60 HOURS IN GAY BERLIN
With everything from urban beaches and a hopping club culture, to boutique-chic design and cosmopolitan sophistication, the German capital has it all. Discover Berlin using the 60by80 gay guide for an extended weekend with Club, Queen and King-sized recommendations on what to see and do, and where to eat, shop and go out.
Friday afternoon.
CLUB-SIZED
Get the gist of Mitte cool: Nibble in the courtyard of Pan Asia, then do the Hackesche Höfe shop rounds at, say, 14Oz, Drykorn and Wood Wood.
QUEEN-SIZED
Load up on bubbly and oyster on KaDeWe's sixth floor. Stop by the impressive Gedächtniskirche before saying hi to Knut at Berlin's Zoo, one of the world's best.
KING-SIZED
Taste the good life at Galeries Lafayette's champagne bar before engaging in some upmarket shopping in-house and at Quartier 206 and The Corner.
Friday evening.
CLUB-SIZED
Do your bit for the gender balance at popular neighbourhood Italian Mädchenitaliener, then head for tranny-tastic drinks at Betty F***.
QUEEN-SIZED
Dinner at La Cocotte, Schöneberg's 'gay French', puts you in pole position for post-dinner drinks at Heile Welt and a themed night at Hafen.
KING-SIZED
Enjoy a well-stirred pre-dinner cocktails at Newton Bar and get a late dinner reservation for Grill Royal where the late-night antics is half the fun.
MORE DINING REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR BERLIN RESTAURANT GUIDE
Friday night.
CLUB-SIZED
Head to Kreuzberg and Barbie Bar before hitting the old school institution SchwuZ. Classy it ain't, but it sure is fun and trashy.
QUEEN-SIZED
There's hardly a gentler introduction to Berlin’s club scene possible than Dice Club, with all of its chill out zones and that marvellous terrace.
KING-SIZED
Berlin can be surprisingly exclusive, like Tausend. If you're worried about not getting in, consider preceding with dinner at Shiro i Shiro in same building.
MORE SUGGESTIONS FOR GOING OUT IN OUR BERLIN GAY NIGHTLIFE SECTION
Saturday morning.
CLUB-SIZED
Brunch at Kauf Dich Glücklich or Cafe Bar 103 gives you the perfect vantage point to explore Berlin's hipster scene around Kastanienallee.
QUEEN-SIZED
Art lab Kunst-Werke Berlin isn't for everybody, but breakfast at Café Bravo in its courtyard is a surefire winner. Then visit the galleries in Auguststrasse.
KING-SIZED
Visiting Norman Foster's dome at the Reichstag is a must. The queuing isn't: Book breakfast at Käfer on the rooftop and jump the queue.
Saturday afternoon.
CLUB-SIZED
Embark on a Trabi-Safari before treating yourself to a late lunch at Monsieur Vuong and an aperitif with the hip crowd at Pony Bar.
QUEEN-SIZED
Continue the museum gastro-tour with lunch at Sarah Wiener in Hamburger Bahnhof, the railway station turned modern art museum.
KING-SIZED
Be frugal and do lunch rather than dinner at Fischers Fritz before visiting the Museumsinsel. Then de-culturalise yourself at Strandbar Mitte.
Saturday evening.
CLUB-SIZED
Refuel at gay truck stop diner Raststätte Gnadenbrot before exploring the gay bars in Schöneberg. Get your bearings at Tom's Bar.
QUEEN-SIZED
Veggie may not be your thing, but then no one really goes to Cookies & Cream for the food. Artsy-media hot spot in the same hard-to-find building as club de jour Cookies.
KING-SIZED
Go for a drink at the revamped Hotel de Rome to work up your appetite for a classic dinner at celebrity honey pot Borchardt.
MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EATING OUT IN OUR BERLIN RESTAURANT SECTION
Saturday night.
CLUB-SIZED
The best Saturday parties are usually once-a-month affairs like Propaganda and Kino International. Ken Berlin is a weekly back-up.
QUEEN-SIZED
Usually a mid-weeker, Cookies occasionally hosts some great Saturdays, including the monthly Spy Club. Otherwise Rodeo is an undercover stunner.
KING-SIZED
The crowd is, unsurprisingly, moneyed and a little trashy at the swish penthouse Puro Sky Lounge, but the views are unbeatable.
Sunday day.
CLUB-SIZED
If you were serious about partying, then you'll still be at Berghain/Panorama Bar. Eat at Kantine am Berghain then snooze on the sandy banks of Oststrand.
QUEEN-SIZED
Berliners do flea markets like no others. Fill your belly at Nola’s am Weinberg before hitting the Mauerpark and Arkonaplatz markets. Relish your finds in the Prater beergarten.
KING-SIZED
Treat yourself to brunch at Brasserie Desbrosses and as much champagne as you want. It makes a visit to the Helmut Newton foundation and Tiergarten so much more enjoyable.
Sunday evening.
CLUB-SIZED
Re-energise at chic noodle bar Susuru before getting dizzy at the Berliner telly tower on Alexanderplatz. Calm yourself with drinks at Sharon Stonewall.
QUEEN-SIZED
Make sure to have your German culture needs for the weekend fulfilled at the slickly alpine-themed Alpenstueck or Schneeweiss.
KING-SIZED
With most of the city's fine dining establishments closed on Sunday nights, a visit to a classic is in order and the don't come more classic than the original Café Einstein.
Sunday night.
CLUB-SIZED
The only respectable way to end a party weekend in Berlin is to dance at GMF @ Weekend. Three floors of stunning views. In and out.
QUEEN-SIZED
Round up the weekend at drag queen and DJane Nina Queer's cultish Bar zum schmutzigen Hobby and continue on to Roses Bar if you still haven't had enough.
KING-SIZED
Some say the service is slow, others attest to the fact it’s a bit of an upscale cruising spot, but all agree that Green Door is a bit of an institution.
FIND RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE TO STAY IN BERLIN IN OUR HOTELS SECTION
We'd love to hear your opinion. Please do This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any tips, feedback and recommendations.
