Berlin

Quite simply Berlin´s nightlife scene stands alone.

Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo in the 20s, Iggy Pop and David Bowie in the 80s and Brad and Angelina in this millennium have all fallen for its exotic charms. The city’s nightlife remains compelling not because of its beauty, vanity or sophistication, but for its authenticity, an utterly chilled, unpretentious outlook and an ever-present sense of fun and experimentation. Happening ‘hoods to note are Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Berliners usually start going out late because the city has no closing restrictions. Bars get busy around 11 pm and clubs after 2 am.

Bars

ROTE LOTTE

Oderberger Strasse 38 / 0172-318 68 68

This tiny bar gives you a hint of what the living room of former Berlin communist Liselotte Herrmann (red “Lotte”) might have looked like. The Art Nouveau-style bar, the velvet sofas, the candle lights and the Bordeaux-tinted walls make you want to cuddle up with your sweetie. Try a “Rote Lotte” cocktail or the organic wine or beer.

FC MAGNET MITTE

Veteranenstrasse 26 / 0177-291 67 07 / www.fcmagnetbar.de

This is a hot spot for bohemian football fans, but watching a football game is quite different in Berlin. Unlike dark pubs crowded with loud football freaks this place is a fun hang-out for good-looking guys and girls for sipping cocktails, playing football and flirting, oh and errr.. with live footie projected onto the wall.

PRATER

Kastanienallee 7-9 / 448 56 88 / www.pratergarten.de

Founded in 1837 Berlin´s oldest beer garden was has kept much of its charm. Quirky, stylish, academic and alternative people of all ages crowd the tables hidden away in a spacious courtyard. A perfect open-air spot for people-watching on a hot summer evening.

Clubs & Dancing

FELIX CLUBRESTAURANT

Behrenstrasse 72 / 206 28 60 / www.felixrestaurant.de

This upscale restaurant offers something for everybody: jazz and afterwork parties during the week and dancing on the weekends. The kind of palce every capital in the world should have in fact. Diplomats, business clientele and nouveau-riche Russians party next to celebrities like Oliver Stone, Will Smith, Colin Farrell and, errr….Chancellor Angela Merkel in their VIP booths (although possibly not all on the same night).

WEEK-END

Am Alexanderplatz 5 / www.week-end-berlin.de

Fomerly the HQ of the East German travel agency “Interflug”, this tower is now home to Berlin´s fashionable and trendy set rocking high up in this unique 12th-floor place to big-name, trendsetting DJs like Innercity and Turntablerocker. Thursday nights are the buzziest.

COOKIES

Friedrichstrasse 158 - 164 (located in Westin Grand Hotel building)

Hollywood meets Berlin. This legendary Tuesday and Thursday club is the top-party-address for wild parties hidden in a cinema of the former East Berlin French culture centre. To give you an idea, the selective door policy has admitted Pamela Anderson, Halle Berry, Kate Moss and Jude Law.