Where to go for a drink in Berlin: 20 best bars / spatis

My guide to the best Bars, Kneipes, Cafes and Spätis in Berlin

Berlin has one of the most democratic drinking cultures in Europe. No matter wherever I travel in the world, I miss Berlin’s bar culture. Even with gentrification, rising housing prices Berlin it remains one of a kind and very accessible to travellers on all budgets. Name a city in Western Europe where you can do drinking across multiple areas for less than €10? Berlin’s bar scene is incredibly diverse-on a typical evening you would start with a €1 sterni from the neighbourhood späti , proceed to a classic bar like say August Fengler or Bohnengold and then prop up the bar at a classic Kneipe where the same family has been pulling pints for over a century. My guide covers some of the best bars in Berlin to drink across the city, organised by neighbourhood, from Mitte to Neukolln.

Mitte

1. Tadshikische Teestube

Address: Oranienburger Str. 27, im KunstHof, 10117 Berlin

No a bar , I start my guide with not a bar but a Tajikistani-themed tea room, a replica of Tajikistan’s pavilion from a 1970s trade fair in Leipzig which has a wonderfully cool oriental ambience and the perfect place to come and drink some tea and chill. Tucked away in the KunstHof courtyard off Oranienburger Strasse, you sit barefoot on cushions at low wooden tables surrounded by hand-carved sandalwood columns and oriental carpets. It feels like you have stepped through a portal. Request the Russian Tea Ceremony and bring cash as cards are not accepted. The pelmenu and Uzbek  lamb-and-rice dish plov is fab. 

Top tip: Book ahead, especially at weekends.

2. Clärchens Ballroom

Address: Auguststrasse 24, 10117 Berlin

A vintage, retro mirrored dance hall where on any given night you might find people dancing tango, waltzing or just eating simple hearty German food at the long communal tables. This is a real local institution and one of the most atmospheric places in the city. It has been going since 1913 and is one of the last remaining ballrooms of its kind in Berlin. Salsa on Mondays, Swing on Tuesdays, Tango on Wednesdays and the mirrored hall upstairs is a genuinely magical room.

3. Pawn Dot Com Bar

Address: Torstrasse 164, Aufgang A, 10115 Berlin (backyard entrance)

Situated on Torstrasse, the name is a nod to the historic roots of the building, which used to function as a royal pawnshop, as the inscription above the gate passage reveals. The drinks menu revolves around a clever concept where you can choose from twelve drinks, each served alongside a side shot that ideally complements the main drink. For example, a Pornstar Martini comes with a glass of champagne served separately. It is a vibrant place with a grungy, graffiti-strewn, neon-lit interior that looks like it could be straight out of Blade Runner. Fun place, excellent bartenders. Not cheap at around €15 a cocktail, but a genuinely cool experience. The entrance is hidden in the backyard so look for the small blue neon sign.

4. FC Magnet Bar

Address: Veteranenstrasse 26, 10119 Berlin

Just off Veteranenstrasse, this is one of the best football bars in Berlin. Czech beers on tap, friendly crowd, and they show most of the Premier League and Bundesliga games. As a huge fan of Liverpool FC, I spend a lot of time and money here and have never been disappointed. A proper pub.

5. Rosie’s – Circus Hostel Basement Bar

Address: Weinbergsweg 1a, 10119 Berlin

Tucked away in the basement of the Circus Hostel is Rosie’s Bar which has been home to a microbrewery which has been producing its own range of different beers since 2014. Attracting a mix of locals and regulars, this place always seems to have a good atmosphere regardless of the night. They do a fantastic karaoke night btw plus the bar is next to the legendary Hoff Museum, yup , a dedicated museum to Berlin’s greatest , David Hasselhoff.

If you are spending some time in Mitte, checkout my free self guided walking tour of Berlin Mitte

Must experience : Späti culture in Berlin

Just like techno, Spätis are the cornerstone of Berlin’s 24/7 nightlife scene, where strangers meet and become friends. This is where the Friday night starts with a wegbier, a €1 Sternburg beer to go and where the party often ends.  Späti culture is one of the reasons why Berlin still is one of the cheapest nights out in Europe. Especially in summer , when the weather is nice, Späti crawl is the way to go. ( Plus, thankfully, Berlin has a bunch of decent public toilets too nowadays ) 

Best Spati in Mitte

6. Weinbergsweg Spati

Beginning of Weinbergsweg, at Rosenthaler Platz, 10119 Berlin

My favourite Spati in Mitte is the one at the beginning of Weinbergsweg. Cheap beers, lots of outdoor benches and perfectly located to watch the crowds and chaos of Rosenthaler Platz. Perfect on a warm evening. Btw Boxhagener Platz, known to locals as Boxi, is also a great place for a spati beer on a summer evening- this whole area is packed with spatis.

Prenzlauer Berg

7. Metzer Eck

Address: Metzer Strasse 33, 10405 Berlin

For over 100 years, the Metzer Eck has been a Prenzlauer Berg and Berlin instuition, family-owned and is the oldest Kneipe in Prenzlauer Berg. Not many places have preserved such an authentic flair as this pub with its patina-covered, cosy interior, the old bar and the many photos on the walls that tell of prominent visitors and stories from many moons ago. You can still enjoy beer on tap, the Hackepeterstulle (minced meat on bread) and the Bulette with fried potatoes here, just like 50 or 80 years ago. There is a small beer garden in summer too. Closed Sundays.

8. Wohnzimmer

Address: Lettestrasse 6, 10437 Berlin

The name means ‘living room’ in German and that is exactly what it feels like. Mismatched vintage furniture, warm lighting, shelves of books and a genuinely cosy atmosphere that draws in locals of all ages. A favourite meet-up spot in the neighbourhood, it is nothing fancy but everyone loves it. Good for a quiet drink or a long evening that gradually turns louder.

KREUZBERG

9. Bohnengold

Address: Reichenberger Strasse 153, 10999 Berlin

Kreuzberg is packed with excellent, chilled-out bars that all seem like you have walked into someone’s apartment, and Bohnengold is a perfect example. It has that same down-to-earth, easygoing feel with lots of sofas, peeling wallpaper, candles, antique lamps and beautiful people spread across its two rooms. If you are looking for a good old blether with friends, the front room is perfect for conversation and beers. Snake your way to the back and you will find a small dancefloor where the DJ spins everything from House to Motown to Trance. Entrance is free and beers are around the €4 mark.

10. Michelberger Bar

Address: Warschauer Str. 39-40, 10243 Berlin, Germany

I’m also a huge fan of the style conscious Michelberger Bar in Warschauer Strasse. You won’t find a cooler looking bar in Berlin-you have lampshades made out of bookcovers, vintage chairs and big ass sofas surrounded by piles of books that invite you to relax and escape the world outside. Pick your drink of choice from their cool ‘Book of Booze’ ( Gin and tonics are fab here) and enjoy this beautiful bar.

Kneipe culture of Berlin

Kneipes in Berlin are like a time travel capsule to a different era -the photos on the wall, the sense that this room has absorbed a hundred years of conversation and smoke- yup, you will walk away from Kneipe smelling like an ashtray so look away, right now if that is not your cup of tea. The word Kneipe comes from the Germany word ‘’kneipen’ which means to pinch or squeeze, a nod to how these tightly packed  places were filled with working class, hardworking people, poets, artists and lowlifes, all gathered together for one purpose and that is to drink cheap beer and talk till the cows comes home.

During the Weimar Republic years of the 1920s and early 1930s, Berlin’s Kneipen were the engine room of the city’s progressive cultural life. Writers, philosophers and revolutionaries all had their regular haunts. Some of those same establishments are still open today.

After the war, in East Berlin especially, the Kneipe took on an even more important role. In a city where public life was tightly controlled, the local pub was one of the few places where you could sit, drink and speak freely. The old Eckkneipen, the corner pubs dotted around every neighbourhood, became community anchors and still are, to this day. 

11. Best Kneipe in Berlin: Schlawinchen

Address: Schonleinstrasse 34, 10967 Berlin

Almost always packed and loud, Schlawinchen is open 24/7. The regulars take full advantage of the late opening hours, the cheap beer (only one kind) and the frenetic atmosphere. Everywhere you look there are knick-knacks: old gramophones, carved wooden statues, a general sense of extreme chaos and some characters, some of whom have not seen the light of day for awhile. It is a place you will either love or hate, but it is definitely an experience in Berlin to remember.

12. Club der Visionare

Address: Am Flutgraben 1, 12435 Berlin

A largely open-air, waterside club on the Flutgraben canal with a dreamy, whimsical feel. One of Berlin’s most beloved outdoor venues this is a great pre clubbing bar, late-night bar or early-hours club depending on what you’re after. Techno beats, wooden decks, and a canal view. Best in warm weather obviously, but worth visiting about any time of year.

Visiting Berlin? Checkout my popular guide on the best things to do in Berlin.

FRIEDRICHSHAIN

13. HeidenPeters Craft Beer at Markthalle Neun

Address: Eisenbahnstrasse 42-43, 10997 Berlin

If you are in the mood for craft beer, head to Markthalle Neun. The Street Food Thursdays are the main event with an abundance of vendors selling everything from Currywurst to Arepas. Tucked away in a corner is the magnificent HeidenPeters Craft Beer stand. Open Tuesday, Thursday and weekends, these guys make fantastic beer in varieties you will not find in your average Spati. Their stout is brilliantly balanced and a testament to their craft, but at around 3 euros for a half pint it will cost you a bit more than a Sternburg. Worth it.

14. 8mm Bar

Address: Schonhauser Allee 177b, 10119 Berlin

This bar is the definition of cool. Specialising in psych-rock and dressed to match, it has an amazing playlist of deep cuts and lesser-known tracks. The barman is friendly and the service is great. Bizarre and absurd muted films are projected on the wall. The beer selection is not outstanding but they offer a full bar at agreeable prices, around €4 for a beer, and a cocktail menu starting at €6.

15. Birgit und Bier

Address: Revaler Strasse 99, 10245 Berlin

A beer garden with excellent fassbier (beer straight from the barrel), surrounded by interesting sculptures and a good outdoor vibe. This quirky outdoor space even has its own DJ and dancefloor to keep things moving once the beer kicks in.

NEUKÖLLN

16. Klunkerkranich

Address: Karl-Marx-Strasse 66 (Neukölln Arcaden rooftop), 12043 Berlin

Perfect place to wrap up the day is in Klunkerkranich, an urban beer garden near Karl-Marx-Strasse 66 and the perfect place for sunset drinks. Klunkerkranich (translates to the ‘wattled crane’) has a beautiful rooftop bar where you can nestle in between the fragrant flower boxes and sip on Berlin’s best ale. There’s lots of well spaced out seats so social distancing is not an issue here. The views of Berlin’s red roofs and the TV Tower – ever present in the distance, are the best way to end your first day in Berlin. As the night rolls in, the party begins with live DJs and plenty of room for dancing. There is a small entry fee (around 2 euros) that is more than justified by the view. The vintage Photoautomat photo booth on the way out is a must.

WEDDING

17. Cafe Pfortner

Address: Uferstrasse 8-11, 13357 Berlin

Located in a former bus repair station along the lovely Panke river, Cafe Pfortner is one of those places that feels like a genuine Berlin discovery. If you are hungry or thirsty, you can enjoy a range of tasty food from curries to salads and soups, plus excellent coffee and nice cakes. The star of the show is a repurposed vintage bus that has been converted into a very cool seating area for beers or coffee with friends.

18. Lobe Block (Baldon Cafe and Restaurant)

Address: Graunstrasse 29-30, 13355 Berlin (Humboldthain area)

About a 15-minute walk from Cafe Pfortner is Arno Brandlhuber’s extraordinary mixed-use Lobe Block, described as a ‘brutalistic hanging garden of Babylon’. The concrete building sits on the edge of Wedding in the Humboldthain area and is home to ateliers, studios and the Baldon restaurant and cafe on the ground floor. A great spot for a coffee and a read, or lunch if you are in the area.

Checkout my FREE self guided walking tour of Wedding

19. Brewery Eschenbrau

Address: Triftstrasse 67, 13353 Berlin

Wedding is home to not one but two craft breweries. Eschenbrau has a beer garden so if the weather is good, this is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Their house-brewed beers are well worth trying.

Best beergardens in Berlin

Berlin is not known for its beer gardens but here are a few Bavarian style Brauhaus’s which you might enjoy. Hackescher Markt, you will find Weihenstephaner Berlin , Bavarian style tavern with wooden tables and Austro-German cuisine. On the edge of Berlin#s green lung Tiergarten,overlooking the beautiful Landwehr Canal, you will find Schleusenkrug, a outdoor Biergarten. If its not raining and a nice day, this is perfect for a late afternoon beer.

20. Brewery Vagabund Brauerei

Address: Antwerpener Strasse 3, 13353 Berlin

The second of Wedding’s craft breweries and equally worth a visit. A genuinely independent local operation with interesting rotating brews. A good spot to pop into if you are already exploring the neighbourhood.

21 Prater Garten

Address: Kastanienallee 7-9, 10435 Berlin, Germany

No Berlin trip is complete without a visit to the Prater, Berlin’s oldest beergarden located in the hip neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg. Dating back to 1850, the Prater is one of the few bars in Berlin that has stood the test of time, surviving two world wars, the GDR era and the Wall- there are stories in every nook and cranny. The Prater pils is what I usually order , along with one of their meaty pretzels. They also serve a range of hearty German cuisine plus also have wine if you are not a beer drinker. If the weather is nice, nothing beats grabbing a seat on one of their outdoor tables- this place is a true taste of Berlin summer!