Nowhere, perhaps, is quite as famous for its hedonistic nightlife as Berlin. For more than a century, the city’s party scene has been the stuff of legend: from the dance halls of the 1920s and 30s—immortalised in the Broadway musicalCabaret, based on Christopher Isherwood’s stories—to the divided city of the 1970s, when pioneering artists like David Bowie and Iggy Pop channelled the city’s raw energy into their recordings; and onto the wild post-unification era, when rave culture came of age, Berlin’s nightlife has long been an inseparable part of the city’s cultural identity.
Today, world-famous superclubs, sophisticated lounges and historic entertainment spots continue to define Berlin’s after-hours scene. We’ve enlisted the help of Janina Pflaum—by day the marketing manager at nhow Berlin; by night, discerning party-goer—to guide us through the mother of all bar crawls. If you catch her looking a little red-eyed at work, you’ll understand why.
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Nightlife in Friedrichshain & East Berlin
Known for the East Side Gallery—the world’s longest open-air gallery, stretching along the largest surviving section of the Berlin Wall—Friedrichshain has a distinct punky, grungy feel. Once part of communist East Berlin, the former industrial district was transformed in the years after reunification. Today, its factories and warehouses are home to some of the city’s trendiest nightlife spots, and a haven for techno and electro lovers. It also happens to be a short walk from nhow Berlin, making it a convenient choice for guests looking to let loose.
RAW-Gelände
Berlin’s nightlife offers such a vast array of options that it can be hard to know where to begin. RAW-Gelände makes things easy, bringing together music venues, cafés, clubs and beer gardens across one sprawling site. Originally a 19th-century railway repair depot—it remained in operation until the mid-1990s—it now offers a snapshot of post-reunification Berlin, with its gritty, grassroots character. There’s plenty else to discover, including a Sunday flea market, an indoor skate park and a Second World War-era bunker that has been converted into a climbing wall.
“It’s great if you want to explore several venues in one area,” says Janina. “You can walk around, discover different places and really feel the raw Berlin party atmosphere.”
East Side Rooftop Bar
If you’re still not sure where to start, a rooftop bar is always a safe bet. Janina’s Friedrichshain nightlife recommendation is East Side Rooftop Bar, where panoramic views over the Spree and laid-back beats make it the perfect spot to watch the sun setting over the city from one of its outdoor sofas.
“It’s a beautiful place for cocktails, sunset drinks and enjoying the view before heading to the clubs nearby,” says Janina.
Salon Zur Wilden Renate
Housed in what was once an abandoned apartment building, Salon Zur Wilden Renate is a maze of neon-drenched rooms and darkly lit corridors. The music shifts as you wander from floor to floor, moving from house and electro to funk and disco. If things get a little hectic, you can always head out to the garden to cool off.
“The outdoor garden area becomes a lively party space in summer and adds to [the club’s] underground Berlin vibe,” Janina says.
Berghain
Janina saves her biggest Friedrichshain nightlife recommendation until last. Opened in 2004 and still going strong, Berghain is arguably Berlin’s most famous club. Located in a disused power station, it is as renowned for its highly selective—and deeply mysterious—door policy as for its no-holds-barred hedonism. Clubbers travel from far and wide for a chance to make it past the bouncers. Those who do, enter what can be described as a giant techno cathedral, where international DJs provide the soundtrack and the party continues long after sunrise.
Janina puts it simply: “A true nightlife icon.” It’s hard to argue with that.
Nightlife in Mitte
Mitte is better known for Berlin landmarks such as the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate. While it may not be the obvious choice for a night on the town, it has some worthy entertainment spots, ranging from a century-old dance hall to low-key cocktail bars.
Clärchens Ballhaus
Opened in 1913, this iconic ballroom is filled to the brim with faded grandeur—you can almost picture ghosts in ballgowns and tailcoats twirling across the rundown Spiegelsaal. Today, it’s primarily a restaurant serving traditional German fare, although there are still opportunities to take to the floor, with swing, tango and ballroom on offer depending on the night. In summer, head to the atmospheric biergarten, backed by ivy-covered walls.
“The atmosphere feels like stepping back in time, with chandeliers, vintage dance halls and live music, making it a unique ‘old Berlin’ party experience rather than a typical club,” says Janina.
Buck and Breck
Hidden behind an unassuming entrance near Rosenthaler Platz—look for the neon sign that reads “Closed”—Buck and Breck is one of Berlin’s most celebrated cocktail bars. Dark and intimate, with just 14 seats, it often draws a queue of thirsty customers. Try the signature Buck and Breck cocktail (a blend of cognac, Champagne, Angostura bitters, gomme syrup and a dash of absinthe) and decide for yourself whether it deserves its place among The World’s 50 Best Bars.
Nightlife in Kreuzberg
Just across the Oberbaum Bridge from Friedrichshain lies the free-spirited neighbourhood of Kreuzberg. A few decades ago, it was one of the city’s more marginalised areas and while its rough-edged character has softened in recent years as gentrification creeps in, Kreuzberg still boasts one of Berlin’s most eclectic nightlife scenes, where dive bars and live-music venues bump shoulders with world-famous clubs.
KitKatClub
Together with Berghain, KitKatClub epitomises Berlin’s anything-goes party scene. Now into its fourth decade, its scantily dressed, leather-clad clientele is as much a part of the club’s identity as its propulsive techno. It describes itself rather coyly as “sex positive”—a term that leaves plenty to the imagination. You’ll have to visit for yourself to find out quite what that means.
“KitKatClub is one of the most famous and controversial clubs in Berlin,” says Janina. “It represents the city’s openness and freedom of expression—it’s definitely a unique Berlin nightlife experience.”
Luzia
Part café, part bar, Luzia, on Oranienstraße, draws a regular crowd. Bare concrete walls adorned with street art make it an unpretentious spot to kick-start the evening with a couple of beers before heading over to…
SO36
Named after its former postal district, SO36 has been a cherished fixture of Berlin’s underground scene since Bowie frequented it in the 1970s. Originally an artists’ squat and later one of the city’s leading punk-rock venues, it is now equally known for its themed parties, including GAYHANE, a monthly “QueerOriental” club night featuring Turkish, Arabic, Greek and Hebrew pop.
Nightlife in Charlottenburg
Better known as the city’s premier shopping district, leafy Charlottenburg, in the former West Berlin, offers a more refined nightlife experience. This isn’t the neighbourhood for techno raves, fetish clubs and dancing until lunchtime.
Paris Bar
More bistro than late-night party spot, Paris Bar has been a Charlottenburg nightlife institution for six decades and counting. Over the years, it has played host to a roster of famous names, including Hollywood A-listers and internationally acclaimed artists (at various times Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio and fashion photographer Helmut Newton have dined here). With art-lined walls and classic French cuisine, it offers a very Parisian take on old Berlin.
Nightlife in Neukölln
No list of Berlin nightlife would be complete without mentioning multicultural Neukölln. While the club-scene here is still developing, especially when compared with other neighbourhoods, nowhere in the city boasts quite so many cafes and bars. If you plan to bar-hop until drop, this is the place.
Klunkerkranich
The Neukolln nightlife list is pretty much endless, but if there’s one place that stands out it’s Klunkerkranich. This café-club-beach-bar-in-the-sky offers rooftop views, retro furnishings, and tasty Spanish-fusion cuisine. There’s always plenty happening from live concerts to poetry slams. Quite possibly the coolest bar to ever exist on top of a parking garage at a shopping mall.
And Lastly
If you’re still standing after all that, Janina has one final recommendation: the BPM Bar at nhow Berlin. Designed by American designer Karim Rashid, its interior might best be described as “space-age Barbie”, with rippling, wavelike decor and plush pink furniture. In Janina’s entirely unbiased opinion, it’s “the best bar in Berlin”. If you happen to be staying at the hotel, finding your bed after a few nightcaps becomes considerably easier.
