b-flat Acoustic Music & Jazz Club
Young German artists perform most nights at b-flat. The well-known and well-attended Wednesday jam sessions focus on experimental jazz.
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Mitte's nightlife runs the full gamut from touristic and trendy hotel bars to smaller, more alternative bars and clubs. You'll find some of the city's best cocktail bars in these parts.
Young German artists perform most nights at b-flat. The well-known and well-attended Wednesday jam sessions focus on experimental jazz.
A night out at Clärchen's Ballhaus (Little Clara's Ballroom) is like a trip back in time; opened in 1913, the club is an impressive sight. On summer nights, lines often stretch out the door, while the front courtyard comes alive with patrons dining alfresco on brick-oven pizzas. The main ballroom features a different style of music every night and there are often dance lessons before the party starts. One of the best things about this place, though, is the variety of people of different ages, nationalities, and social backgrounds.
In the grand tradition of upscale clubs, Bar Tausend is well hidden behind a steel door under the Friedrichstrasse S-bahn tracks and guarded by a discerning doorman. The futuristic main bar area, basically a long tunnel with circular lights at either end and mirrors above, looks like something out of the classic German film Metropolis. It would feel a bit claustrophobic if not for the excellent cocktails and stylish clientele. Hidden behind the bar is an even harder-to-get-into restaurant, whispered about by Berlin foodies—the so-called Tausend Cantina. For an unforgettable meal, call in advance for reservations.
More like a lounge and party venue than a club, House of Weekend has great views of East Berlin's skyline and several different floors of music, including the occasional international DJ act. But beware: the crowd is young, and on weekends you may find yourself caught in a throng of tourists, or rowdy study-abroad students on their night out. In the summer, it's open nightly from 6 pm, with table reservations available.
Schlot hosts Berlin jazz scenesters, aspiring musicians playing Sunday-night free jazz sessions, and local heavy hitters. It's a bit hard to find—it's in the cellar of the Edison Höfe—but enter the courtyard via Schlegelstrasse and follow the music.
This posh bar in Mitte has been around for ages. Helmut Newton's larger-than-life photos of nude women decorate the walls.
Affiliated with nearby Sage Restaurant, this eclectic club is open only on Thursday. Different floors play different music, from rock to electro, so expect to see diverse crowds depending on the vibe (check the program on the website).