10 of Berlin’s Best Bars - according to me (a local)
Berlin’s nightlife is legendary, and its bar scene is just as diverse as the city itself. Whether you’re after a perfectly crafted cocktail, a glass of natural wine, or rooftop where you can relax after a day of exploring, Berlin has something for everyone. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to have a unique Berlin experience, then feel free to get in touch to organise your very own cultural bar tour with me.
These are 10 of the best bars in Berlin (and my personal favourites) to check out on your next visit.
Cocktail bars
100 Gramm Bar
Run by a Polish/Russian expat, the menu at 100 Gramm Bar is heavily inspired by the owner’s eastern European roots. You’ll find creative cocktails and vodka infusions as well as Russian-style tapas, all served on their relaxed alfresco terrace. Their signature is an espresso martini, the perfect pick-me-up ahead of a night out in Berlin. 100 Gramm Bar is also perfectly situated in Rosenthaler Platz with plenty of other fun bars nearby, great for a cocktail bar crawl.
Patesô Bar
Open since 2021, this pet-friendly and family-friendly centrally-located bar serves up drinks from all around the world. At Patesô, they pride themselves on their inclusive, multicultural approach, both in their menu and amongst their staff. The bar itself has a cosy atmosphere with house plants, flowers, artworks and stunning lighting, and the cocktails themselves are beautiful too. As a bonus, they also serve popcorn with every drink!
Thelonious Bar
Named after jazz legend Thelonious Monk, this cocktail bar is an ode to cocktails and music. Open nightly from 7pm (except Tuesdays), Thelonious Bar serves up delicious cocktails to a superb soundtrack of tunes. From the moment I tried my first salted-caramel whisky sour I was hooked and this has become on of my favourite cocktail bars in Berlin.
Bar Milano
This classic Italian bar is my go-to for familiar favourites like a negroni or Aperol spritz. While the menu isn’t extensive, Bar Milano keeps it simple and goes for quality over quantity. The bruschetta and burrata are irresistible, and the interiors are sleek – think marble benchtops and statement lighting. It’s the perfect place to treat yourself, maybe after completing a walking tour?
Wine Bars
Material
Part-time café, part-time wine bar, Material offers an impressive range of natural wines along with pastries and sourdough, and it’s one of my personal favourites in Berlin – anything that pitches itself as specialising in bread and wine has me sold. The owner, Carlos, knows his Spanish wines like the back of his hand and is happy to share his knowledge with you at the communal bench table covered in beautiful white tiles leftover from the kitchen renovation. Open 4pm to 1am daily, make sure you stop by on your visit.
8000 Vintages
You may not immediately think of wines from Georgia and cheese from France and the Netherlands upon your arrival in the German capital, but this gorgeous little wine bar combines those things perfectly. Part shop and part wine bar, it’s not unusual to see groups of people chatting on the street outside 8000 Vintages with a glass in hand. Definitely one to try for the wine lovers.
ORA Restaurant and Wine Bar
This former apothecary is serving up a different kind of tonic these days. Located just off Oranienplatz, the gorgeous interiors at ORA preserve original details from the old pharmacy, including intricate woodwork and ceiling cornices from Berlin's most formative eras: 1860s and 1920s. They collaborate with small, local producers and wine makers to curate a menu featuring lesser-known winemaking regions and sustainably farmed food, including from their own farm.
Alternative bars
Boba Cuppa
Nestled in the Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, where I run my off-the-beaten-path walking tour, Boba Cuppa is a sleek, minimal Taiwanese bar specialising in two drinks you don’t often see on the same menu: boba tea and wine. Both the tea and wine options are in abundance, and on top of the usual red, white and sparkling options, they also offer Japanese Sake and orange wines, plus an array of pretty affordable cocktails starting at 8 euros each.
Minoa
Part bookshop, part café/bar, Minoa is a great place to while away the hours with a friend – either contained within the pages of a book or in real life. Perfect for solo travellers and bibliophiles alike, the interiors are filled with beautiful timber bookshelves and plants. Having a drink there is like cosying up in someone’s highly aesthetically pleasing living room – the living room of my dreams.
Klunkerkranich
With its laid-back, casual rooftop setting, Klunkerkranich is a favourite amongst locals – especially in the summer. This rooftop bar on the top level of a shopping centre car park doesn’t sound particularly glamorous, but it gives unrivalled views across the city (thanks to Berlin’s building height restrictions) and bucketloads of character. The bar prides itself on being a hub for Berlin’s club and sub-cultures. They run DJ and club nights throughout the year, as well as live music and performances. In their own words, they’re a “platform for music, art and holistic event concepts”, and they’re the ideal spot to socialise with a drink and a view.
Späti
While not technically a bar, these convenience stores are dotted all over Berlin and they hold a special place in local nightlife culture. Späti culture is its own phenomenon in Berlin, selling beers for as little as 2 euros that you can drink outside the shop seated on milk crates while they play music, effectively creating little street parties outside the shop. You can also take your beer to go as you make your way between venues. A must-do for anyone visiting Berlin on a budget. My personal favourite is the Späti in Rosenthaler Platz - follow the music and people and you’ll find it!
