By Anne McCarthy
Germany is known for – among other things – its beer culture. So, it makes perfect sense that Berlin is bustling with lively and interesting bars in which to check out those famed German beers!
Before digging into Berlin’s best bars, we should probably tell you about one of Germany’s biggest cultural tourism draws, Oktoberfest, which happens every autumn. If you’re in the process of planning your travel adventures for the year, you may want to consider visiting Munich for Oktoberfest this fall. It’s truly an experience unlike any other! (The city also has some gorgeous castles near Munich to visit, which are breathtaking and worth the trek.) If you’re heading to Germany this fall, be sure to book our Fat Tire Tours Oktoberfest Festival Tour!
This tour is a one-of-a-kind experience designed to immerse you into the fun and excitement of Oktoberfest, and you’ll be led by an expert and fun-loving guide. During this epic tour, our Fat Tire Tours guide escorts you around the world’s biggest beer and folk festival, complete with fascinating historical stories about the festival, as well as visits to Oktoberfest’s trademark beerhalls, where you’ll find beer-infused reverie, singing, and joy. Our Oktoberfest Festival Tour also includes reserved seating in the beer tents, so no waiting in line! You can wear traditional German clothes, like dirndls and lederhosen, if dressing up appeals to you. (Here’s our post on where to find German clothes in Munich.)
Whether you’re visiting Munich or Berlin or beyond, come by and see us at Fat Tire Tours Berlin! We offer bike tours, walking tours, and private tours. Book your Berlin tour today.
And without further ado, here are some of the best bars in Berlin where you can experience German bar and beer culture.
At Berlin’s Green Door Bar, you’re met with intrigue from the start: the bar is a bit hidden behind an unassuming sign and a green door, for which it’s named. Green Door Bar is an intimate and cozy cocktail bar, and you need to ring a bell to be let in! Hello, exclusive A-list, feel! We are here for it.
The crowd here tends to be trendy, well-dressed folks, so wear your favorite bar attire for your night out at the Green Door Bar. It’s been called a beautiful combination of kitsch and classy. The talented bartenders create stunning cocktails that’ll have you enjoying the night thoroughly until it’s time to go home. Note: On weekends, the Green Door Bar gets crowded. So arrive early to get a good spot!
Address: Winterfeldtstraße 50, 10781 Berlin
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Berlin bar list without the inclusion of a beer garden! Germany is practically synonymous with beer, after all. Prater Biergarten astonishingly dates back a hundred years, making it the city’s oldest beer garden. It has open seating and can accommodate over 500 people! That’s a lot of beer drinkers.
The outdoor bar, stage, and club is a popular hotspot for beer drinking, gathering with friends, and enjoying classic German dishes. Prater Biergarten is a patron of the arts, too, and regularly puts on plays throughout the year. During summer, this place is positively bustling, and it’s a good place to put on your “musts” list.
Address: Kastanienallee 7–9, 10435 Berlin
Locals and tourists alike love Ankerklause for all the right reasons: it has an excellent location (on the Landwehr Canal), its outside terraces serve incredible views of the area, and the cold, delicious German beers and cocktails served here are perfection. Going to Ankerklause almost ensures you’ll have a lovely night out, particularly if you go on an evening with great weather, when you can enjoy your beverage in the great outdoors, on the terrace.
If, though, it’s a rainy or cold night, don’t fret. Inside Ankerklause, there’s a super-fun jukebox that keeps the hits coming all night long, and the bar also offers various seating options, making it a great place to gather with a large group, a few friends, a date, or solo. This bar is laid-back and welcoming, and the decorations are fun, too. On late nights, a DJ appears, and the energy goes from laid-back to oh-my-God-this-is-the-best-night-of-my-life vibes.
Address: Kottbusser Damm 104, 10967 Berlin
Named for its location at Oranienplatz, ORA is a beautiful Berlin bar worth visiting. For starters, it’s converted from an 1860s pharmacy, which already makes it quite fascinating and gives the feeling of stepping into a time machine!
While once a pharmacy and today a bar, the building retains many of its original 1800s features, making this bar a must-visit for anyone who appreciates beautiful and interesting architecture and detailing. The bar still has wooden medicine cabinets and apothecary jars! The cocktails here are good enough to write home about, and the bartenders’ bespoke creations will have you saying, “One more round, please!” It’s been noted that ORA is also a good date night spot, thanks to dim candlelight throughout the bar, and fragrant flowers.
Address: Oranienplatz 14, 10999 Berlin
While the name may feel barely pronounceable to those of us who don’t speak German, Klunkerkranich will offer you a good time, even if you can’t correctly say the name of where you are! Klunkerkranich is found on the top level of the Neukölln Arcaden and it offers visitors one of the most incredible views in all of Berlin. This rooftop bar is especially popular among trendy locals, thanks to its laid-back, easy-going feel.
Klunkerkranich has a wide range of beers and wines, all of which are reasonably priced. Given its accessible prices, this is a favorite among young people in Berlin. Klunkerkranich also has live entertainment throughout the year; it offers everything from slam poetry to DJs spinning tracks to film screenings and more. If you’re keen to find a beautiful spot to enjoy the Berlin sunset and great entertainment with a delicious drink in hand, look no further than Klunkerkranich.
Address: Karl-Marx-Strasse 66, 12043 Berlin
Anne McCarthy is the Editor in Chief of the Fat Tire Tours Blog. She is a contributing writer to the BBC, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Wired, and many more. She splits her time between the U.S. and Europe.
