Entertainment - Nightlife

     A big part of entertainment for Berliners is nightlife. The nightlife in Berlin is known worldwide to be one of the best. Although I have only been here for two weeks, I have had a glimpse into how Berliners stay entertained during the night. The main source of night entertainment for Berliners is bars and clubs. The clubbing scene is crazy and nothing like I have ever experienced before. Although there are multiple bars that you can go to, they are usually more “chill” and you are able to talk to friends. The bars are used to hang out and relax earlier in the night before you head out to the clubs. Many bars in Berlin are far from boring. One bar called “Dschungel” has vines covering it from top to bottom, tree decorations, and a dark vibe, it seems like you are in a jungle. Another bar called “Multilayer Laden” has rope swings and other platforms swinging from the ceiling that you and your friends can relax on. In America, and specifically Geneva, most bars look pretty similar. The walls tend to be filled with sports jerseys and signed memorabilia, and the booths and chairs look normal. The bars in America are also super crowded and there tends to be a bigger open area or dance floor where people crowd and it can be annoying. This is because there are not as many nightclubs so bars can double for both a bar and a nightclub. In Berlin, you always stay in small groups at a bar, and mingling with a huge group does not happen like it would at the Eddie O’briens Mug Night in Downtown Geneva. There are sports bars and more normal bars here, but they tend to have some type of unique vibe about them to attract people.

    Aside from the bars, the main entertainment is the nightclubs. The most famous thing is the music played, and it's called Techno music (techno playlist - here is a playlist you can listen to if you want to hear what it sounds like). It's similar to EDM, but there are no words, it's very "synth-y" and you feel like you are in a trance. The rooms are VERY dark aside from the lights, which are usually strobe lights, so it is hard to see anybody except the DJ. You feel as if you are on another planet when you are in a techno nightclub. There is not a lot of talking because listening to techno is a personal experience and people want to feel the music and “vibe” rather than talk to friends. In all honestly, most people would not choose to not be sober when at a nightclub, and this is a true and honest part of

    Berlin culture. Big groups are a HUGE no-no when going out anywhere in Berlin. Even when my big group of friends goes out, we ALWAYS split into groups of 2-3 when walking up the bouncer. I think this communicates you are looking to vibe on your own to music rather than be a disturbance with a huge group. Another EXTREMELY important thing is line/club etiquette. You should not show up to a nightclub under the influence, or act that way while waiting in line. It is important to stay off your phone and be pretty quiet. If you are obnoxious, loud, stumbling, or taking selfies or videos, you will definitely not get in. It's also pretty common to ONLY wear black or minimal colors. I have struggled with this because I am a very colorful and fun-dressing person, so limiting myself to black has been sad. You also always have to pay a fee of around 15-30 euros or more depending on which DJ you are seeing live, plus a 2 euro cover if you check your coat (which everyone is doing in the winter and the line to get it back when you leave can take over an hour). In many American bars I have been to, you can get in free on weekends usually unless it is a holiday like NYE. At some clubs, they tape your phone cameras so you can’t record anything. I think this is for privacy reasons but it definitely makes you live in the moment and enjoy what's happening around you rather than recording! At a club called “About Blank” I went to last weekend, they taped my front and black camera with orange circle tape and seemed pretty serious about no phones. Recently one of my friends got her phone hit out of her hand purposely by someone who thought she was recording. Another pair of my friends got kicked out of another club because they were recording (not smart). This shows how seriously Berliners take nightclubs.

    Another big difference between nightlife in Berlin and America is the time events start. In America, bars will start filling around 10pm and college parties will start to fill up around 11pm-12am. In Berlin, those times are EXTREMELY EARLY. Getting in line for a club at around 2-3am is very normal and staying until 5-7am is also normal. Some clubs, such as Berghain (one of the most FAMOUS clubs in the world because the queue can take up to 4 hours and you probably won't get in - watch this video ), are open from Saturday until Sunday and people stay for hours on end. It is a pretty known thing that even Elon Musk got denied from getting into Berghain. Here there is very intense clubbing and techno culture, and I would even call it a grind. It is definitely not for everyone and I think only the local Berliners or other Europeans are truly fit for the techno nightclub scene. As an American, it is hard staying up as late as 2am to go out.

    Unfortunately, I am not in love with techno, so I don’t love clubbing, but the awesome thing about Berlin is that there is a place for EVERYONE to have a fun night. There are endless different and accepting communities in this city where one can fit in and enjoy themselves. The other night I went to a Jazz club that was laid back, calm, and fun! Berlin houses an absolutely crazy nightlife and I am really excited to explore more places to find what I like!

This club is called Ritter Butzke. There is both an outdoor and indoor area.

A picture of people waiting in line for About Blank nightclub