As the northern hemisphere approaches the winter solstice, darkness settles in on the northernmost countries and the nights seem to last forever. Germany is no exception to these dark nights but, unlike many other cities, Berlin’s vibrant nightlife will keep you warm and toasty -if not outright sweaty- through the winter and well into the summer.
Here is a short list of must-see clubs and locations that will help you keep your New Years resolution of losing weight, even before the New Year begins. Should your resolution be to slow down a little, to spend a little more time at home, then why not indulge in a bit of fun before the constrictions of all the promises you’re bound to break anyway?
1. Berghain / Panorama Bar
Located inside an old power plant near Ostbahnhof, Berghain is named after two districts in Berlin (KreuzBERG and FriedrichsHAIN) and is the club in Berlin, if not the world. Berghain is a place where gays, non-gays, straight edge and drug-eyed hedonists can all mix together to the thump of Techno and that Berliner specialty, Minimal Techno. Techno not your thing? Upstairs the Panorama Bar, a smaller club within this behemoth pleasure factory, is more House friendly, though not necessarily house trained –the provocative photos by Germany’s famous Wolfgang Tillman should be your first indication. Don’t be put off by the industrial landscape surroundings or anything else inside this club; seriously, if you go to only one club in Berlin, make it Berghain. But, remember, if you want to get in, dash your hopes of seeming fashionably late and showing up at 3 AM –remember, it’s cold outside and the wait at that time could last for-ev-er.
Berghain has been branching out in the past couple of years, hosting rock concerts, like Animal Collective, modern dance performances as well as music by contemporary (classical) composers. Check out the website for their listings, who knows, maybe you’ll see a string quartet here sometime soon.
Berghain, Am Wriezener Bahnhof
2. Cookies
The old Cookies is one of the reasons why I moved to Berlin. Seriously. The club had everything: a sense of humor (at the entrance, written on a brick, was scrawled “Students 6 Euro, Everyone else 4″), hip-yet-casual crowd, great beats, beautiful location(s); Cookies had it all. The new Cookies, now with a fixed address, carries on the torch of the old Cookies but with a bit more flair. Check out the website, there’s also a restaurant associated with AMAZING eats.
NB: this club ONLY happens on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wussy work-a-days need not bother.
Cookies, Friedrichstrasse 158-164 (Mitte)
3. Picknick. Dorontheenstrasse 90 (Mitte)
Picknick is reminiscent of many clubs that came before it (most notably the nearby Rio) only scaled down –in size at least. Picknick embodies what I’ve always loved about Berlin clubs: gritty everything-goes kind of feel, a vaguely industrial locale, and good music. It tends towards Blog-House and House jams but can pick up the pace as well. Their Myspace should give you a good indication as to what you’re in for: http://www.myspace.com/picknickberlin
Picknick. Dorontheenstrasse 90 (Mitte)
4. Watergate
Watergate feels more ‘clubby‘ than the places I tend to visit, but every once and again, this is a good change of pace. Like a scene out of 2001: A Space Odyssey mixed with the soothing feeling of being practically on top of the river Spree, Watergate is fashionable but also charming. But then again, it’d be hard to not to be charming, what with its amazing view of the absolutely beautiful Oberbaumbruecke.
Watergate. Falckensteinstrasse 49 (Kreuzberg)
5. Weekend
Located on the twelfth floor, Weekend offers a real panorama view of the city. Though not my favorite club per se, Weekend is highly recommended for the traveler who would like to see Berlin from above but who would like to shake their tail-feathers while doing it. The music is good, the crowd, passable, but the view, I mean, the view! Staying until the sunrise is then highly recommended and way better than a view atop the TV tower.
Weekend. Alexanderplatz 5 (Mitte)
Most of these clubs are in Mitte but if you feel like venturing off to Berghain or Watergate (or maybe trying some other locations, there are plenty to be found) after hopping around the clubs in Mitte, rest assured that a cab ride won’t run you into the ground (under 20 Euros) and, even better, Berlin’s Transport system, the BVG, runs regularly at all hours on the weekends.
Happy Dancing!
Photo of Berlin night club originally posted by tuppus
Topic: Tips and Ideas |
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Tags: Berlin, nightlife
About the author
Shane Anderson left his native California three years ago and has been living in Berlin ever since. He is a freelance writer and journalist.
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