The 7 Best Punk Bars In Berlin

Berlin is mostly known nowadays for its club scene or its trendy bars, furnished with up-cycled material. Yet, there’s a large part of the city that has remained loyal to the underground soul of the German Capital. We take a look at the best punk bars in Berlin.

1. Syndikat

Syndikat

This place has everything one might need on a night out. Pool, fußball, flipper, even board games. Although the walls are painted red and they do not encourage photos within the bar, there are demonstration flyers that surround this place, creating a unique atmosphere. Further, Syndikat is not only a smoky punk bar, but also a political collective, whose social involvement dates back to 30 years ago. The house’s special is the Mexikaner — Berlin’s version of a Bloody Mary shot, so make sure you enjoy one of them before you leave.

Neukölln, Weisestr. 56, 12049

2. Clash

Clash

Clash is the younger, kreuzberger brother of Syndikat; located in the courtyard of red brick buildings near Mehringdamm Subway Station. Its rooms are spacious, perfect to host moshing hardcore gigs, especially on its birthday when a variety of bands will keep you excited all night long.

Kreuzberg, Gneisenaustr. 2a, 10961

Esne Beltza at Clash | © Montecruz Photo/Flickr

3. Schokoladen

Music Venue

One of the legendary underground venues in Berlin is the Schokoladen , located in Mitte for more than 25 years. The venue hosts not only concerts but also readings and cultural events of various kinds. It’s not just about being the observer, from their theatre style wooden benches, the audience is encouraged to participate. From students to rock-grandpas, this bar has something for everyone.

5. Trinkteufel

Bar, German

Just a couple of side streets away from Oranienstraße there is the Trinkteufel, or ‘Drink devil’. The kind of bar summed up by a few choice adjectives: noisy, smokey, and grumpy — a grumpiness that extends from the veteran patrons to the bartenders, but hey, that’s part of its charm. If you want to experience the authentic Berliner Schnauze, here’s the place. Moreover, tacky horror gadgets such as caskets and skulls hang from the ceiling or peep from behind the row of booze bottles. Be careful, the inexpensive shots are liver-lethal.

6. Franken

Franken

Less known than its across-the-street neighbor, the infamous S.O.36, Franken is a rare punk gem. A giant, chiseled wooden piece of furniture contains a hypnotic amount of shiny bottles — the liquor selection here is vast. In the back of the room you can have a sit and enjoy a pint of German beer on red, upholstered benches vaguely reminiscent of American diners — that is if American diners’ selling point was gloominess.

Kreuzberg, Oranienstraße 19A, 10999

Franken | © Sascha Kohlmann/Flickr

7. K19

K19

Amid the squats of the punkiest neighbourhood in Berlin, there is the K19. It looks like any other bar of its kind, with walls covered in stickers and gig flyers, fridges full of Sterni and Berliners. But looking to the left of the entrance, there are stairs leading to a cellar; where once you head downstairs you will notice that this is the place where some of the most hardcore gigs in this area have been played.

Friedrichshain in Kreutzigerstr. 19, 10247

Rigaer Straße | © Loui Loui/Flickr

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.