photo: Natalia Kepesz
At a certain point, you know the difference between sitting at a Späti, at a Kneipe next door and at a nice bar. All three of these places demand a certain willingness to let go of your everyday routine but in a slightly different way. The Späti-night will first seduce you with being totally unpretentious and only a short term affair, a temporary solution. But after spending all night there, you know how your head will hurt like it was hit by a „Bierbank“ the morning after. The adventure to a Kneipe is a more serious challenge. The funny Kneipenlady you’ve heard rumors about will get all of your attention with all her dirty secrets, but while you are there, sitting at the counter, you realize that you are trapped like in the rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland. You can’t escape as long as her shift or your finances end.
Last but not least, entering a fine bar is a nightlife pleasure of a special kind. A bar and its bartenders are a place of illusions and fantasies. And where fantasies and nightlife meet for a drink, I want to be there too (just to write down my experiences for this blog of course… ;-))
Therefore I was more than happy to represent the digital media world as a judge at the World Class Competition 2016 in Berlin. Hosted by the Diageo Group the event took place in several locations in Berlin. 17 Bartenders from all over Germany competed with each other for one spot to go to Miami to the World Class Global Final competition. I had the pleasure to not only observe their skills from up close but also to taste some of the most fantastic drinks in my entire life. Being the judge of the hospitality challenge, I had to pretend to be a guest at a bar for a whole day and try out drinks from all 17 different bartenders. What sounds like a funny theater play was quite the intense job where a lot of accuracy of observation was required. But as each of the bartenders made their appearances in front of my judging seat, I had to wonder:
What are the special ingredients that make a bar a place of such magic and enchantment? My deep insights from this dive into the bartender world in a not-so-serious listical after the jump.
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by Claudio | Stories
Since their opening in April 2014, friends have been telling me to check out the charismatic new Neukölln watering hole, Twinpigs, and the hype has only been building. I’m quite fond of the type of neighborhood bar that doesn’t seem to disappoint (who isn’t?) and as I stepped into Twinpigs for the first time, I knew it was going to be the first of many. The brainchild of a Chilean architect and a Swedish filmmaker, Twinpigs literally happened overnight. After deciding to open their own bar, the two seized the opportunity to take over the serendipitously freed space of a former Boddinstraße speakeasy. After putting in a lot of hard work, love, creativity and dedication, Twinpigs was born. If you enjoy strong drinks, craft beer, and a great atmosphere, click on and see why Twinpigs should be your new favourite hangout.
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by Skylar | Bars, Neukölln
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!
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by Frank | Bars, City Guide, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Prenzlauer Berg, Schöneberg, Wedding
Das Hotel is a small charming bar and club in Kreuzberg close to Paul-Linke-Ufer. I particularily like this place for its rustic charme, the nice non-pretentious mixed crowd that comes here and the big bouquets of lilies normally spread out all over the place. Wednesday to Saturday they open their basement club that offers a mixed program of live music and parties. Dispite its name Das Hotel is not a hotel, however they do rent out charming private flats and rooms. More infos and pictures after the jump.
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by Frank | Bars, Clubs, Kreuzberg, Places
You always had naughty fantasies about a certain dress you would like to wear, but you never found it in a store? The do-it-yourself movement has brought up a magic hotspot that can make your dress dreams come true. The Kinkibox situated in Friedrichshain offers you a workspace and sewing machines for your sewing projects. And if you are still in the process of learning you can do it directly in this sweet little sewing cafe. A selection of different sewing courses is offered. Your way to your own Project Runway Experience should bring you to Friedrichshain and if not perhaps you like to get things at the boutique inside. More pictures of the little café shop and the address after the jump.
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by Claudio | Cafés, City Guide, Fashion, Friedrichshain, Shops
photos by Glamcanyon
Last Thursday the .HBC invited everyone to the re-opening of their restaurant and bar. I had heard so many good things about their kitchen it was about time for me to try it out. The new interior is really beautiful and makes the whole place even cooler then it was before. New bar, new floor, new rooms for the restaurant and great food! The It Boys threw the after party in the pinkroom that was filled with styrofoam flakes. It was a lot of fun jumping around in it. But not so fun anymore when I lost my bag and sweater in it and had to go under looking for it while everyone else was jumping on top of me. Impressions of the food, the restaurant and the party by Katja after the break.
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by Frank | Bars, Cafés, Clubs, Mitte, Party, Places, Restaurants
…but this one – I have to admit – I really like. It’s small and cosy, the drinks are good and cheap, and the interior is done with a lot of love for details. It’s made by the same people that do the famous 8mm at Schönhauser and it goes by the name NEU Bar. The details after the jump.
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by Frank | Bars, Places, Prenzlauer Berg
So, the other day I unintentionally landed in the lesbian/gay/undecided bar that is the Barbie Deinhoff in Kreuzberg. Quite interesting folk that is hangig out here, I must say. That night we had the pleasure to experience a little pre-show to the Queer X Show Tour which will make its official stop tonight at LUX. Raunchy! The full tits, orgasms and lesbian-encounter action after the jump.
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by Frank | Bars, Kreuzberg, Party, Places
