, shiny walls and retro disco lights. The DEAN, a fairly new place that belongs to the popular Amano Hotel across the street is one of those extra fancy places. The bar Tausend is a total classic in this category and probably the one place with the most impressive interior. Another new place is the Bryk bar at Rykestraße in Prenzlauer Berg. It’s logline is avant-garde drinking and the interior sure looks like it’s gonna be that kind of experience.
DEAN
DEAN, Rosenthaler Str. 9, 10119 Berlin-Mitte
Tausend, Schiffbauerdamm 11, 10117 Berlin-Mitte
Bryk, Rykestr. 18, 10405 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg
What to drink? Don’t be modest here, be fancy! How about a fruity Strawberry Pommegranate Martini or a classy Grand Cosmo (the big sister of the regular Cosmopolitan).
The Buddy Bar
Sometimes you just want to have a relaxed drink with a friend in a easy atmosphere without any pretense and fuzz. You need a buddy bar! Nathanja & Heinrich at Weserkiez is your kind of place than. The cosy cafe turns into a busy bar at night and attracts an easygoing mixed crowd. Lot’s of couches and big tables make this a perfekt place for bigger groups. The Farbfernseher at Skalitzer Straße in Kreuzberg is pretty much a classic in this genre and also a relaxed places with a familiar crowd. If you need something further North check out the cosy Forsberg at Gerichtstraße in Wedding.
Nathanja & Heinrich
Nathanja & Heinrich, Weichselstr. 44, 12045 Berlin-Neukölln
Farbfernseher, Skalitzer Str. 114, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Forsberg, Gerichtstr. 26, 13347 Berlin-Wedding
What to drink? Here you don’t have to impress anyone with an obscure sounding name for a drink. Stay true to your favorite classic cocktails. How about a friendly Tequila Sunrise or a refreshing Mojito?
The Bar with a View
If you enjoy your drink the most with a great view over this amazing city than you should try out some of the bars that are high up on one of the few skyrises. The Monkey Bar at the new 25h design hotel is a good option with a lot of style and you have a spectacular view over West Berlin. The Solar at Anhalter Bahnhof is a classic by now and the view is facing the middle part of Berlin including Potsdamer Platz. And last but not least the Amano Roof Bar is showing you the East of Berlin, but as it’s outdoor probably better save this one for Spring and Summer.
Monkey Bar
Monkey Bar, 25h Hotel, Budapester Str. 40, 10787 Berlin-Schöneberg
Solar, Stresemannstr. 76, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Amano Roof Bar, Auguststr. 43, 10119 Berlin-Mitte
What to drink? Great views are calling for typical vacation drinks if you ask me. The Singapore Sling is a flavorful mix of Gin, Cherry Brandy, Grenadine and lemon juice. If you want it even more fresh and fruity try the Jamaica Sunrise with Vodka, Orange Juice and Grenadine. And if you stay long enough in one of the bars with a view you might even experience the sunrise over Berlin. Cheers!
Thanks to theBar.com for their cocktail expertise and support on our guide!