GAY AND LESBIAN BERLIN
1. Christopher Street Day
Every summer, Germany’s largest pride festival, Christopher Street Day, transforms Berlin into a giant street party. Thousands of people walk in a parade (see Christopher Street Day) to celebrate those belonging to the LGBT+ community. The parade route winds from Kurfürstendamm down the Straße des 17. Juni to Siegessäule. At night, the party continues in the city’s many gay clubs and Kneipen.
Christopher Street Day parade
2. Siegessäule
Free in gay cafés and shops
Berlin’s oldest and best-selling gay magazine is named after the Victory Column, Berlin’s landmark. This colourful monthly magazine includes all sorts of useful information, a round-up of what’s on, small ads and interviews from the city’s gay scene.
3. Mann-o-Meter
Bülowstr. 106 • (030) 216 80 08 • Open 5–10pm Tue–Fri, 4–8pm Sat & Sun
Berlin’s best-known advice centre for the gay community offers all kinds of help. Apart from psychological support relating to AIDS, safe sex and coming out, its counsellors offer help in finding accommodation, give support to those in troubled relationships and provide legal advice. Mann-o-Meter is also a good starting point for gay visitors to Berlin who wish to find out about the gay scene, and, last but not least, the café is also a good place to meet people.
4. SchwuZ
Rollbergstr. 26 • (030) 57 70 22 70 • Open from 11pm Wed, Fri and Sat • Adm • www.schwuz.de
Located in a handsome ex-brewery in Neukölln, this is one of the best venues for gay parties in Berlin, drawing a young, lively crowd for dancing, drinking, seeing and being seen. The parties are often themed – details can be found in gay magazines such as Siegessäule or Sergej, or on the club’s Facebook page.
5. Tom’s Bar
Motzstr. 19 • (030) 213 45 70 • Open from 10pm daily • www.tomsbar.de
One of the traditional pubs in Berlin, in the centre of the city’s gay heart in Motzstraße, this is not for those who are shy and timid – Tom’s is a well-known pick-up joint. Below the (rather dark and dingy) Kneipe is a darkroom.
6. Prinz-Eisenherz- Buchhandlung
Motzstr. 23 • (030) 313 99 36 • Open 10am–8pm Mon–Sat
Germany’s oldest openly gay bookstore stocks the entire range of German and international publications relating to the LGBT+ community. Its knowledgeable bookshop assistants will track down rare or out-of-stock titles at your request. The bookshop also hosts frequent literary readings.
7. Hafen
Motzstr. 19 • (030) 211 41 18 • Open from 7pm daily • www.hafen-berlin.de
Small and relaxed, this gay bar is popular with the locals and tourists alike. Patrons of all ages come here for the drinks and the eclectic dance music selection.
8. Schwules Museum
Lützowstr. 73 • (030) 69 59 90 50 • Open 2–6pm Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun, 2–8pm Thu, 2–7pm Sat • Adm • www.schwulesmuseum.de
Situated in Tiergarten, this small Gay Museum documents, through a variety of temporary exhibitions, the high and low points of gay and lesbian life since the 19th century. The museum was first conceptualized in 1984. Next to the museum is an archive, a small library and a venue for cultural events.
Galleries at the small Schwules Museum
9. Barbie Deinhoff's
Schlesische Str. 16 • (030) 61 07 36 16 • Open 6pm–4am Tue–Thu (until 5am Fri & Sat)
A DJ-driven cocktail bar, Barbie Deinhoff's usually attracts a younger crowd. The interior is dimly lit in pink, with shabby yet funky furnishings. The place is run by celebrity drag queen, Lena Braun, and is popular for its loud techno music and reasonable prices. Smoking is allowed.
10. SO36
A Kreuzberg classic, this famous – and infamous – dance venue (see SO36) has been very popular for many years and attracts a mixed crowd. The Sunday night club “Café Fatal”, when old German chart hits and dance tunes are played, is legendary.
Band flyers and posters, SO36
