Sometimes, you’re just not ready for the day to end. Maybe you’re too buzzed up from the day, or maybe the whole day was just too chill, but whatever the case, come the dark, you’re still ready and raring to go. Thankfully, Berlin’s night scene is alive and kicking, with something for everyone, whether you’re looking to expend all your energy, or just wind down.
Dance the Night Away
Berlin has one of the best club scenes in Europe, and they’re unique for the fact that there’s no official closing times, so you can absolutely keep going as long as you want. It’s also one of the most inclusive scenes, so you’ll definitely find a place that’s right for you. Take your pick from places like community space/club Hoe_Mies, where female, non-binary and transgender artists take centre stage playing your favourite 90’s R&B hits to the newest trap tracks; Berghain, one of the world’s most famous clubs and also known as the church of Techno; Salon zur Wilden Renate, a dreamy, colourful, circus-esque club with a massive labyrinth that you could absolutely get lost in; and more! You’ll have a good time wherever you go.
Music for the Soul
If you’re looking to give your dancing shoes a bit of a break, Berlin has some excellent alternatives. Though the city is perhaps best known for their underground music and clubs, there is more to their music scene than just that. Fans of jazz can delight in an evening at Quasimodo, Berlin’s oldest jazz club. Located in a cellar under the Delphi film centre and Quasimodo café, this is where you’ll be treated to some excellent traditional jazz, though from time to time some other genres will take the stage. “Rock at Sage” at the Sage Club is another option, being a favourite of the city’s rock and alternative scene. Described as being truly handmade live music, you might still get on your feet here, especially in the summer when the parties get a little wilder in the season’s balmy weather. For something really unique, head to Passionskirche. One of two churches that have been opened for secular events in addition to usual services in recent years, the acoustics of this beautiful church have lent a truly unique atmosphere to the musical performances it hosts.
Watch a movie
Berlin is a cinephile’s dream, with some of the best cinema’s in the continent, and a dedicated group of movie-goers. These are your usual commercial, multiplex cinema chains with the latest Hollywood blockbusters – most of these theatres are small and intimate, with a single silver screen, usually playing everything but the latest blockbusters.Kick off your cinephile journey with a trip to Odeon Cinema, a small but well-known cinema where films are played in their original language, bringing the full range of the scene to the audience. Settle yourself down in one of their red velvet seats with your snack of choice, and immerse yourself in the world on screen. Then, drop by ACUD cinema to catch a short film (or three), and a documentary, as these are the theatres specialties. Spread over six floors, this decorated cinema is also an art gallery and a culture space, so you could definitely spend a whole day here exploring top to bottom and back again. And for a little bit of history and non-conformity, the Sputnik Cinema is the place to be. With two intimate rooms, plus the bar which has served as a third projection space, the Sputnik Cinema was previously managed by the same production company who produced the controversial tragicomedy Good Bye! Lenin, and today they play documentaries, short-films, and more, while also hosting events and even some concerts.
Drinks
And if all else fails and you just want to do something simple for the night, there’s always drinks flowing throughout the city. Germany is well known for their beers, and there’s so many ways you can enjoy them. From cosy biergartens like Prater, Berlin’s older biergarten, and Ankerklause, which sits right by the river, to brewery tours that get you up close and personal with the process of making your brew(s) of choice, or simply buying a couple of bottles from the shops and sharing them with friends, there’s no shortage of ways to have your evening drink in this city.
