Cocktail Bars in Berlin

Berlin’s bar scene is every bit as serious as its clubs. The city is dotted with hidden speakeasies, world-ranked cocktail bars and rooftop terraces, making it easy to start the evening with a proper drink - or to skip the club entirely and make a night of the bar itself.

Key takeaways

• Berlin has a world-class cocktail scene.
• Look for hidden speakeasies as well as headline bars.
• Rooftops add sunset drinks with a view.
• A great warm-up or an alternative to clubbing.
• Bars cluster in Kreuzberg, Mitte and Neukölln.

Where to drink well

The city has genuine institutions - unmarked doors, expert bartenders and menus that reward the curious. Kreuzberg and Mitte are dense with acclaimed rooms, while Neukölln leans younger and more experimental, natural wine and inventive lowballers included. For a view, rooftop bars like Klunkerkranich pair drinks with a panorama of the city.

Making a night of it

A great cocktail bar is the perfect prelude to a club - or the whole plan. Many of Berlin’s best bars keep late hours, so you can settle in without watching the clock.

Plan your night

Base yourself in Kreuzberg, Mitte or Neukölln for the densest bar-hopping, and book a hotel nearby.