GAY AND LESBIAN BERLIN
1. Christopher Street Day
Kurfürstendamm and Straße des 17. Juni • 4th weekend in June
Every summer, Germany’s largest gay festival, Christopher Street Day, transforms Berlin into a giant street party, with thousands of people walking in a parade from Kurfürstendamm down the Straße des 17. Juni to Siegessäule (see Christopher Street Day). 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 • 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) 629 08 80 • 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 • 10am–8pm Mon–Sat
Germany’s oldest openly gay bookstore stocks the entire range of German and international gay and lesbian publications. Its knowledgeable bookshop assistants will track down rare or out-of-stock titles at your request. The bookshop also hosts frequent literary readings.
7. Factory Club
Fuggerstr. 33 • (030) 25 74 09 10 • Open Fri–Sat from 11pm–6am • Adm • www.factory-club.de
Well established as one of the most popular gay night clubs in Berlin, this is where clubbers – mainly scenesters – come to dance to house and techno music late into the night. There is a labyrinth of darkrooms in the basement.
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 temporary exhibitions, the high and low points of gay and lesbian life since the 19th century. Next to the museum is an archive, a small library and a venue for cultural events.
Galleries at the small Schwules Museum
9. Café Berio
Maaßenstr. 7 • (030) 216 19 46 • Open 24 hours
Café Berio is an old-fashioned haunt that has become a long-time favourite of the gay community. In the summer its terrace is a great place to have breakfast while people-watching, or to relax over a great meal or afternoon coffee and cake.
10. SO36
Oranienstr. 190 • (030) 61 40 13 06 • check website for current programmes and opening hours • www.so36.de
This famous – and infamous – dance venue has been very popular for many years. The Sunday night club “Café Fatal”, when old German chart hits and dance tunes are played, is legendary (see SO36).
Band flyers and posters, SO36
