Are you a spirits lover who not only enjoys the taste of your favorite drink—be it beer, wine, or liqueur—but is also interested in the history behind it? Then there are several bars in Berlin where you can not only get great drinks but also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of days gone by. But for a place where the history of spirits really comes to life, a new museum has opened in Kreuzberg: The small MAMPE Museum opened on July 3, 2026, in the existing premises of Mampe Berlin.
It’s not located in a traditional museum building, but right inside the Manufaktur at Tempelhofer Berg 6, which in turn is housed in the historic brewhouse of a former wheat beer brewery. While spirits are still produced here today, the museum recounts nearly 200 years of company and Berlin city history in a small space. Especially nice for a spontaneous visit: Admission is completely free.
The story of MAMPE didn’t originally begin with a bar or a traditional beverage, but with a medical product. In 1831, Dr. Carl Mampe developed a stomach bitter in Stargard, Pomerania, intended as a remedy for the cholera epidemic that was rampant at the time. The bitter drops consisted, among other ingredients, of alcohol and various herbs and were initially sold through pharmacies. Over the decades, the MAMPE spirits brand evolved from these medical beginnings.
This unusual origin story is also told in the new museum. Visitors learn more about the cholera epidemic of the 19th century and the herbs and spices used in the bitter liqueurs. Also on display is a copy of Carl Mampe’s license to practice medicine from 1823. Despite its name, the “small MAMPE Museum” boasts a surprisingly extensive collection. A total of 333 historical objects are on display . These include old liquor bottles and glasses, historical advertising materials, cocktail recipe booklets, photographs, and documents from various eras of the company’s history.
Part of the collection comes from the previously privately run MAMPE Museum owned by Karin Erb. As a result, visitors can now discover numerous artifacts spanning nearly two centuries of the company’s history all in one place.
Among the most curious exhibits is a non-alcoholic gin from the era of American Prohibition, presented in an unusual bottle shaped like a monkey. As early as the 1920s, MAMPE was already exploring non-alcoholic alternatives. The company traces the history of its own non-alcoholic gin alternative, “Null Null,” back to 1921, when such products are said to have been shipped to the U.S. during Prohibition.
The collection also includes a non-alcoholic caraway liqueur from 1925. What seems like a modern trend today actually has a history dating back about 100 years at MAMPE. The small MAMPE Museum is intentionally designed to be more than just a traditional exhibition with historical objects in display cases. Tasting MAMPE products is also part of the museum’s concept. This brings the past and present into direct contact: while visitors view historic bottles, photographs, and documents , spirits continue to be produced just a few meters away.
It’s important to distinguish between free admission to the museum and any tastings that may be offered. Free admission does not automatically mean that every tasting is also offered free of charge.
