Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

Far less techno and far more laid-back than other parts of Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg's trendy cafes and late-night restaurants each have a devoted local following. Opt for bars over clubs in this part of town.

The Weinerei: Forum, Veteranenstr. 14 This unmarked wine bar has gone from a local secret to a local legend, catapulted by its comfortable elegance and unique paying system. Pay €2 for a glass, sample all the wines, and then sample again, and again, and before leaving, pay what you think you owe. Enjoy your vintage at an outdoor table, on an indoor sofa, or in the downstairs wine cellar (by request). U2: Senefelderpl. Depends on how drunk you get. Open M-Sa 10am-late, Su 11am-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Solsi e Morsi, Marienburger Str. 10 It's not often that an owner becomes as loved as his bar, but Johnny Petrongolo is that rare exception. Buzzing about tables, opening wine bottles, and handing out plates of free parma ham, cheese, bread and olives, Johnny and his familial staff have won over the hearts of their young regulars, and ours as well. If you're not sure where to start, let the Petrongolos help you pick your wine. U2: Senefelderpl. Wine from €3 a glass. Open daily 6pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Klub Der Republic (KDR), Pappelallee 81 There are few museums that have as many authentic Soviet artifacts as KDR has hanging on its walls. Once the showroom of the DDR carpet and linoleum supplier, KDR kept the old formica bar and leaded glass, and added lamps from the original Palast Republik, collected as the building was being torn down. The furniture is from the DDR landmark Cafe Moscow. DJs play every night to a mixed crowd attracted by the club's no cover policy. U2: Eberswalder Str. Turn into what looks like a deserted parking lot and climb the metal stairs. Drinks €5, beer €4. Open from “dark to light.” In more definite terms, that's around 9pm in the summer, in the winter 8pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Intersoup, Schliemannstr. 31 (www.intersoup.de), With worn ‘70s furniture, retro floral wallpaper, and soup specials, this is your East-Berlin Soviet-era grandmother's living room turned ironic. Named after the DDR-era general store Intershop, Intersoup has been keeping things quintessentially Prenzlauer Berg-esque and getting quite the local following doing it. The upper level always has a DJ, but the real highlight is the downstairs undersoup, where international bands perform every night at 10pm, in genres from folk to rock, to an audience seated in comfortable mix-matched chairs covered in lurid orange and olive patterns. There's almost never a cover. U2: Eberswalder Str. Soup €4.50-5. Open M-Sa 6pm-3am, Su. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Wohnzimmer, Lettestr. 6 Wohnzimmer means “living room,” and it's not hard to see why this bar goes by that name, given its wide wood-planked floors, and glassware cabinets along the walls of the bar. Settle into a velvety Victorian sofa with a mixed drink among a diverse crowd. Wohnzimmer is a favorite of hip 20-somethings and an older crowd who could have furnished the bar with relics from their garage sales. U2: Eberswalder Str. Cocktails €4-5. Beer €2.50-3. Open daily 9am-4am. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Dr. Pong, Eberswalder Str. 21 In the middle of a concrete room with peeling paint, and under falling fluorescent lights, stands a single ping-pong table, the centerpiece of this minimalist bar. Intense hipsters ring the table, gripping their paddles. All are welcom U2: Eberswalder Str. Drinks €2-5.50. Open M-Sa 8pm-late, Su 6pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Prater Garten, Kastanienallee 7-9 (www.pratergarten.de), Locals and travelers of all ages eat and drink at sprawling picnic tables under a canopy of chestnut trees. Set just off a busy street, the peaceful ambiance of the hundreds of small hung lights is perfect as either a stop-off between clubs, or as the setting for a whole evening of relaxed conversation and good beer. Prater Garten, arguably the prettiest beer garden in Berlin, also has an outdoor theater and television. U2: Eberswalder Str. Bratwurst €2.50. Beer €2.50-3.50. Open in good weather Apr-Sept daily noon-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
White Trash Fast Food, Schönehauser Allee 6-7 (www.whitetrash-fastfood.com), Guarded by two gilded lions out front, four levels of kitsch at White Trash Fast Food provide endless visual entertainment. Fish tanks, rabbit skins, rocking horses, and movie memorabilia cover the bar. Drinks come with honest, English explanations: the Zombie will “blast your head into 1000 pieces!” International rock bands play to a packed crowd in this I-Spy paradise. U2: Senefelderpl. Specialty drinks from €8. Open M-F 12pm-late, Sa-Su 6pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Scotch and Sofa, Kollwitzstr. 18 Exactly what the name promises. This bar channels gold-foiled '70s glamour in the Sean-Connery-as-James-Bond tradition, and serves up classic drinks on vintage sofas. Far from stuffy, Scotch and Sofa relaxes to some mellow, big-band tunes, and grand French doors open up to a quiet street lined with patio seating. U2: Senefelderpl. Scotch from €5. Happy hour daily 6pm-7pm, when the cocktail of the day is €3.80. Open daily 6pm-very late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Morgenrot, Kastanienallee 85 (www.cafe-morgenrot.de), This little cafe is trying to save the world, and they're having a great time doing it. Owned by a five person work collective, Morganrot makes vegan, organic, fair-trade food by day (including a weekend brunch buffet where guests pay only what they can afford from €4), and serves up frosty vodka shots at night. Deep teal walls and climbing plants on the outside pull in crowds off Kastanienallee. U2: Eberswalder Str. Shots €2. Open Tu-Th noon-1am, F-Sa 11am-3am, Su 11am-1am. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Duncker, Dunckerstr. 64 (www.dunckerclub.de), Suits of armor, chainmail, and retro bead curtains hang from the high ceilings of this horse-stable-turned-club. Trees and climbing ivy cover the outside of the building, and form a canopy over the back patio. Duncker heats up at about 1am, when it draws an intense crowds with its insider vibe. Ring the bell for entry. S8, S41, or S85: Prenzlauer Allee. M-Tu goth, Th live bands. Cover M €2.50, F €4, Sa €4.50, Su €2.50. Th free. F-Sa all drinks max €2. Open M-Tu, Th-Su 8pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Fishing for Compliments, Kastanienallee 23 By day, Fishing for Compliments eagerly seeks your compliments with its fish and chips. But on weekend nights, this becomes one of the coolest fried food places around. The staff opens the front wall up to the street, and sets up a stereosystem that blasts music onto Kastanienallee. U2: Eberswalder Str. Fish and chips €3.50. Beer €2-3. Open M-F noon-11pm, Sa-Su noon-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cafe Nemo, Oderberger Str. 46 Woven reed mats line the walls of this south-of-the-border bar, and model ships hang from corners of the ceiling. With some quirky murals of inexplicably blue men on the walls, Cafe Nemo manages to avoid being kitschy while still creating a Central American vibe. The outside patio gets crowded early, as does the back room pool and foosball table. U2: Eberswalder Str. Beer €1.80-3. Mixed drinks €4-5. Open M-Sa 6pm-late, Su 4pm-late. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.