Lonely Planet

TOP PICKSTOP PICKSPHOTOGRAPHS: ULRICH BAUMGARTEN VIA GETTY IMAGES,© PRINZIPAL KREUZBERG, RABAU/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGESStreet views at Luzia.ABOVE Try Prinzipal forcocktails and burlesque``````October 2017 Lonely Planet Traveller 119LocalknowledgeE l e v a t e d S p e a ke a s yAn anonymous steel door next tothe doner shop Misir Carsisi pointsthe way to Monarch Bar (kottimonarch.de; Skalitzer Strasse 134),a drinking den and DJ bar thatdraws a motley crowd of expats,Berliners and visitors. The vibe isfriendly, the music eclectic (thoughheavy on indie and electro) andthe drinks fairly priced. Enjoy viewsof Kotti and the U-Bahn tracksthrough panoramic windows.``````Funky SalonTucked behind a pile of Turkishkebab shops, grocers and shishabars, Möbel Olfe (moebel-olfe.de;Reichenberger Strasse 177) is aqueer-leaning drinking saloon thatchannels the area’s alternative vibewith boho décor, strong Polishbeers and a chatty vibe. It’s apopular spot for lesbians onTuesday and gay men on Thursday.``````Grape DelightsA charming wine lair with woodsyKotti bar hopNoisy, chaotic and sleepless, the area around Kottbusser TorU-Bahn station (Kotti, for short) defiantly retains the alt feel that’sdefined it since the 1970s. More gritty than pretty, this beehive ofsnack shops, cafés, pubs and bars delivers some of the city’s mosthot-stepping night-time action and is tailor-made for bar-hopping.Note that smoking is permitted in most places.``````fixtures and a bar covered in slate,Otto Rink (ottorink.de; DresdenerStrasse 124) is an easygoing placeto discover just how wonderfulGerman wines can be. There’s anemphasis on white varietals fromthe Mosel region, but wines fromother German areas as well as fromFrance, Spain and South Americafeature on the monthly changingmenu. Friendly staff will happilyhelp you to find your favourite.``````’50s Cocktail CaveFor a swish night out, point thecompass to Würgeengel (wuergeengel.de; Dresdener Strasse 122),a stylish Art Deco-style bar withoperatic chandeliers and black-glass surfaces. It serves greatcocktails, as well as pizza and otherItalian dishes from the adjacentrestaurant. The name pays homageto the surreal 1962 Buñuel movieThe Exterminating Angel.``````Luscious LairLuzia (facebook.com/luziabar;``````Oranienstrasse 34) is an excellentplace to get the party started witha few beers or long drinks. A fixtureon Kreuzberg’s hipster circuit, thevintage décor gets updated witha mural by street artist chinchin.``````Tables behind the panoramicwindows are great people-watching perches, and there’sa smoker’s lounge as well.``````Burlesque BoiteA jewel-box-sized burlesque bar,Prinzipal (prinzipal-kreuzberg.com;Oranienstrasse 178) celebrates theglamour of the Golden Twentieswith plenty of eye-candy detail,an apothecary-style bar and serversin custom-designed corsets andglamorous make-up. A bestselleramong the 10 signature cocktails isDate with Dita, a refreshing blendof bourbon, grapefruit, lemon,dates and homemade bitters.``````Den of DebaucheryA mashup of trash, camp and fun,Roses (Oranienstrasse 187) is abeloved pit stop on the Kreuzbergparty scene, especially amonglesbigays and friends. Don’t let thefurry walls and a predominance ofthe colour pink distract you fromthe fact that this is a place thattakes drinking seriously untilthe early morning hours.