Berlin is a city like no other!
It is the capital city of Germany, Europe’s largest economy, but it is famous for being poor: ‘poor but sexy’!
It has a lot going for it, including a strong list of the best bars in Berlin! In fact, the Berlin bar scene is so lively that it has quite the reputation for luxury and cheap alcohol too!
Related read: 2 Days in Berlin: What to Do and Where to Stay
Previous Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit once proudly described his city as ‘poor but sexy’ in an interview back in 2003 in an attempt to attract creative types to Berlin. His ploy certainly worked and Berlin quickly became the destination of choice for Europe’s most adventurous artists and musicians.
‘Poor but sexy’ was a phrase that stuck. It resonated with the people of Berlin because it spoke at once of their strive for creativity and their distrust of corporate greed.
Most capital cities are wealthy areas, successful economic hubs that support the rest of the country. Berlin is the opposite: it relies on large subsidies from the richer southern states to survive. In 2012 alone it received €3.3 billion in support payments.
But what Berlin lacks in money it more than makes up for in creativity. For more of the country, see our Germany travel guide.
The city’s comparatively low rents and abundance of abandoned spaces makes it the perfect place for imaginative entrepreneurs to open up exciting new bars and unusual drinking spots.
Famous for the Berlin Wall (see the best places to see Berlin Wall), street art, culture and rich history. But also for its nightlife – which is why we’ve put together a list of the best bars in Berlin!
See also Free Walking Tour – What to Do in Berlin in Winter
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Here are some of the best bars of Berlin
1. Bar Schmittz
Bar Schmittz is a table tennis bar located on Tor Strasse in the central district of Mitte. It is a small but social venue that specializes in group games of ‘around the table’ ping-pong. Unlike some ping-pong bars you do not have to pay to use the table and, with 20 or so bats available for use, it is easy to get a game.
Bar Schmittz stays open well into the early hours of the morning, which, in my opinion, is the best time to play because as the players become more drunk they become more competitive and the good-natured, but lost in translation, taunts become more funny.
2. Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke
Now this bar is a favorite of ours. It’s situated right across the road from S-Bahn and U-Bahn station Warschauer Strasse, so it’s easy to get to from pretty much anywhere in the city.
As the name suggests Monster Ronson’s is a karaoke bar. But unlike the singalong bars in Soho, London, which charge an hourly rate of around £30, the open stage at Monster Ronson’s costs no more than a small cover charge, and you can book a private booth ahead for your group.
Like many of Berlin’s best bars and clubs, Monster Ronson’s is a gay-friendly venue. The place has a wonderful sparkly aesthetic and a liberal atmosphere perfect for, as the website states: ‘disco divas, sparking soldiers and freaks and geeks itching to shine!’
3. Yaam
Yaam is much more than a bar. But it has a bar, and it’s a good one, so I’m going to tell you about it.
Yaam is a reggae community space, on the River Spree at the Schillingbrücke, a short walk from the East Side Gallery. It has an urban sports arena – football, ping-pong, beach volleyball, skateboarding and basketball – a beach bar, some Caribbean food trucks and a stage for gigs.
Visit Yaam in the daytime to chill out on the artificial beach, challenge the locals to a game of volleyball and admire the artwork on the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall. Or take a trip here at night and dissolve into the crowd as bassy live reggae acts take center stage.
4. Die Weinerei
Die Weinerei is the perfect embodiment of Berlin’s ‘poor but sexy’ mantra. Its Forum bar sits on the corner of Fehrbelliner Straße and Veteranenstraße in Mitte. By day it’s a café, and from 8 pm to midnight it turns into a pay-what-you-want wine bar.
Unlimited refills!? No that’s not a typo. You pay €2 when you enter to ‘rent’ a glass and you can fill it up as many times as you like before you leave.
What’s the catch? Well there is no catch but there is an honour system in place and you are encouraged to leave as much as you think is fair when you are finished/drunk.
5. Velvet
Velvet on Ganghoferstraße in Neukölln is where you go for a cocktail you won’t find anywhere else. The menu follows the seasons and changes every week, built on herbs, blossoms and produce from Berlin and Brandenburg that the team forages, distills and ferments in its own lab. Expect drinks with ingredients like rosehip liqueur or fig leaf, served in a low-lit room with quilted booths.
Mixology magazine named Velvet Germany’s Bar of the Year in 2019 and again in 2023. The room is small and popular, so reserve a table, and eat before you go, since it serves drinks only.
The best bars in Berlin: Rooftop Edition
If you are looking to elevate your bar experience (see what we did there?) then you will benefit from this list of rooftop bars in Berlin! Overlooking the city with a drink in hand is the best way to sign off a long day.
Here are a few of our top picks of the top bars in Berlin- rooftop edition!
1. Gallery Rooftop Bar
Located at Hotel Indigo Berlin East Side Gallery on Mühlenstraße, facing the East Side Gallery, this modern rooftop bar is not only incredibly stylish but has a light and bright indoor lounge and cocktail bar. The whole place opens out to an open terrace with wide views of Berlin! You can also expect fantastic service from the Berlin bar staff while you’re there too! Make sure to order an old-fashioned as the restaurant bar serves one of the best I’ve had in a while! The bar serves light bites rather than full meals.
2. Klunkerkranich
Klunkerkranich sits on the top parking deck of the Neukölln Arcaden on Karl-Marx-Straße: a roof garden with wooden decks, sand, herb beds and a stage. Herbs from the garden end up in the cocktails, and the program runs from concerts and DJ sets to weekend markets. Take the elevator to the fifth parking deck and walk up to the roof. U-Bahn Rathaus Neukölln (U7) is a few minutes away.
The season usually starts in early March and runs into the fall, and there’s a small entry fee in the evenings. Sunset is the busiest time, so arrive early on weekends.
3. ZOE Rooftop Bar
This is one of the most popular bars in Berlin and it has a lot to do with its location! Tucked into a side street by Hackescher Markt, ZOE Rooftop Bar Berlin at Hotel ZOE by AMANO is the perfect excuse to have some fun in the sun. This location is a brilliant blend between a luxury country club, restaurant and an urban beach club.
There are also a number of comfortable sofas and chairs for you to lounge on while you sip on their G&Ts, and refreshing drinks, most with gin as the main ingredient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area for bars in Berlin?
It depends on the night you want. Mitte, around Rosenthaler Platz and Torstraße, has the highest density of cocktail and wine bars. Friedrichshain around Warschauer Straße and Neukölln around Weserstraße and Karl-Marx-Straße stay busy later and are cheaper, and Kreuzberg around Kottbusser Tor mixes old dive bars with newer spots.
What time do bars close in Berlin?
Berlin has no general closing time for bars, so many stay open until the last guests leave. Small neighborhood bars often go well past 2 am on weekends, while hotel rooftop bars usually close earlier.
Can you smoke in Berlin bars?
In some. Berlin allows smoking in small single-room bars that serve no freshly prepared food, admit adults only and are marked as smoking bars at the door. Larger bars, restaurants and most cocktail bars are smoke-free indoors, with smoking on the terrace or in a separate room.
Are rooftop bars in Berlin open in winter?
Most open-air rooftops in Berlin run from spring to early fall. ZOE Rooftop Bar opens from May to September and moves to the hotel bar on the ground floor in the colder months, while Klunkerkranich usually reopens in early March. Check opening days before you go, because rooftops also close in bad weather.
