Roses
You haven’t been gay and out on the town in Berlin if you’ve never spent an entire night huddled in one of the pink-carpet-padded corners of Roses, only to emerge bleary-eyed in the early hours of the morning with the sun blazing down on Oranienstraße. Roses is one of those bars you have to see to believe – with every inch of the walls covered in photos, fairy lights and tchotchkes, it’s as if you’re kooky grandma decided to have all your friends over and unlock the contents of her liquor cabinet.
Oranienstraße 187
facebook.com/pages/category/Gay-Bar/Roses-Bar-Berlin-122681534487343/
The New Oldtimer
The New Oldtimer is gay Berlin’s version of the titular bar from Cheers: a place where everybody knows your name. As the name suggests, it caters to a more mature crowd than some of the places on this list, and its 1960s- and ‘70s-inspired décor gives it a frozen-in-time ambiance that adds to the traditional charm. Maybe not a bar to spend the whole night in, but after an evening out in Schönerberg, it’s the perfect locale for a nightcap (or several).
Lietzenburger Str. 12
derneueoldtimer.de
Tipsy Bear
A performer at Tipsy Bear
A newer addition to the Berlin queer scene, Tipsy Bear has become the quintessential gay bar in Berlin’s posh Prenzlauer Berg district. Spacious next to some of the other locations on this list, Tipsy has a robust schedule of nightly events that make it a great place to meet up with friends, order a few rounds and be thoroughly entertained. Drag shows, quiz nights, karaoke – it’s the perfect one-stop-shop for a classic gay ol’ time.
Eberswalder Str. 21
tipsybearberlin.com
Tom's Bar
For those willing to take a walk on the wild side, Tom’s Bar is Shöneberg’s most enduring mens-only establishment. Once a strict leather den, they have since loosened the dress code somewhat, although the clientele remains as gruff and rough-around-the-edges as ever. Schöneberg is Berlin’s traditional gay neighborhood, and the entire strip around Nollendorfplatz is home to scores of gay bars for every temperament. While Tom’s is definitely archaic compared to Berlin’s more progressive queer community, it remains an institution.
Motzstraße 19
tomsbar.de
Südblock
Südblock is right in the middle of Kottbusser Tor, the eye of Kreuzberg’s chaotic storm. If Südblock is open, then trust it is well attended – on any given day or night, their spacious outdoor beer garden is bustling with partygoers drinking pints of ale and noshing downright delicious bar food (yes, you can get a traditional German schnitzel). Inside, the cavernous club hosts drag bingo, karaoke, and club nights with an array of pop, house and disco DJs.
Admiralstraße 1-2
suedblock.org/wp/
Betty F***
A killer cocktail at Betty F***
Mitte’s Scheunenviertel is one of downtown Berlin’s most historic areas, home to the immense Volksbühne theater and Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. It’s also where you can descend a tiny stairwell and end up a Betty F***, a dinky enclave of a bar that absolutely goes off every weekend. While the DJ spins ‘90s jams, bar hoppers sing along and dance, in a space that’s no bigger than most other Berlin bar backrooms. Like New Oldtimer, this is more of a pre- or post-game situation, but aren’t those bars always better than the main event anyway?
Mulackstraße 13
bettyf.de
Sameheads
OK, so this one is slightly cheating – Sameheads isn’t just your typical ‘gay bar’. Rather, it’s a DIY space, fashion label, music venue and night club all wrapped into one, catering to the freakier side of Berlin’s queer art scene. At their Neukölln headquarters, you can see everything from an underground electro set to performance art – be assured that you’ll never have the same experience twice. Imagine the cool best friend from an ‘80s rom-com’s incredible artsy party loft, and you’re halfway there.
Richardstraße 10
sameheads.com
Ficken 3000
Ficken’s naughty name says it all: at this dive bar/dancefloor, you can have a fabulously good time while leaving all your inhibitions on the doormat where they belong. The beer is cheap, the music is loud, and let’s just say, what happens there, stays there (enter the downstairs backroom if you dare!). On any given night, it’s the perfect blend of cozy and anonymous, and when the DJs (who spin everything from techno to Italo disco) really start kicking, the whole upper floor can party until the sun comes up.
Urbanstraße 70
ficken3000.com
