Our guide to gay bars in Berlin.
While long-running clubs such as cult-favourite Chantals House of Shame and Berghain still draw in the crowds, new bars and club nights often just pop up. Monthly techno queer parties like Pornceptual at Prince Charles and Homopatik have moved the crowds into alternative venues and neighbourhoods, ones not traditionally LGBT. Berlin’s Christopher Street Day gay pride parade isn’t the only one anymore, with the Kreuzberg CSD taking place annually on the same day.
No guide to Berlin can begin without mentioning Lab.Oratory Berlin, one of the world’s most famous gay cruising and party venues. One of the most anticipated parties takes place there each year, SNAX, open to gay men only for Easter weekend and again in November, are sex-fueled parties people travel from the world over to attend.
Other Popular gay parties include Homopatik at //about: blank and Revolver (and other nights) at the fetish-friendly Kit Kat Club.
Tom’s Bar is a bit of an institution for gay Berlin. The bar has 2-for-1 drinks on Monday nights and has a popular darkroom in the basement. Schwuz is gay every night with regular themed parties.
GMF is your stereotypical gay circuit party. Think pop music, hot boys with their shirts off and a fun vibe.
The Club is a casual, neighborhood gay bar with discount drink nights and regularly put on events like art shows, RuPaul’s Drag Race screenings and drag shows.
Möbel Olfe is a gay smoking bar, need we say more? Silver Future is on trendy Weserstrasse in Neukölln. The bar is a great place for a meetup or a casual drink. Don’t miss, Roses with its completely pink interior and, on weekends, is full! Pink, camp and memorable.
Finally, Zum Schmutzigen is home to Berlin’s most famous transvestite, Nina Queer in Friedrichshain. Think cosy front room with a warm welcome. Popular with 30+ crowd.
Finally, Berghain, know for its sexually permissive atmosphere happens every weekend. Once inside, there are no mirrors in the bathrooms to possibly judge your decisions, and the club enforces a no-camera policy to preserve its mystique. On Fridays, only the house-centric Panorama Bar is open. It closes sometime after sunrise and the sweat and broken glass are mopped up before Saturday night when the massive main techno floor opens. Because the queue gets very long at peak hours, locals tend to get a full night’s sleep and eat brunch before going on Sunday afternoon. The club is open until Monday morning.
Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action
Sheraton Berlin, Mercure Berlin, RIU Plaza Berlin, ArtHotel Connection
