What better way to top off a day’s sightseeing and exploring in Berlin than with a perfectly mixed cocktail? With a plethora of bars on almost every street corner it can be hard to know where to start and how to find a good cocktail can be overwhelming. So whether you like a simple G&T, the best Margeurita in town or a new and surprising concoction you’ve never heard of before, below are some of Berlin’s best offerings when it comes to a luxury cocktail experience.
Amano Bar
Located in the downtown Mitte area, the Amano Hotel won the Hotel Bar of the Year award and rightly so. The bar team under Philipp Bischof serve creative drinks, with excellent service in a modern but very laid back atmosphere. The lounge feel makes for a relaxed and very enjoyable experience. In the summer they set up a bar on the rooftop as well with absolutely stunning views out over the city skyscape.
Becketts Head
Up in Prenzlauerberg this bar is an absolute Berlin institution. No sign on the door, simply a photo of the man himself (Samuel Beckett), lit up in the (curtained) window. The menu (created by Oliver Ebert) is inserted into old copies of Beckett plays and the interior is dimly lit with red leather couches reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy. The menu is extensive and in no way dull, offering a wide selection of different spirit based drinks and a nice selection of snacks and cheese platters to accompany them for the late night nibbles. Do be aware they allow smoking (including cigars) in the front section so not for the smoke sensitive. You will need reservations for Thurs-Sat evenings.
Buck und Breck
A new and welcome addition to the Berlin cocktail scene, this intimate little bar only has 15 seats, so if you’re planning on going after 10pm or Thur-Sat evenings, be sure to book ahead. Groups of more than 4 people will not be allowed entrance. A comfortably wide bar and stools is the only seating. This is great because you have a fabulous view of one of the best bar teams in town. Watching a cocktail being mixed here is a poem of precision and professionalism. No vodka or cream cocktails on the menu – be warned, but the mixes listed are unusual and remarkable in their nuance of taste and flavour. Enjoy a rather unique and very ‘Berlin’ experience.
Schwarze Traube
Two locals from Kreuzberg decided to open a little bar and took cocktails in the area to a whole new level. Schwarze Traube is one of the hottest new openings this year. Owners Atalay Aktas and Yalcin Celik do not provide menus with lists of drinks but instead speak to each customer about their preferences, make suggestions, and then create something which is destined to please the taste buds of the most discerning cocktail connoisseur. With three small rooms the atmosphere is one of being invited to a private party in someone’s living room. Be warned – this is a bar for smokers.
The Green Door
Quirky, modern, eclectic and with a semi retro feel the Green Door is one of Berlin’s best kept cocktail secrets. Owner Fritz Mueller-Scherz is a writer, actor, journalist, musician and the artistic flair shows through clearly in the bar he set up in Schneberg. Once you buzz the bell to be allowed in you will be greeted by tartan and psychedelic wallpaper, creative lighting and kitsch decoration. The drinks here are mixed strong by very competent bar staff and there’s no bar snacks provided so be warned and eat before you go to avoid a tipsy exit.
