In Berlin, you can be who you want to be. You'll find a wide range of offers for the LGBTQ+ community. Meet like-minded people in these queer bars and get the evening off to a good start. From karaoke nights and drag shows to quaint pubs and a cosy living room atmosphere, there's a bar for every taste in Berlin. Here you can cruise, flirt and be yourself.
On the occasion of Pride Weeks, we asked our Facebook fans: "What are your favourite gay bars?" Here are the answers, a colourful mix of tips.
Tip 1: The Heile Welt bar is Berlin's queer living room
In the trendy neighbourhood right on Nollendorfplatz, the "Heile Welt" has made a name for itself over the years. Berliners and tourists like to meet in the cozy lounge with its furry plush wall for a delicious cocktail before going out. The bar leads to the back room, which has cosy seating areas for a comfortable living room atmosphere. Separate from this is the cigar lounge, where smoking is permitted.
Where: Motzstraße 5, Schöneberg
When: Daily from 8 pm
Tip 2: French flair in the Saint Jean Bar
If you prefer to drink your cocktail or long drink in an elegant atmosphere, the Saint Jean Bar is just the place for you. The French owners of the small basement bar have managed to establish it as one of the most popular trendy bars in Mitte. Enjoy the French charm of this queer in-location. The Mixer on Wednesdays is a must for queer film and theatre professionals. And there are also regular interesting specials for the city's queer highlight events.
Where: Ziegelstraße 29, Mitte
When: Tuesday to Thursday 7pm - 2am, Friday & Saturday 8pm - 3am
Tip 3: WOOF - meeting place for bears & Chubs
"It's cosy and everyone who works there is lovely!" is how one Facebook user describes the "WOOF" in Schöneberg. The "WOOF" is especially favourite with bears, chubs and men who like them and has been since 2006! In summer, you can also hang out in the beer garden. Tuesday is happy hour (not during Pride Week). And there are special parties and themed evenings at irregular intervals, such as for Christopher Street Day, the Folsom Festival, Oktoberfest or Halloween.
When: daily from 7 pm
Where: Fuggerstraße 37, Schöneberg
Tip 4: Beautiful views at the Bärenhöhle Pankow
The gay scene in Prenzlauer Berg has been meeting at the Bärenhöhle since 1999. As the name suggests, it is a rustic, cosy bar, furnished in a rustic style - just the way bears and bear lovers like it best. Guests also praise the good price-performance ratio. The nice thing about this meeting place is that it is really casual. It's not about looks or outfits, but about meeting people and having good conversations. There is also a wide mix of music, from oldies to German hits and international hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s to current songs.
When: Monday to Friday 6pm - 3am, 8pm - 3am Saturday
Where: Schönhauser Allee 90, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: At Prinzknecht, "Mann" celebrates the parties as they fall
Also known as a men's pub, the "Prinzknecht" is a classic in the Nollendorf neighbourhood. Since 1999, regulars, friends and family have been mingling here with guests from all over the world to see and be seen. The large bar is like an island inside, but still leaves enough space for cruising. In addition to exuberant theme parties (Abba, Halloween, Grand Prix), the Prinzknecht is also a great place to meet up for a leather get-together. Birthdays and stag and hen parties are celebrated here. And if the weather is nice, you can sit outside until 10 pm.
When: daily 3 pm - 2 am (Friday & Saturday until 3 am)
Where: Fuggerstraße 33, Schöneberg
Tip 6: Cruising and flirting at Bar Dreizehn
You'll find "Dreizehn" just a stone's throw away from Prinzknecht. In this cosy little neighbourhood pub, you can spend a pleasant time with a delicious cocktail. Whether this happens over an interesting conversation, a nice flirt or maybe even more is entirely up to you. You can find inspiration for places where you can meet like-minded people in Berlin in our blog on queer places in Berlin.
When: Sunday to Thursday 2pm - 4pm, Friday & Saturday 2pm - 6pm
Where: Welserstraße 27/ corner of Fuggerstr, Schöneberg
Tip 7: The queer scene meets at Möbel Olfe
As a former furniture store, the bar at Möbel Olfe naturally impresses above all with its interior design: High ceilings with a mixture of satellite dishes and suspended furniture on concrete walls. Tuesdays are FLINTA* night and Thursdays are reserved for the men. On all other days, you'll find a colourful mix of people, as the pub is not just a popular meeting place for the gay scene. You can also sit outside until 10 pm.
You can also hire the rooms of the Olfe for your own event; as the Olfe is not a club, however, it is less for parties and more for literature evenings and discussion groups. Find out where else you can get involved in the queer scene in our tips for FLINTA* in Berlin
When: 6pm - 4pm
Where: Reichenberger Straße 177, Kreuzberg
Tip 8: Be yourself at Tipsy Bear Berlin
Tipsy Bear Berlin is the meeting place for the queer scene in Prenzlauer Berg. Drag shows await you here every weekend; there's karaoke, trivia nights and lots of themed specials. The focus is on the community. Everyone can feel at home here and develop their personality freely.
When: daily from 6 pm
Where: Eberswalder Straße 21, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 9: Blond has a colourful programme from afternoon to night
The entire spectrum of the queer scene is welcome at Blond - plus everyone who supports it. Coffee and cake is served in the afternoon, in the evening you can choose between 80 different cocktails. The decor and programme are just as colourful as the selection of drinks, including a flirty jukebox, karaoke, bingo, a few pop songs and, of course, 80s music.
When: daily 3 pm - 4 am
Where: Eisenacher Straße 3a, Schöneberg
Tip 10: Travel back to the Roaring Twenties in the Sally Bowles Bar
You may know Sally Bowles from the novel "Goodbye Berlin" by Christopher Isherwood. Played by Liza Minelli, the fictional cult figure from the 1920s made Berlin unsafe and world-famous in the musical "Cabaret". A visit to the Sally Bowles bar really does take you back to the Golden Twenties, complete with live music. One or two videos have even been shot in the bar and at Sally Bowles Escape Room Experience there are no limits to your imagination when travelling back in time.
When: Wednesday - Saturday 6pm - 1am
Where: Eisenacher Straße 2, Schöneberg
Tip 11: At the Barbie Bar, the name says it all
The name says it all: Barbie dolls cavort in this Kreuzberg smokers' bar. They swing from the ceiling lamp and are draped on all kinds of shelves to create funny scenes. Plus a little pink and garlands of light. The Barbie Bar collection has been growing since 2001. In between, you'll find a colourful, queer crowd.
When: Tuesday - Thursday 6pm - midnight, Friday & Saturday 8am - 1am
Where: Mehringdamm 77, Kreuzberg
PS: Your favourite bar is missing or you're looking for more? Take a look here.
