Best Gay Bars Kreuzberg

Welcome to Berlin, a city renowned globally for its open-minded spirit and an incredibly diverse LGBTQ+ scene. While our focus here might start with the unique charm of Kreuzberg, we promise a comprehensive journey through the German capital's most memorable queer spaces, from cozy bars to world-famous clubs.

Beyond the Bars: Finding Your Queer Haven in Berlin

A Chic & Welcoming Stay: ArtHotel Connection

Before you dive into Berlin's vibrant nightlife, finding the perfect place to rest your head is key.

We highly recommend a stay at a gay-friendly spot like the ArtHotel Connection. It strikes that perfect balance of affordability and elegance, making you feel like you've landed in a truly classy establishment without breaking the bank. What makes it particularly special?

Its charming, homely atmosphere and a clear understanding of its clientele - offering breakfast until a generous 4 PM, perfect for those legendary Berlin party-goers emerging from a long night out!

The hotel itself boasts a delightful, kitschy Art-Nouveau design, complete with creaking wooden stairways that add to its old-world allure.

Plus, a super cool, fully operational antique elevator provides a unique touch, giving off serious Priscilla, Queen of the Desert vibes. Check availability for your visit and prepare for a unique experience!

Smart Night Outing: Pro Tips for Berlin's Gay Scene

Berlin truly is a profoundly queer city, boasting an incredible array of gay bars and clubs sprawling across its districts.

To help you navigate this abundant landscape, here's a crucial tip: keep an eye out for evenings featuring 2-for-1 drink promotions. These are often when the venues are at their liveliest, packed with locals and fellow travelers ready to mingle and make the most of the night.

Exploring Berlin's Premier Gay Bar Districts

Schöneberg: The Heart of Classic Gay Berlin

The area around Fuggerstrasse and Motzstrasse in Schöneberg is historically significant for Berlin's gay community, offering a blend of traditional and modern queer spaces.

• Prinzknecht: This bar is a consistent crowd-pleaser, particularly buzzing on Wednesdays thanks to their 2-for-1 drink promotions.

  On warm evenings, the vibrant atmosphere spills onto the outdoor terrace, transforming the super-gay Fuggerstrasse into an impromptu street party. You'll often find a diverse local crowd here, predominantly men of all ages. And, in true Berlin fashion, there's an obligatory darkroom downstairs for those seeking more intimate encounters.

  Prinzknecht is open daily until 2 AM (3 AM on weekends). Find it at Fuggerstrasse 33, just around the corner from the Axel Hotel.

• Heile Welt: Stepping into Heile Welt feels more like entering a chic lounge than a typical bar.

  It's stylish and classy, consistently drawing a mixed and friendly crowd (both male and female) where judgment simply doesn't exist. Their cocktails are delectable, particularly their Pisco Sours - a taste we haven't found replicated since our travels in Lima. The most striking feature?

  Their utterly unique wall decoration, literally made from "Chewbacca fluff"! You'll understand once you see it. Heile Welt is open daily until 1 AM (3 AM on weekends). It's located at Motzstrasse 19, a short walk from Nollendorfplatz metro station.

• Hafen: A small, unassuming bar that always seems to be bustling, even on weekdays.

  We stumbled upon Hafen by chance one Thursday, searching for a late-night gay bar, and were delighted to find it open until 4 AM most nights. The crowd is mixed, a blend of male and female, predominantly locals, and wonderfully chilled. They host fun themed nights, including Monday quiz nights and occasional karaoke evenings.

  Hafen is open daily until around 4 AM. You'll find it at Motzstrasse 19, just a few doors down from Heile Welt.

Kreuzberg's Unique Queer Tapestry

Kreuzberg, known for its alternative and artistic vibe, offers gay bars that truly reflect the neighborhood's quirky character.

• Roses Bar: Prepare for a sensory explosion at Roses Bar, a delightfully quirky and kitsch gay spot in Kreuzberg.

  Upon entry, you're greeted by a loud, pink glitter decor that transitions into an astonishing collection of Virgin Mary figurines and pictures - truly unlike anything you've seen. Despite its small size, Roses perfectly embodies Kreuzberg's alternative, hipster spirit. It's incredibly popular, drawing a large, diverse LGBTQ+ crowd (male and female, locals and curious tourists) every night of the week.

  Roses is open daily until around 6 AM the next day. You can find this unique gem at Oranienstrasse, near the Kottbusser Tor metro station.

• SilverFuture: Just when you thought Kreuzberg couldn't get any more hipster, SilverFuture emerges as a flamboyant queer gem.

  Its fun, loud, and super campy kitsch decor, featuring countless pictures plastered across the walls, is a visual feast. As the night progresses, you'll notice the female-to-male ratio increasing considerably, adding to its dynamic atmosphere.

  

  SilverFuture is open daily (except Sundays) until 2 AM (3 AM on weekends). It's located at Weserstrasse, near the Hermannplatz metro station.

• Other Kreuzberg Favorites: While Roses and SilverFuture steal the spotlight, Kreuzberg also hosts other popular spots like Möbel-Olfe, Rauschgold, Besenkammer, and Scandals, each offering its own distinct flavor of the neighborhood's vibrant queer scene.

Other Notable Neighborhoods: From Twinks to Trendy Lounges

• Flax (Prenzlauer Berg): If you're looking for where the Berliner "twinks" flock, Flax in Prenzlauer Berg is your destination.

  As one of the most popular gay bars in the neighborhood, it primarily attracts a younger crowd in their late teens and twenties. Their busiest nights are often themed karaoke nights, held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.

• Bar Zum (Friedrichshain): Located in a former fire station in Friedrichshain, home to some of the city's best gay clubs, Bar Zum offers a super cozy and inviting atmosphere.

  Think plush armchairs and sofas, creating a vibe akin to hanging out in a friend's apartment. Thursday evenings are particularly popular for their 90s party, a perfect opportunity to show off your best Ace of Base or Spice Girls moves! Bar Zum has become very trendy, even attracting the occasional celebrity like Rupert Everett or Tara Reid.

  It's open daily until around 4 AM (6 AM on weekends). Find it at Revaler Strasse 99, near the Warschauer Strasse metro station.

Diving Deep: Berlin's Legendary Gay Club Scene

Berlin is packed with an astonishing array of clubs, many embodying a distinctive "Berlin club theme": smoky, underground dancing venues set in former industrial warehouses, pumping out electro-house beats, often complete with obligatory darkrooms.

There's a palpable energy in the air - you can practically inhale the "hot loving pheromones" the moment you step inside!

The Iconic Gatekeeper: Berghain

Undoubtedly, Berghain stands as the undisputed "mama" of all gay clubs in Berlin.

Housed in a massive former power plant within an industrial estate in Friedrichshain, it draws up to 1,500 revelers who rave all weekend long. Inside, it often feels completely euphoric - a dark, mysterious, underground, smoky, gritty space with plenty of darkrooms, typical of Berlin's raw club culture.

Photography is strictly forbidden here, and the club is always full, with queues often lasting for hours.

Berghain's infamous reputation largely stems from its severe and notoriously secretive entry policy. If the door staff don't like your vibe, you simply won't get in, regardless of who you are or how long you've queued - even celebrities like Britney Spears and Macklemore have famously been turned away!

Our tips for getting in: Try arriving on Sunday late morning when queues tend to be shorter.

Wear dark, grungy colors, and go solo or in pairs - never in a large group. Crucially, do not smile when the door staff are scanning you, and certainly don't act drunk. Good luck!

Berghain operates exclusively on weekends, opening Friday midnight and continuing non-stop until Monday midday.

Unleash Your Desires: KitKatClub

For those seeking a more adventurous, fetish-oriented experience, KitKatClub is a must-visit.

There's a strict dress code that encourages guests to go all out with naughty latex, high-fashion outfits, or glamorous attire - no boring black or plain underwear here! But once you're inside, it's truly worth it, with three pulsating dance floors, a swimming pool, and fluorescent paintings illuminated by neon lights.

They have a packed schedule of events every night, though Saturday nights are always the biggest, with things kicking off around 10 PM, sometimes earlier.

An Enduring Legacy: SchwuZ

SchwuZ has solidified its status as a true institution within Berlin's gay scene.

As one of Germany's oldest gay clubs, it began as an alternative underground club for the LGBTQ+ community back in 1977. Today, it remains one of the city's hippest venues, particularly on weekends when it opens three distinct dance rooms: one for 80s cheese (you'll find us there!), another for techno, and a third for electro.

SchwuZ hosts parties from Thursday to Sunday evenings, typically starting around 11 PM and continuing until around 5 AM the next day.

Monthly Rendezvous for the Wild & Free

• Buttons: Held on the third Friday of each month, Buttons attracts an incredibly diverse queer crowd, from cute twinks in leather harnesses to androgynous individuals in bright colors, and muscle boys in super-tight football kits.

  The atmosphere here is pure hedonism and a celebration of liberty. Expect intense "humping" in the air from the moment you enter, as well as an appreciation for house beats. It's Berlin - open making out around you is part of the experience! Buttons parties begin Friday evening and continue throughout the weekend until around midday on Monday.

  It's located at Markgrafendamm 24c, very close to the Berlin Ostkreuz metro.

• Cocktail d'Amore: These parties are a monthly delight, usually taking place on Saturdays and extending through Sunday until Monday midday. It's all about dancing to house and disco beats, where you'll find plenty of guys openly engaging in passionate make-out sessions.

  It typically happens at Griessmuehle, a converted former factory. Check their Facebook page for details on upcoming events.

Art, Provocation & After-Hours Beats

• Pornceptual (Friedrichshain): At its core, Pornceptual describes itself as an art project aiming to de-contextualize explicit content to be considered art.

  Count us in! As for the dress code: the less you wear, the less cover charge you pay. Remember, this is Berlin - no judgment! Check their Instagram for party details and their Twitter for their most provocative "art."

• Suicide Circus (Friedrichshain): Despite the deliberately misspelled name, Suicide Circus is another excellent electro club in Berlin that regularly hosts gay nights, including the iconic "Chantals House of Shame." It functions more as an after-hours destination, where party-goers flock to continue their night in this dark, unassuming, and smokey techno haven.