Berlin by night
Discover sexy, drab, mysterious Berlin by night.
Goya's story
Goya in the Schöneberg district of the city has a rich history. It opened as a theater at the beginning of the 20th century but has been used as a concert venue and dance club over the past few decades. A number of popular gay and lesbian bars can also be found nearby.
Crossing the boundary
Many tours through Berlin's legendary club scene along the River Spree begin here. Today, the Oberbaum Bridge joins the districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. During the Cold War, the bridge spanned the border between East and West Berlin.
Sunrise, sunset
Watergate is one of Berlin's most famous electronic music clubs, along with Berghain. In addition to cool DJs and a great party atmosphere, it also offers an impressive view of the River Spree. Those who dance all night are rewarded with a stunning sunrise over the river.
Gateway to adventure
One of Berlin's very first subway stations, Schlesisches Tor (Silesian Gate) runs straight through the city's hippest district, Kreuzberg 36. It got its name in the 19th century, when one of the gates to the city stood here. A diverse collection of bars and clubs can be found around the square. They fill up on any night of the week.
24/7
"Since 1978" reads the sign at the popular Schwarzes Café, which is open around the clock. In its early days, it used to be a meeting place for the leftist anarchist scene, though it's located in the comfortable middle-class district of Charlottenburg. The café crowd has since grown more diverse. It only closes on Tuesday nights for cleaning.
French legacy
The Paris Bar, another icon of West Berlin, was opened in 1950 by the former cook of the occupying French troops. Artists and other Berlin personalities have referred to the place as their second family room. And as a veritable inferno. For writer Heiner Müller, "the Paris Bar was hell among Berlin's pubs."
Something for everyone
The traditional Theater des Westens is known for its light musicals. Just next door, the Delphi cinema shows heavy art films. The jazz club Quasimodo can be found in the basement of the movie theater.
Moving house
The legendary Wintergraten Varieté was located on the Friedrichstrasse until it was destroyed by a bomb in World War II. Then in 1992, it was relocated to the Tiergarten park on Potsdamer Strasse. A cinema, dance hall and the Quartier Latin concert venue were already at home here.
Roaring nostalgia
The Admiralspalast on the Friedrichstrasse is one of the few stages left in the city from the 1920s. After undergoing comprehensive renovations, the venue reopened for concerts, theater productions and shows in 2006.
Entertainment headquarters
The round glass building known as the Schaubühne is one of the city's largest theaters. It was originally designed as a cinema by renowned architect Erich Mendelsohn. But it was converted to a theater for stage productions in 1981 and houses a café and bar as well.
Art walk
If you prefer high art to discos and bars, then head to Auguststrasse in the district of Mitte. Jewish culture was prevalent in this part of Berlin until the Holocaust. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, artist communities moved into many of the houses on this street and today there are a number of galleries which are well-lit at night.
Rich and beautiful
With the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and Konzerthaus (concert hall), the Gendarmenmarkt square is a meeting place for Berlin's upper-class. Newton Bar is a popular hangout for them, while the nearby Asphalt Club draws a younger crowd.