10 sides to Berlin: part 2
Last month we introduced you to bmi’s newest destination. This time we look at five more sides to the city to suit all types
HEDONIST
Hedonist Berlin: five reasons to stay out of bed in the clubbing capital of Europe
BERGHAIN
It has a fearsomely tough door policy, yet Berghain easily justifies its pre-eminence in Berlin’s party world. Anything goes in this renovated power plant – however, the adjoining Panorama bar errs towards the (slightly more) conservative. Am Wriezener Bahnhof, +49 (0)30 2936 0210, www.berghain.de
TAUSEND
Entrepreneur Till Harter’s classy Tausend bar underneath Friedrichstrasse railway station presents another side of hedonistic Berlin: a coolly noir joint peopled with in-the-know jazzers, hepcats and fashion slickers. Well worth the hassle. 11 Schiffbauerdamm, www.tausendberlin.com
WHITE TRASH FAST FOOD
A reinvention of the classic American diner with a range of influences (trailer trash bar, tattoo parlour, punk dive), White Trash is synonymous with rock & roll Berlin. Expect DJ nights plus great diner food. 6/7 Schönhauser Allee, +49 (0)30 5034 8668, www.whitetrashfastfood.com
WEEKEND
A club with a tall reputation, Weekend is situated on the 13th floor of an Alexanderplatz tower block. Clubbers come for its A-list DJs and stay till dawn to watch the sun slowly illuminate the city below. 5 Alexanderstrasse, +49 (0)30 2463 1676, www.week-end-berlin.de
COOKIES
A converted warehouse is home to Cookies, a renowned party spot among Berlin’s cognoscenti. Expect house and techno on weekend nights, but be sure to check the club’s upstairs restaurant, Cookies Cream, for fantastic food in a chic setting. Friedrichstrasse. +49 (0)30 27 9 2940, www.cookies.ch / www.cookies-cream.de
FASHION
Fashion Berlin: Germany’s capital of chic combines old-school luxe and fashion-forward underground designers
KADEWE
Head into west Berlin for a shopping trip along Kurfürstendamm, the city’s answer to Old Bond Street, where high fashion and streetwear boutiques sit alongside jewellery and antiques retailers. The venerable KaDeWe department store is a Harrods-like presence at one end of the street. 21-24 Tauentzienstrasse, +49 (0)30 2121-0, www.kadewe.de
THE CORNER
Berlin’s chicest shopping destination, The Corner stocks international designer names and is a stop-off for fashion-centric celebrities: Tom Cruise, Karl Lagerfeld and Catherine Deneuve have all shopped here. Look for brands including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Chloé. Französische Strasse, +49 (0)30 2067 0940, www.thecornerberlin.de
LALA BERLIN
Local brand Lala Berlin’s new ‘Live The Rebellion’ collection was well received at Berlin Fashion Week 2010 and has made a star of designer Leyla Piedayesh. The line is infused with the city’s anarchist spirit. 7 Mulackstrasse, +49 (0)30 2576 2924, www.lalaberlin.de
HOTEL DE ROME
A favourite lay-over with visiting international fashionistas, the Hotel de Rome is among Berlin’s suavest destinations. Head to the roof terrace for coffees or just hang out in the ground-floor bar. 37 Behrenstrasse, +49 (0)30 460 6090, www.hotelderome.com
HECKING
Fans of handbags and glad rags make for Luisa Hecking’s accessories shop. Check out her own HeckingHandermann line, plus boutique bags from hand-picked labels such as Christian Lacroix. 26 Mulackstrasse, +49 (0)30 2804 7528, www.hecking-shop.com
ARCHITECTURAL
Architectural Berlin: striking new buildings for the architecturally inclined
HAUPTBAHNHOF RAILWAY STATION
The immense, glittering lightbox of the Hauptbahnhof central station is impressive enough in daylight – walk along the Spree after nightfall to see this radical and futuristic construction in all its twinkly glory. Europaplatz, www.hbf-berlin.de
JEWISH MUSEUM
Daniel Liebeskind’s zig-zag template makes this building one of Berlin’s most iconic, while inside is a range of profoundly affecting galleries and experiences commemorating the horrors of the Holocaust. 9-14 Lindenstrasse, +49 (0)30 2599 3300, www.jmberlin.de
DEUTSCHE TECHNIK MUSEUM
Germany’s technology tradition is celebrated in this fantastic construction outside of which hangs a Dakota transport aircraft. Go inside for an incredible collection of railway engines, hot-air balloons, ships, planes and more. 9 Trebbiner Strasse, +49 (0)30 90 2540, www.sdtb.de
THE AQUARIUM AT THE RADISSON BLU
The gigantic aquarium in the atrium of the Radisson Blu hotel contains a million litres of sea water. Buy a ticket for its interior lift for a close-up view of the sealife. 3 Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse, +49 (0)30 23 8280, www.radissonblu.com
NEUE NATIONAL GALERIE
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s pavilion design for the New National Gallery is a work of art in itself, while the gallery houses a matchless collection of European modern art, including works by Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and many others. 50 Potsdamer Strasse, +49 (0)30 2664 2451-0, www.neue-nationalgalerie.de
FAMILY
Family Berlin: one of the world’s most child-friendly cities, Berlin offers attractions for all ages
RESTAURANT AVRIL
Long, lazy brunches are a tradition in Berlin and plenty of bistros are child-friendly. Try Avril in Kreuzberg, which along with great food also has Wi-fi and daily newspapers for big kids. 83 Graefestrasse, +49 (0)30 6273 5398, www.cafe-avril.com
WALL DOCUMENTATION CENTRE
For parents keen to impart a sense of history to older kids, make for the Mauer Dokumentations Zentrum – a preserved stretch of the wall with a viewing station and fascinating archive material. 111 Bernauer Strasse,+49 (0)30 464 1030, www.berliner-mauer-dokumentationszentrum.de
ZOOLIGISCHE GARTEN
It boasts some 15,000 animals, but Knut the polar bear remains the favourite attraction of the Berlin Zoo. Take a walk through the nearby Tiergarten to enjoy a botanical experience au naturel. 8 Hardenbergplatz, +49 (0)30 2540 10, www.zoo-berlin.de
KIEZKIND
A combined café and kids play area right in the heart of family-oriented Prenzlauer Berg, Kiezkind has proved a hit with locals. It offers a wide range of healthy smoothies, juices, cakes and sandwiches plus baby food and even nappies. Auf dem Helmholtzplatz, +49 (0)177 4440 437, www.mein-kiezkind.de
T-ROOM & DIALOGUE BOOKSHOP
Drop into the T-Room, a cute, English-style tea salon in Prenzlauer Berg for a restorative pot of Earl Grey, then take a look into the adjoining Dialogue Berlin, an English-language bookshop with a sizeable kids’ section. Dialogue can also host parties for children. 27 Christinenstrasse, +49 (0)30 8310 4553, www.the-t-room.de / www.dialogueberlin.com
CYCLE
Cycle Berlin: see the city on two wheels, or nose round Berlin’s circuit of bike shops and cycling venues
CICLI BERLINETTA
The ultimate destination for bike snobs, Dustin Nordhus’s workshop and showroom offer beautifully renovated 1960s-80s road and track bikes, plus all manner of restored Tour de France ephemera. 19 Schönfliesser Strasse, +49 (0)30 9608 8323, www.cicli-berlinetta.de
KEIRIN CAFÉ BERLIN
Deep in the heart of Kreuzberg, the Keirin Café is the mecca for the city’s growing number of fixed-gear riders. Check out Wassertor Platz, just down the road, on Sundays, where games of bike polo are held. 5 Oberbaum Strasse, +49 (0)30 8485 7666, www.keirinberlin.de
VELODROM
It’s often used as a concert venue, but dedicated cycling fans can watch big names compete in track-cycling events at the colossal velodrome in the Europe Sportpark on Freidrichshain. The Berlin Six-Day meet in February is the key event, but check for others. 26 Paul Heyse Strasse, +49 (0)30 4430 4430, www.velodrom.de
VILLA PASCULLI
A new arrival in the city, German-Italian bespoke bike brand Pasculli recently opened a fantastic new outlet in a renovated music hall in Schöneberg. Expect beautiful machines presented in an airy, zen-like pavilion plus an espresso bar, lounges and gallery. 45-46 Rheinstrasse, +49 (0)30 8540 1289, www.pasculli.de
BIKE HIRE
Rent a bike for the day and see the city on two wheels (riding the line of the Berlin Wall is a popular route). Berlin has no shortage of bike hire companies and guided rides – try www.fahrradstation.de which has six central locations in town.
