Berlin transforms at night, and places that look inconspicuous during day time can become real hot spots for club kids and bar hoppers. Famous for its unique charm, the area between Treptower Park and Ostkreuz offers everything you could possibly dream of for a crazy night out in Berlin – and all of this within walking distance. Once a rather industrialized area, clubs and cultural institutions were the first to enhance its value – and let me tell you, they did. Now the corner between Stralauer Allee, Markgrafendamm, and Elsenbrücke is one of the most demanded areas when it comes to nightlife. And just on the other side of the bridge, there are a bunch of other clubs between Flutgraben and Schleusenufer.
These two areas offer plenty of cool options to spice up your weekend! Dozens of clubs, bars, and cultural institutions, which originally gave the area its vibe, invite you to explore and let loose. Here is a curated list of our favorite spots around Friedrichshain – Treptow – Kreuzberg.
Beer Garden by day, Techno Club by night: Zenner Biergarten
Unpretentious and pleasant, Zenner Biergarten invites tourists and locals alike to enjoy sunny afternoons by the river while sipping a cold beer and having some vegan snacks or non-vegan tapas. Even if you – like me – don’t like beer, your wishes will still come true at Zenner as the venue has a long list of wines and bubbles, as well as shots you don’t come across every day. Sunsets at Zenner are as highly recommended as nighttime events, when the venue transforms into a nightclub with that typical Berlin techno music we all love to dance to.
Zenner Biergarten und Weingarten
Alt-Treptow 15, 12435 Berlin
www.zenner.berlin
Wilde Renate + Renate Garten: Market? Club? Festival? You can have it all
Behind a high wooden fence, passing a long line (and a cute bouncer) lies the nightclub and Beer garden Wilde Renate. Especially beloved among tourists who come to mingle and dance to electronic music here, this gem accommodates three dance floors: Schwarzer Raum on the ground floor, mainly focussing on techno, Grüner Raum upstairs which is all about house music, and Roter Raum for weird and trippy sounds. Located in an old East Berlin apartment complex, the atmosphere is that of a house party, allowing guests to get lost between the many hidden corners and sofa areas. The large outdoor courtyard invites for a smoke during long club nights and, during the summer, transforms into a Beer garden, accommodating events such as Hummus-Festivals, art fairs, fashion markets, or yoga sessions.
Wilde Renate
Alt-Stralau 70, 10245 Berlin
www.renate.cc
Queer and alternative nights at Club Ost
Just across from Wilde Renate is Club Ost which opened in 2017 at the very same location where Club Magdalena once used to be. Accommodating iconic nights such as Mala Junta or Buttons, this venue especially speaks to a queer, cosmopolitan audience. Expect high-energy raves on two dance floors and a large courtyard for outdoor performances, open-air raves, or simply tanning in between dancing sessions. From raw, industrial, and dark techno to trance and acid sounds, Club Ost invites you to shamelessly get lost in darkness.
Club Ost
Alt-Stralau 1-2, 10245 Berlin
clubost.de
Enjoy the thyme of your life at Krass Böser Wolf
This “Cocktailkneipe” – a mix between a classic cocktail bar and a traditional pub – is the perfect place to land for a first drink when the queues at Club Ost and Wilde Renate make you fall into despair. At this bar, you can enjoy the rustic vibes inside or keep an eye on the queues next door from the tables outside. An informal and familiar atmosphere is what Krass Böser Wolf is all about, says bar manager Max, who enjoys saying goodbye to his guests with a shot on the house. If you are thirsty like a wolf and want to find out what a “Thyme of my life” or “Smooth Operator” taste like, Krass Böser Wolf is your bar.
Krass Böser Wolf
Markgrafendamm 36, 10245 Berlin
www.krassboeserwolf.de
Curated sounds and fancy drinks at bar & radio D59B
D59B streams intoxicating tunes 24/7 from Belgrade and Berlin since 2020 (in Belgrade since 2018) while serving craft wine and classic long drinks. If you’re not into the crowded pub vibes and prefer classy vinyls and comfy couches, this listening bar is the right place to get drinks before queuing at the nearby clubs. Friendly service, high-quality music, and an excellent wine selection are at the heart of D59B, serving Ukrainian Funk and Brazilian Bossa Nova to a glass of chilled Kadarka wine.
D59B
Stralauer Allee 20a, 10245 Berlin
www.radio.d59b.com
New kid in town: M01 Club
Open only since March 2023, M01 is the new sister venue to Renate and ELSE which speaks to a more specific audience than Renate. Music and event curation is more alternative than at Renate, accommodating an estimate of 400 people for experimental, techno, house, or Italo nights. Visitors enter M01 from the north side of Renate’s building on Markgrafendamm before passing through a secret garden decorated with fairy lights and shipping containers, in line with the classic ELSE and Renate style. This relatively new venue offers a more alternative booking than its sister clubs in a smaller place with a modern atmosphere. Guests can party in the basement floor while music blasts from a Lambda Labs sound system, regain energy in the chillout area, or enjoy exhibitions, concerts, performances, and art installations on the ground floor.
M01
Markgrafendamm 1, 10245 Berlin
www.instagram.com/m01.berlin/
Pleasure and sun at Club der Visionäre: Bar & Club
Hang out with friends in the summer at this Berlin open-air classic right by the river between Kreuzberg and Treptower Park, serving sunny tunes already in the afternoon. This is the perfect place to socialize and settle into the city if you have just arrived, or to come with a larger group if you are not yet ready to get rejected at Berlin’s most notorious nightclubs. Built-in 1928 as a pleasure boat, CDV has plenty of open space and a beautiful outdoor deck that allows you to party while enjoying one of Berlin’s rare sunny days. Enjoy the fair or sometimes even free entry and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Club der Visionäre
Am Flutgraben 1, 12435 Berlin
Legendary Karaoke Nights at Monster Ronson’s Bar & Club
Don’t miss out on the most legendary karaoke night in town with a queer, international, and hip audience. The long queues are absolutely worth the lip-sync battles and performances that await you inside, just a few meters down from Warschauer Straße S-Bahn station. Known for its energetic atmosphere which attracts tourists and Berliners alike, Monster Ronson’s offers karaoke every night, along with performances, open mic nights, drag shows, and private karaoke rooms where you can sing your heart out with your friends.
Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke
Warschauer Str. 34, 10243 Berlin
www.karaokemonster.de
Short queues & classic open airs at Else Club
Gaze at the Spree while dancing in this classic Berlin open-air club right next to Treptower Park, opened by the owners of Wilde Renate back in 2013. The casual atmosphere allows you to dance and tan at the same time: During summer, Else invites you to dance on the terrasse or hang out in one of the cozy beach chairs. Colorful shipping containers protect not only from noise disturbance but also create a laid-back vibe, blending industrial elements into the natural landscape. The club operates from May to September on Saturdays and Sundays only, recent line-ups include techno legends such as KINK, Todd Terje, Cryptofauna, Dixon, and more.
Else Club
An den Treptowers 10, 12435 Berlin
www.else.tv
Concerts, conferences, parties and more at Festsaal Kreuzberg
Housed in a historical building with a spacious hall and a unique atmosphere, Festsaal Kreuzberg is a versatile venue that hosts a variety of events such as concerts, fashion shows, conferences, parties, performances, festivals, and art exhibitions. The large venue (1.500m2 inside and an additional 1.500m2 outside) includes a chimney room, a beer garden, a restaurant, and two halls with room for 800 people, making it suitable for both intimate and large-scale events. Events include cultural parties such as the Brazilian June Party Festa Junina or Festivals like Berlin’s classic Fête de la musique.
Festsaal Kreuzberg
Am Flutgraben 2, 12435 Berlin
festsaal-kreuzberg.de
If you enjoy these locations, you should know that many of them are actually in danger: They are threatened by the plans to extend the highway A100 between Treptow and Neukölln.
Its implementation would mean that dozens of these beloved clubs, bars and cultural institutions in Friedrichshain-Treptow would have to disappear, so let’s collectively cross fingers that the government never implements these plans in the future. You can sign a petition against it here.
Text: Claudio Rimmele & Djamilia Prange de Oliveira, photos: Frank R. Schröder
