With the demise of Gainsbourg (it's been turned into a supermarket) there's only Zwiebelfisch and Diener flying the flag for old Berlin in this chic square between the K'Damm and Kantstrasse. Once a hotbed of revolutionary chatter, it's now a very laidback joint that seems totally at ease with itself. Papered in thousands of posters and old photos, it's got a chilled-out vibe thanks in no small measure to the genial owner, a veteran of West Berlin's pre-1989 counter culture. Zwiebelfisch, incidentally, is an old printing expression meaning a letter printed in the wrong font.

Savignyplatz 7, 10623 Berlin
+49(0)30 3127363
www.zwiebelfisch-berlin.de/
Google map: bit.ly/gMrPHM

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Great little cellar bar in Oranienburger Strasse. Go down the steps and be greeted by the bowler-hatted Ian Dury-esque owner/designer of this DIY retro establishment. Homemade artworks and paraphenalia adorn the brick walls, candles drip wax over their holders, smoke-filled ambience and Rolling Stones grooves. Relax on a big-armed sofa and discuss the Tachelles art collective (just along the road) over a Berliner Weisse green or red. A real taste of creative, underground Berlin.

Oranienburger Str. 40
10117 Berlin
Google map: bit.ly/gf10hf

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In a city that can revel a tad too self-consciously in industrial chic, this is a glorious throwback to an older era. Behind an unprepossessing door at the top of Münzstr in Mitte is a dark, wood-panelled kneipe which whisks you back to Weimar. The draught beer is fine and there's a very pleasant back room normally frequented by undemonstrative, bo-ho types.

Münzstrasse 23, Mitte, 10178 Berlin
+49 30 2819687
Google map: bit.ly/eViCba

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Bar/restaurant in heart of Kreuzberg since mid 19th century.
It became famous for its confectionery, so much so that cakes were sent to New York in the 1920s via the Hindenburg airship.
It is now a bar and restaurant with German/ international food.

kuchenkaiser.blogspot.com/
Oranienplatz 11 - 13, 10999 Berlin
+49 6140 2697
Nearest metro: Moritzplatz
Google map: bit.ly/950S7n

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This small and cosy bar serves a large choice of cocktails, wine and spirits. For those who get hungry I recomend the tapas - and for those who want to smoke the choice of cigars.

Gneisenaustrasse 58
10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg,Germany

www.paulaundben.de

+49 30 28 03 44 00

U-Bahn: U7 | station: Südstern

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One of the best coffee shops I've ever been to! Those guys sure enough know their business. The food was delicious, the place was cozy and the coffee was amazing - definitely worth a visit.

10247 Berlin Friedrichshain
T | +49 (0)30 288 392 33

Google map: tinyurl.com/y8a6sba

www.nofirenoglory.de/

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A no-strings attached gem, the Weinerei offers unlimited wine, juice, and a meal for a one Euro fee (plus a donation on exit) in central Berlin.

The cafe itself is small, packed with locals and the wine isn't bad either!

A must-visit for budget travellers with a penchant for good wine, conversation and value.

www.weinerei.com/
Veteranenstraße 14, 10119 Berlin
030 4406983
Google map: tinyurl.com/yjoxpx7

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It's a nice and interesting bar serving a very tasty and un-pasteurized tap beer from a small and independent Czech brewery called Svijany, playing Balkan and Gypsie music. There one can find people from everywhere (many Italians, Spaniards, French, American, from the Balkans and of course Germans), all this in an up-and-coming area of north Neukölln. And, by the way, sometimes they serve free Grasovka vodka for everyone.

Mama bar. Hobrechtstr. 61, Berlin. Tel. 01577 1944916. Nearest station U-8 Schönleinstr., U-7, U-8 Hermannplatz.

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Berlin in a nutshell. Peculiar mix of people - 70 year-old ladies in old-fashioned evening dresses and gentlemen in suits, urban bummers in Hugo Boss as well as crazy hipsters are to be seen in this old ballroom (existed since 1913) in the centre of Berlin.

Situated in a scraped building surrounded by numerous art galleries, the place was visited by Tom Cruise during his search for old-fashioned shooting locations for the film 'Valkyrie'. Good food and delicious home-made cakes. Music changes depending on the day (cha cha, swing, waltz and tango). In the summer, the garden is an additional attraction.

If you walk down the Auguststr (Berlin Mitte), you'll spot an enchanting garden and the scraped building behind it.
Clärchens Ballhaus, Auguststraße 24, Berlin Mitte.
www.ballhaus.de/

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This Friedrichshain bar has great atmosphere. Relax in the shabby chic surroundings (standard lamps, rugs, armchairs and wine-coloured walls) and enjoy whittling away the hours listening to the eclectic soundtrack, sipping beer for under two euros. Friendly staff and chilled out clientele. Look out for the wooden bowls of tea (bit odd and bitter).

Macondo
Boxhanger Platz, Friedrichshain

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Nice American-style cafe bar serving delicious food in the hip Schlesisches Str area in Kreuzberg.

Near Schlesisches Tor u-bahn

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This is a nice cosmopolitan bar with a good selection of cocktails. You can find some of the local proms here drinking.

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For those into something a little alternative (dub, indie, electronica etc), numerous small clubs around the Warschauer Strasse metro stop such as Cassiopeia and Rosis Bar are highly recommended. Relatively inexpensive with a great crowd and good music.

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What any five-star cocktail bar should be like - very friendly ambience, excellent and friendly, yet reserved, barmen. Best whiskey sour I've had.
Best cocktail bar in Europe.

Potsdamer Straße 102 • 10785 Berlin
Telefon +49.30.2575 9977
www.victoriabar.de

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It's a great example of an urban artists' collective, situated in an old crumbling department store from the turn of the century in the middle of the up-and-coming mitte district.

It houses many artists' galleries and workspaces where the public are free to wander and these are often turned into venues for impromptu parties.

There is a great outside space dotted with sculptures and beer served from an old VW van in the back and there's a cafe inside serving food from breakfasts to supper and coffees and hot chocolates and also a venue for live music. A wonderful space just to hang out.

arthouse tacheles
Oranienburger Str. 54
10117 Berlin
www.tacheles.de

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It's a sort of lounge/nightclub. I think it is a restaurant during the day. I was stumbling around Zoologischer Garten on a Thursday night and some kid handed me a flyer which (out of character for me) I took and it said there was live music playing. So I went over there and when I went in I was really surprised. There was a great band doing covers of soul classics and some other things i didnt recognise with an amazing piano player (who looked like Pat from Saturday Night Live) who took solo after solo and did not disappoint. Not to mention that the place was very stylish, chic but not expensive. Most people were sitting down and listening to the music but another group was dancing. I had a great time there and went back twice during that stay. I heartily reccomend it.

Kantstrasse 17
west on kantstrasse from the Zoo Station in Charlottenburg.

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The bars and restaurants around Hakescher Markt & Oranienburger Strasse are great: lively venues offering good value with great service. The 'ladies of the night' plying their trade on Oranienburger Strasse was an eye opener.

However, under no circumstances visit 'Dante' in the row of restaurants situated in Hakescher Markt's S-Bhan station arches. We waited 50 minutes before we found that the kitchen had lost our order and a further 30 for the food to arrive, the staff were rude and at no point was an apology offered. This is not the norm as all other retsuarants in the area provided very friendly and efficient service.

In the Mitte. There are countless restaurants situated in and around the railway arches of Hakescher Markt's S-Bahn station, which is on lines; S-5, S-7, S-9.

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It's an Irish pub showing sport. Not very exciting but friendly and convenient. A mix of ex-pats and locals.

Friedrichstrasse 112a
Berlin-Mitte
Telephone: 030 2828260
www.oscar-wilde-irish-pub.de

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Stylish hotel, excellently located in Mitte, within walking distance of many of the key sights; alternatively, seconds from tram, U and S-bahn. Room design is trendy, with huge floor-ceiling windows. Amazing price-quality correlation. Hotel's cocktail lounge has extensive range of drinks. Breakfast not cheap (15EUR per person) but great selection, including delicious crispy bacon.

Oranienburger Strasse 52
U-bahn: Oranienburger Tor
www.arcotel.at/velvet.htm

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Hot location with hot girls!!

www.optica-club.de

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