Gametime: Berlin

Berlin is a city known worldwide for its incredible and unique club scene. Growing famous in the 80’s when West Berlin was still enclosed by the Berlin Wall, the city’s music and clubs have since gotten bigger, weirder, and wilder, making Berlin one of the greatest cities in Europe to spend a night out. Here are some of the best clubs that the city has to offer.

 

House of Weekend

 

A top-floor club with a panoramic view, spending a night dancing at House of Weekend is a truly unforgettable experience. The club is located right by Alexanderplatz, one of the city’s main attractions, making it an easy location to get to from your hostel or AirBNB. Weekend’s crowd is diverse, bringing in people visiting Berlin from all over the world, and though drinks are on the expensive side, it’s worth it to spend a night jamming to classic tunes while overlooking the beautiful city skyline.

 

Matrix

 

Since opening in 1996, Matrix has become a staple in the Berlin nightlife scene. Its huge size (over 2,000 square meters!) and curious location under the Warschauer Straße railway station make dancing at this club an unparalleled adventure. One of the main reasons Matrix is a consistent crowd pleaser is its range of music offerings. Unlike other Berlin clubs that mainly play a single style of music, Matrix has many rooms specializing in different genres, ranging from house to 80’s to disco and more. Entry is cheap by Berlin standards, and the door policy is lax, so you don’t need to worry about your night being ruined by friends getting turned away at the door.

 

Tresor

 

If you want to get a taste of Berlin’s techno scene, there’s no better place to do it than Tresor. Originally built into the vaults of an abandoned department store (“Tresor” is the German word for “safe”), Tresor has since moved to a decommissioned power plant on Köpenicker Straße. Tresor plays some of the best techno music in town, hosting both local and international DJ’s for parties that go from late at night well into the next day. Although the club technically opens at midnight, the party doesn’t truly start until 1 or 2, continuing on until noon or until the last dancer leaves the floor. The club also has two dancefloors: Globus, a bigger floor playing house and acid, and the infamous Tresor floor, a fog-filled dungeon playing only the hardest techno music. Door policy is a little stricter than the places listed previously – just be calm, know which DJs are playing, and you should be all set for a truly life-changing club experience.

 

Cassiopeia

 

Cassiopeia is a great club for those who aren’t totally sold on electronic music. Housed in Berlin’s famous ‘Techno-Strich’ near Warschauer Straße, Cassiopeia’s club nights feature primarily Rap and Hip-Hop, occasionally changing it up with genres like Electro Swing or Reggae. Helped by its outstanding location and respectable courtyard area, Cassiopeia is a top choice for a summer night of clubbing.

 

Suicide Circus

 

Suicide Circus is one of the clubs that gave the ‘Techno-Strich’ its name. With great indoor and outdoor areas and parties known for getting a little crazy, clubbing at Suicide Circus is a rite of passage when living in Berlin. DJs at Suicide Circus play primarily techno, though there are occasionally more house-focused nights. Some say the door policy here is particularly difficult, but if you just know who’s playing and don’t act too rowdy in line, you’re sure to get through in a breeze.

 

Chalet

 

If you’re looking to spend a night dancing to house music in a Victorian-style mansion, one, you’ve got some weird interests, but two, Chalet is the perfect place for you. The club is filled with decor straight out of the 1920’s – it’s one of few places in the city where you can take a break from dancing on a floral-print chaise longue, or have a conversation while resting your beer on a working upright piano. The music in Chalet is usually more upbeat and house-oriented than most of Berlin’s other dance clubs, and like Tresor, the parties begin late and continue on into the next day. Cover charges here aren’t too bad, usually around 10 Euros, and the door policy is relaxed compared to other venues.

 

Klunkerkranich

 

Klunkerkranich is one of the most unique clubs in the city. Located on top of a parking structure in Berlin’s fashionable Neukölln district, the venue is home to everything from House DJs to jazz acts. Actually getting there, however, is a little complicated. You have to go into a shopping mall, take the world’s slowest elevator to the top floor of their parking garage, then walk up the car ramp until you see signs for the club. Don’t worry if this sounds too stressful – most people who make the commitment to wait for the elevator are also heading to the club, so you can usually just follow the wave of people there. Once you’re in, be sure to enjoy the fantastic view of the city skyline, unlike anywhere else in Berlin.

 

Berghain

 

No Berlin list would be complete without Berghain. Known to locals as the “techno temple,” entering Berghain is a nearly religious experience. Berghain has earned its fame – Berghain’s club nights are consistently some of the best the city has to offer, and its parties, which go from Saturday night until Monday morning, bring out some of Berlin’s best characters. There is one catch: the door is one of the hardest in the city. People begin lining up at 11 PM on Saturday, and even for locals, getting into Berghain is an achievement to be bragged about. There is no exact formula for why some people get in and why some don’t, but the local wisdom is: get there early, know which DJs are playing, wear all black, break up into small groups, and be able to say how many people you’re with in German (here’s a hint: the German word for two is “zwei.” Be prepared to say it when the bouncer with a face tattoo asks you “Wie viel?”).