CLUBBING: Berghain

Am Wriezener Bahnhof | Kreuzberg 10243 

U Warshauer Str.

Wed, Fri-Mon | opening hours vary

€14 standard

www.berghain.de

The Berghain is Europe's techno mecca, seeing tourists fly over on Friday afternoons and stay until Monday morning without the need to book in for hostels or anywhere to sleep. For the few hours it does close over the weekend, most clubbers just nap outside until it opens again. Inside, a lengthy exploration of the club will find you on the lofty concrete dance floors of the main room and Panorama bar, in sofa rooms, one of many bars and even an ice cream and sandwich cafe. The Panorama bar is renowned for it's more melodic techno and the routine raising of the blinds at sunrise - the imperative sign that you must keep on dancing.

  

There's nothing clean about the Berghain. Expect to sweat, to get dirty and to rub shoulders with E-dropping regulars of the club. The first Google suggestion for the Berghain is "dark rooms", and rightly so, as it is almost impossible to believe that a club would specifically designate rooms for fornicating with strangers. But this is what the Berghain is about: hedonism. Their Facebook page, "Berghain Universitat", runs with the extended metaphor that the DJs are your lecturers and you are merely the students of the club. It's probably harder to get into Berghain than it is to get into Uni too, as the entry policy is totally random and unapologetic. Sven, the famous-in-his-own-right bouncer, will just point you to the left if he doesn't like the look of you. It's best to arrive in a pair, dressed down and ready to tell them your age in German. Saturday and Sunday afternoons have better odds of getting in too, although always keep a back-up plan in mind when heading here for the weekend.  

Once you're in, the Berghain seems to run on an anything-goes ethos. There is no action too shocking, no dance move too erratic and no suggestion too far out in the Berghain. The steep price is justified by the reality that you won't be leaving until well into the next day and, let's face it, if ice-cream, sex and non-stop dancing isn't hedonism, then what on earth is?

CLUBBING: Katerholzig

Michaelkirchstrasse 22 | 10179 Mitte

U Jannowitzbrucke

Fridays and Saturdays: Opening Times Vary

www.katerholzig.de

There are two sorts of clubs in Berlin: the concrete, intimidating structures associated with the hardcore techno scene, and the ethereal, bohemian dance floors that edge the river Spree. After queueing for up to an hour you'll find that Katerholzig fits into the latter of these, existing as the club realisation of our childhood dreams. Surrounded by the graffitied remains of an old soap factory, this concrete playground is coloured by marquees, sofas, bonfires and fairy lights. Scraps of fabric and mobiles made from old kitchen utensils hang over the many platforms of the outdoor seating area, whilst a huge statue of a Chinese money-beckoning cat sits on the roof watching over the party. With three small dance floors and an array of bars (A beer will set you back around 3.00€), Katerholzig is an intimate clubbing experience, allowing to you to familiarise yourselves with those you're getting sweaty with.  The huge amount of seating, including the popular stalls with direct access to the river, arguably make this the most social club in Berlin.  As the vibe transforms from non-stop carnival to daytime drinks on the river bed, remember what Robert Montgomery's neon artwork beams at you from across the river: the city is kinder and wilder than you think.   

FOOD: Fraulein Burger

Koppenplatz 1| 10115 Mitte

U Rosenthaler Platz

Tues-Sun 12:00-22:00

At the end of the appropriately named Grosse Hamburger Strasse you'll find the most ladylike burger restaurant in Berlin. In the cities' lists of the best burgers in town, Fraulein Burger is not only underrated, but sometimes forgotten in favour for the more renowned Burgermeister and Burger de Ville. What separates Fraulein Burger from the rest however, is the one hundred percent organic and homemade approach to the ingredients themselves. As you sit and enjoy the 50s rockabilly inspired interior, a passing hipster carrying huge amounts of vacuum packed beef reminds you that they mince the meat for your patties in the kitchen, on the day you order your burger. All the vegetables, cheeses and buns are organic too, and the extra step to homemake their own mayonnaise and ketchup is also taken so that you can enhance your burger guilt-free.  The signature Fraulein burger is a popular choice for around 8.00€, and by adding just 3.00€ to your bill you can also enjoy their show-stopping homemade fries and an organic lemonade drink with your meal. The sheer amount of effort that goes into your burger does mean that you can wait up to twenty minutes before receiving it, but given the size and impact of it's flavour, even the manliest of men might not be able to finish this honest, ladylike burger.

FOOD: Burgermeister

Oberbaumstraße 8 | Kreuzberg 10997

U Schlesisches Tor

Mon-Thu 11 am - 3 am  |  Fri-Sat 11 am - 4 am  | Sun 12 pm - 3 am

www.burger-meister.de

It might seem unusual that, in a neighbourhood of cafes and restaurants, a burger imbiss in an old public toilet is worth visiting. As soon as you emerge from Schlesisches Tor station, Burgermeister's blaring techno and bustling queue greets you. A literal extension of the metro bridge, the exterior of the imbiss matches the dark green steel of the u-bahn station. With only three tables available, most patrons pull up empty beer crates to make shift their own stools. A red LED counter allows you to identify how long you'll wait for your burger, and due to it's popularity, don't be surprised if your ticket reads ninety-six and the screen is only on thirty-four. 

Although a very popular drunk snack for Kreuzberg's party-goers, this burger is far from the equivalent English drunk snack of cheesy chips. Their one hundred percent beef patty is best with the additions of ketchup, mustard, cheese and crispy bacon, creating a rich and full tasting burger that contrasts nicely with the crisp, fresh lettuce it is teamed with. The best part of a Burgermeister though, is always the bun. Butter toasted, fluffy and homemade, you won't believe it when the total price for a burger and beer comes in at under 5.00€.

BEAUTY: Tiergarten

As far as parks are concerned in the city, Tiergarten is certainly the largest and definitely the most beautiful.  Until 1881, Tiergarten was owned by the monarchy and controlled directly by the King. After the monarchy abolished their rights to the forest it became a park for the use and maintenance of the people. Nationalistic memorials were added as patriotic contributions to the culture of Tiergarten, and most famously, the Siegesalle (Victory Avenue) was added. After WWII the park saw a sudden change in that most of the wooded areas were used for firewood due to the shortage of coal and the empty fields were turned into temporary farmland for growing vegetable and potatoes. Only 700 of 200,000 trees survived, the bridges were destroyed and monuments lay on their sides. The Berlin Magistrate decided to restore Tiergarten in 1945, but it wasn't until 1949 that the first tree was planted to signify the beginning of the restoration. Although over 250,000 new trees were planted, the restoration became stagnant until the fall of the wall, and it is only since German Reunification that it has taken on it's present form. 

Today, the Tiergarten's 210 hectares see ponds, lawns and memorials stretch through the city creating a fairytale-like woodland scene right in the heart of Berlin. Everyone uses the park for their own purpose, whether it's the cruisers and nude sunbathers of Schonefeld or the couples lazing underneath the willow trees by the spree. Hiring a bike is recommended so that you can see the whole of the park, being sure to cut through the middle and see the Victory Column. The seasons change the appearance of the park from the bright, poster shades of blue and green in the summer to the reflected autumnal hues that create symmetry in the undisturbed ponds and rivers. Even the winter's monochrome tones prove beautiful, so no matter when you're visiting Berlin, you'll be wowed by the inner-city retreat that is Tiergarten. 

BEAUTY: Berliner Dom

It isn't a struggle to try and think of the most beautiful building in Berlin. Overlooking Museuminsel's Lustgarten is the magnificent Berliner Dom, the centre of the Evangelical church in Germany. Although only appearing in it's current Neo-renaissance form since 1905, the cathedral's history dates back as early as 1454 and has transformed architecturally from Renaissance, Brick Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical to this day. The building itself sees ageing sandstone with a darker charcoal tone to it contrast with the green copper and gold of the dome itself, creating an image of timeless grandeur. Christian sculptures and paintings illustrate the purpose of the building, with an imposing statue of Jesus central and above the main entrance. 

Although your expectations may be high for the interior of the building, nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking extravagance of the main hall. Framed in intricate white coving, the altar is saturated with sunset hues of copper, bronze and rose-gold allowing the scarlet highlights of the stained glass windows to shine through. No details are spared as the candle holders surrounding the golden altar illuminate the area with a warm glow. To the left and also framed in the same white coving is the 113 stop pipe organ, built originally by Wilhelm Sauer and restored to full working order after an Allied bombing in 1944. It's a goose-bump inducing experience to hear it played, so check the website for recital times and be sure to hear it's rich tones bring the cathedral to life. 

A much less extravagant and more sombre side to the cathedral is found in the crypts. High ceilings and dim lighting give a sense of darkness and loss as you view the graves of royal Prussians. It is also possible in good weather conditions to access the dome itself and get a 360 degree view of the city as you walk around it's circumference, and with all this available to view on a 7€ ticket, why not go visit Berlin's most beautiful building?

BEAUTY: People Watching in Mitte

Just north of the generic and disheartening Alexanderplatz is this thriving, cool and cosmopolitan collection of cafes and shops that is Rosenthalerplatz. Whilst at first this might seem like nothing more than a busy road junction, the surrounding bars and alfresco seating areas are a shrine of the most beautiful people of Berlin. Of course, each venue attracts it's own brand of stunning person, but here's three hotspots to go and visit.

For the beautiful backpackers: Weinerei Forum

It's good enough news that this quaint wine bar that operates an honesty policy when it comes to money. Perhaps this is the reason it attracts so many backpackers, as the bohemian traveller would be thrilled to hear that for only 2€ entry you can drink as much wine as you like, and determine the value whilst leaving.  It gets even better when you realise that the cosy bar is littered with bra-less women in summer dresses and men that haven't changed their socks in well over a week, but are good-looking enough to make this look cool. Chiselled jaw-lines and un-brushed hair will mean that you'll have to dress casual before approaching anyone, but after a few glasses of wine you'll be ready to flirt and chat the night away.

For the wonderful workaholics: Sankt Oberholz

Mitte's office-away-from-the-office sees hundreds of Macbook-using, latte-machiato-drinking work types flood in and fill the two story coffee shop just in order to lynch the free wi-fi. Characterised by their dark clothing colour palettes and effortless-chic Cheap Monday jumper and jeans combinations, these customers are so busy drinking their 4€ coffees and using usb-graphic tablets that it'll be impossible to catch their eye. If you're brave enough to order yourself a drink, you'll realise that even the members of staff are perfect specimens of the human race, with simple but elegant style and smirks that tell you they know you fancy them. If you're going to land a date with anyone here, you might have to ask their name and chat to them on Facebook, as you'll struggle to get them to look away from their computer screen. 

For the (really, really) hot hipsters: Mein Haus Am See

The paint-stripped walls, retro furniture and incredibly alternative soundtrack that greets you in this cafe-come-bar-come-nightlife venue will slap you in your un-cool face as you walk in to Mein Haus Am See. The Nike Free Run and Ghandi-glasses wearing clientele of the bar are so unbelievably cool that they're not even interested in talking to their friends, but will be sitting tweeting about where they are and how cool it is instead. Attracting interest in here will be difficult, but perhaps bringing a book on a really obvious artist, philosopher or musician will generate enough interest in you to spend some time stroking the ego of these -although boring- very  hipsters in return for some phone numbers.