Maps: Handpicked Berlin

Those who know me have surely heard me describe Berlin as my spiritual home. It's a place where there is no rest for the wicked, where the energy of its nightlife flows through the week and where 'cool' is not an effort but a breathing force behind every single door you open: a block of flats, a restaurant or a club hidden under some railway arches. Berlin is dirty, sexy, dark and moody during winter but gloriously vibrant during the summer, and although it may not be for everyone, it certainly is a city worth exploring and going back to, time and time again. For a long weekend plan make sure to check out my Berlin Itinerary.

If you're on a smartphone and have Google Maps installed, click on the top right 'full screen' icon to open the map in the app.

1. Berghain/Panorama Bar – Club
Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin
http://berghain.de
You've probably heard of Berghain, you've probably also tried to go there; you may have even been there. It's not just a club, it's an institution. Go on a Sunday afternoon, queue patiently, hope for the best and, once you're in, roam freely. Seeing is believing.

2. Sammlung Boros – Art Gallery
Reinhardtstraße 20, 10117 Berlin
https://www.sammlung-boros.de/
A bunker turned art gallery. You need to reserve your space to go as for most of the year access is only via guided tours, so do yourself a favour and book ahead. You won't regret it.

3. Klunkerkranich  – Bar (Summer drinking)
Neukölln Arcaden, Karl-Marx-Straße 66, 12043 Berlin
http://klunkerkranich.de/
A rooftop bar hidden at the top of a shopping mall. To find it, you need to get the lift to the parking lot at the top, and from there find the signs and walk a bit further up until you make it to the bar. Go on a summer afternoon and drink through the sunset.

4. Voo Store – Shopping
Oranienstraße 24, 10999 Berlin
vooberlin.com
Berlin's 'it' store. Not the most affordable, but worth visiting for a browse and a coffee at in-house Companion. You'll probably brush shoulders with a DJ.

5. Shiso Burger  – Food
Auguststraße 29 c, 10119 Berlin
http://en.shisoburger.de/shisoburger/
Burgers with an Asian twist.

6. Michelberger Hotel – Hotel
Warschauer Str. 39-40, 10243 Berlin
http://michelbergerhotel.com/en/
A wonderfully hip hotel, with a lounge area that's a pit stop for freelancers, artists, clubbers and everyone inbetween. Even if you're not staying here, come by for a tea or a drink.

7. Bandol Sur Mer  – Restaurant
Torstraße 167, 10115 Berlin
www.bandolsurmer.de/
Berlin has a thriving restaurant scene, too. Bandol sur Mer is a tiny gem that serves gourmet food. Worth splashing out for.

8. Club der Visionaere – Bar/Club
Am Flutgraben, 12435 Berlin
https://clubdervisionaere.com/
Open during the 'dry season', CDV is another clubbing institution. Focusing more on minimal house and techno, it's situated on a canal and offers a small wooden terrace under weeping willows to have a drink or dance on a Sunday afternoon. Check their website or Resident Advisor for listings and opening times.

9. ORA – Café/Restaurant
Oranienpl. 14, 10999 Berlin
https://www.facebook.com/oraberlin/
Coffee shop and brunch place housed in an old pharmacy.

10. Concierge Coffee – Café/Restaurant
Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, 10999 Berlin
https://www.facebook.com/ConciergeCoffee/
Teeny tiny coffee shop in Kreuzberg. Grab one to go and walk to Hard Wax Record Store for a browse.

11. Prince Charles – Bar/Club
Prinzenstraße 85f, 10969 Berlin
http://princecharlesberlin.com/
A former swimming pool has been turned into a cosy club with a versatile music policy, ranging from house to hip hop. I personally like grabbing a drink at the bar and looking at the flashing light bulbs above the dance floor.

12. Kraftwerk Berlin – Art/Event Venue
Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin
http://www.kraftwerkberlin.de/
Sitting next to the popular Tresor nightclub, Kraftwerk is a gigantic and spectacularly impressive events venue, hosting a range of art installations and concerts in its cavernous, industrial interiors. Check their website for events.

13. Kimchi Princess – Food
Skalitzer Str. 36, 10999 Berlin
http://www.kimchiprincess.com/
In Berlin, even Korean restaurants look sexy. Fancy eating some spicy food under moody, red lighting in an industrial setting? Head here. The food's not amazing, but it's easy and good for big groups and/or comfort eating.

14. Silo Coffee – Coffee/Brunch
Gabriel-Max-Straße 4, 10245 Berlin
https://www.facebook.com/silocoffee/
Relaxed vibes, exposed brick, wooden tables and excellent brunch, every day.  Get The Silo. 

15. ://about blank – Club
Markgrafendamm 24c, Friedrichshain, 10245 Berlin
http://aboutparty.net/
Last club of the list (guess what I mostly do when I go to Berlin). ://about blank mean business. There's almost always a queue and there's a harsh door policy coming with it. However, that’s usually a good sign about what you're going to discover inside. In this case, two rooms, one for techno and one for house, populated by a good crowd and eclectic DJs. What steals the show, however, is the massive garden, which comes to life in the summer. Like most clubs in Berlin, it's gay-friendly, which means it also hosts gay parties. This means, depending on your preferences, of course, that you might get rejected at the door, or you might feel a little out of place once inside.

It is worth noting that most places are mixed, and Berghain itself started off as a gay club, but if you're heading to Berlin for a clubbing weekend, do your homework before you choose your events. A short visit to Resident Advisor can go a long way.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

• Kantine Kohlmann - Bar/restaurant with strong cocktails
• Hard Wax - Techno record store
• KW Institute of Contemporary Art - Modern art space
• Salumeria Lamuri - Italian restaurant
• Nudo - Another Italian restaurant
• Cocolo - Possibly Berlin's most popular ramen place
• Bar Raval - Kreuzberg tapas joint owned by actor Daniel Bruhl
• Jewish Museum - Striking building and overall experience
• Cafe am neuen See - Lakeside cafe inside the Tiergarten, for a sunny day
• Vabali Spa - German spa to wash the weekend off you. You will be naked.
• Bonanza - Coffee
• Five Elephants - More coffee