LGBTQ+ Berlin: The city’s best gay bars, clubs and saunas

What is it? A funky, technicolour venue for live music, dancing and karaoke.

Why we love it: It's a local legend. Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke has undergone a facelift in recent years, but the on-stage stripper pole is very much still intact. There are plenty of private booths for shyer songbirds, but the real magic happens in the main room. Here, expect special events like dragshow POPPERs and Slutty Sunday where raunchy outfits are rewarded.

Address: Warschauer Str. 34, 10243, Berlin

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, from 6pm-2am; and Friday to Saturday, from 6pm-5am. 

Expect to pay: Entry varies on event. Private karaoke cabins start at €20 per hour and cocktails start at €9 

What is it? Part-club, part-bar and a 100% good time, with musicals, drag shows and other live events. 

Why we love it: Tucked away in a busy post-industrial complex in Friedrichshain, Zum Schmutzigen Hobby is a bar and club in one, and it's run by the local legend Nina Queer. You’ll find the cream of the Berlin queer scene here, as well as the occasional international celeb slumming it in style (Rupert Everett and, erm, Tara Reid have both been spotted here). The regular drag shows are a favourite.

Address: Revaler Str. 99, 10245, Berlin

Opening hours: Wednesday, from 8pm-midnight; Thursday, from 9pm-1am; Friday, from 10pm-3am; Saturday, from 10pm-6am; and Sunday, from 12am-6am; closed Monday and Tuesday 

Expect to pay: Around 7€ to 15€ for general admission

What is it? A tiny gay and disco bar that plays 80s/90s hits

Why we love it: It was over a century ago that the homosexuals of the Wilhelmine period would congregate around the bars and cafés of Mitte’s Mulackstrasse. Today, as one of the few gay bars left in Mitte, Betty F*** remains a favourite for gays, hipsters and fashionistas looking for a kickstart to the evening.

Address: Mulackstrasse 13, 10119, Berlin

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, from 8pm-3am; Friday to Saturday, from 8pm-5am; and Sunday, from 8pm-2am

Expect to pay: Around €8-12 for cocktails

What is it? Berlin's queer museum, founded in 1985

Why we love it: As well as being one of Berlin’s most prized museums, the Schwules has a quiet café for those looking for something more downtempo. Pop into one of the rotating exhibitions on gay, lesbian and trans history, peruse the abundant books and magazines stored upstairs, and then chill out over a quiet coffee or beer.

Address: Lützowstraße 73, 10785, Berlin

Opening hours: Wednesday, from 12pm-6pm; Thursday, from 12pm-8pm; Friday, from 12pm-6pm; Saturday, from 2pm-7pm; Sunday, from 2pm-6pm; closed Monday. 

Expect to pay: €10 for general admission

What is it? A techno-heavy nightclub with kinky private rooms

Why we love it: Opened in 2004 on the border between the Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts, Berghain has long been known for its techno and minimal techno music scene. It’s just as celebrated for its queer-friendly rooms that are dedicated to sexual pleasure-seeking. All of this has contributed to the Berlin club’s extreme and one-of-a-kind reputation that has travellers desperate to enter its front doors.

Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243, Berlin

Hours and prices vary by event.

What is it? A pink and pretty gay bar that hosts drag shows, comedy, and quiz nights. 

Why we love it: With its warm open-door policy, SilverFuture is as friendly and welcoming as its clientele. Stop by for a beer and stick around for the crowd that streams in as the night descends. This relatively cosy spot can get quite packed, but that’s all part of the fun. Make yourself at home while taking in the maximalist décor.

Address: Weserstraße 206, 12047, Berlin

Opening hours: Monday to Tuesday, from 5pm-1am; Wednesday to Thursday, 5pm-2am; Friday to Saturday, from 5pm-3am; closed Sunday

Expect to pay: €3-17 for drinks 

What is it? A cool, gay bar with live DJs and a bunch of brews.

Why we love it: It’s an odd location for a gay bar - wedged among Turkish snack bars in a 1960s housing development - but this unpretentious space has been packed since it opened, mainly with gay and lesbian beer lovers, thanks to the excellent range of brews on offer. The crowd has swelled in recent years, with students, artists and hipsters now in the know, but the infamous Thursday nights are still a blast.

Address: Reichenberger Str. 177, 10999, Berlin

Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, from 6pm-4am; Friday to Saturday, from 6pm-5am; closes Sunday and Monday

Expect to pay: €5-10 for drinks 

What is it? A gay cruise bar with a basement darkroom that hosts rotating DJ sets, electronic music, and themed parties.

Why we love it: Hotfoot it to one of Berlin’s most notorious cruising bars for a heady taste of the city’s queer scene. With raging parties and a labyrinthine dark room, there’s a reason Ficken 3000 has become a legend among locals looking for a drink, dance and a flamboyant good time. The bar’s entrance on Urbanstrasse is relatively discreet – look for the rainbow flag painted above its door and ring the buzzer if you dare.

Address: Urbanstraße 70, 10967, Berlin

Opening hours: Open daily, from 10pm-late 

Expect to pay: Around €10-20 per person for entry 

What is it? A sauna that's dedicated to queer men and is open non-stop through the weekend.

Why we love it: A mainstay on the Berlin sauna scene, Kreuzberg’s Der Boiler is renowned for its lively steam room and maze-like cruising area for men. Cabins, saunas and chill-out areas combine to provide a rather opulent experience, and the clientele is always a good mix. Clean, cool, contemporary interiors make this the ideal spot to hunt down some steamy action.

Address: Mehringdamm 34, 10961, Berlin

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, from 12pm-6pm; Friday, from noon, open continuously until 6am, Monday morning.

Expect to pay: General entry starts at €19 

What is it? An inclusive queer party and event space with food, drinks and a range of music.

Why we love it: A former beer-slinger from Möbel-Olfe opened this bar for Kreuzberg’s increasingly large gay population in 2010. Located under the round-a-bout housing development at Kottbusser Tor, the mixed (but girl-heavy) crowd enjoy nightly drinks and dancing, as well as many one-off rock parties. A go-to for gays and lesbians looking to cap a Friday night grinding to Latin, retro and pop music. Südblock also serves food, ranging from breakfast to midnight snacks.

Address: Admiralstraße 1-2, 10999, Berlin

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 5pm-12am; and Sunday, from 3pm-12am.

Expect to pay: Around €10-20 per person

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