Charlottenburg is not considered one of the most beautiful districts in Berlin for nothing, partly due to the many chic old buildings that can still be found here. Apart from that, Charlottenburg also has a difficult past that still influences its reputation today. The particularly bad days of the “children from Bahnhof Zoo” are long gone, but parts of their “legacy” can still be seen today. In terms of bars, the area around Ku’damm has a lot to offer and we would like to introduce you to a few of our favorites. More bar guides are also available from Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain!
Chic drinks in Charlottenburg
Our bar tour starts directly at the well-known Bahnhof Zoo, in one of the finest hotels in the city. The Waldorf-Astoria is extremely imposing even as you walk past and is particularly striking due to its skyscraper character. When you step inside, you feel like you’ve stepped through a portal into the world of high society and almost expect to see the Kardashians strutting around the corner. You definitely have to be in the mood for the atmosphere, but drinks are absolutely worth it in the in-house Lang Bar. Drinks here are generally priced in the mid-range, you can get a Negroni for €14.50, but it’s also good quality in the glass!
📍Waldorf-Astoria, Hardenbergstraße 28
Drinking with a monkey’s eye view
We continue not far from our starting point, again in a hotel! This time it really is located directly at the zoo. The only way to get closer is to book a night in the monkey house! On the tenth floor of the 25hours Hotel is the Monkey Bar, which offers a phenomenal view over the zoo and Breitscheidplatz with the Gedächtniskirche. The view into the zoo falls directly onto the monkey enclosure just below, so you can watch the primates living here going about their daily lives. Alternatively, you can simply watch the evolutionary advanced primates in the bar! Drinks here taste great and are reasonably priced, also great for pre-drinking.
📍Monkey Bar (in the 25hours Hotel), Budapester Straße 40
Tip your hat
The Hat Bar is located directly in an arch of the railroad bridge with a direct view of the Theater des Westens. The interior and atmosphere are strongly reminiscent of a movie set – somehow you feel like you’ve been transported to a smoky bar in 1920s New York. The jazz bands that perform here every evening undoubtedly contribute to this. The menu here specializes in cocktails and highballs, but beer and wine are of course also available!
📍The Hat Bar, Lotte-Lenya-Bogen 550
Classic drinks in Charlottenburg
Right next door is Bar Zentral, the next highlight on our list. The two are therefore ideal for a little bar hopping: First a few starters with cozy jazz music in the Hat Bar and then over to fine drinking with fine spirits. The atmosphere here is reminiscent of a speakeasy with its dark colors and earthy tones; brick vaults and slow industrial fans only add to this! The menu here is very mature with a selection of cognac, whiskey and champagne. A very special bar with personality!
📍Bar Zentral, Lotte-Lenya-Bogen 551
Galander again?
You may have already heard the name Galander in our Bar Guide for Kreuzberg because this is where the branch is located, which is also run by the owner Dominik Galander. Behind the shop window of a former red light bar, you will find a particularly cozy bar with dignified leather armchairs and a nostalgic atmosphere. The drinks are excellent and for good reason: All bartenders are trained in an in-house bar school to guarantee the most consistent drinking experience possible.
📍Galander, Stuttgarter Platz 15
Hotel No3
Once again we are going to a hotel! In the Hotel Zoo you will find the Grace Bar, a meeting place for hip Berliners and those who would like to be! The focus here is on classics from the 1920s and 50s, prepared with in-house infusions and high-quality spirits. In addition to the extremely chic indoor area, a garden with lounge areas and a unique panorama awaits you on the rooftop!
📍Grace (in the Hotel Zoo), Kurfürstendamm 25
Berlin’s oldest bar
Rum Trader was opened in 1976, making it the oldest bar in the capital. Here you can expect an atmosphere of old West Berlin with all the eccentricity that goes with it. A highlight is the former resident Gregor Scholl, who not only mixed drinks here but is also the author of Mixology magazine. The cocktail creations, which are predominantly and surprisingly based on rum, are correspondingly high quality and unusual.
Champagne at KaDeWe
Are you tired of searching for the right bar?
Then just go to KaDeWe! Here you have plenty of choice on six floors. Of course, the gourmet section is particularly exciting for us. Here you can enjoy the finest champagne in the dome of the temple of consumption with a unique view. On Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. there are also two glasses of champagne for the price of one. Every Thursday from 4 to 7 pm there is live music and free snacks!
📍KaDeWe, Tauentzienstraße 21-24