| May 25th, 2023 | No comments

Out of all the cities in Europe, Germany’s capital is a queer haven.

With a very alternative, liberal population and a world-famous underground scene, being LGBT in Berlin is accepted everywhere.

Whatever your sexuality or gender expression, Berliners don’t bat an eyelid. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bar that isn’t at least a little bit queer. So, diving into the gay Berlin scene is easy, but sorting out the best it has to offer…that’s another story.

Berlin is home to the world’s first gay district – Schöneberg. Here, not only will you find gay bars in Berlin, you can also take a queer walking tour to learn more about the history of LGBT Berlin. For more of Berlin’s queer history, check out Schwules (the world’s biggest queer museum) and Spinnboden (Europe’s largest lesbian archive).

Gay Berlin Guide to the Best Clubs, Bars, and Parties!

On top of being gay-friendly, Berlin’s party scene is surely one of the best in Europe. Berlin is world famous for labyrinthine underground techno parties where anything goes.

With so many bars, clubs, and parties Berlin’s gay scene can seem a little overwhelming. This guide is to help you navigate the best of gay Berlin. It’s by no means exhaustive (you’d probably need a novel to write about every gay spot!), but it covers some of the best.

Please note – Some of our selections contain affiliate links. These allow us to earn a small percentage every time you make a booking. Using our links enables us to provide all the information found on this site free of charge. 

gay berlin club

A Note About Clubs in Berling

Some of Berlin’s clubs are famously exclusive. Many tourists tell tales of queuing for several hours, only to be turned away at the door. There is no guarantee of getting into a club in Berlin, but for most places, it’s not as tricky as it’s rumored to be. Except for a few clubs (looking at you, Berghain!), there are a few tips that can make the process of getting in much easier:

  • Go in small groups.
  • Know which DJs are playing.
  • If it’s cold, wear a coat!
  • Don’t pre-game too hard – be sober and composed in the queue.
  • If you know some German, use it.
  • Dress a little weird. Let your alternative side shine through.
  • Be confident, but polite (unless it’s Berghain, then just be confident).
  • Don’t play with your phone.
  • Finally, if the bouncer tells you no, it’s a no. No amount of pleading, yelling, or promising to spend money will change their mind. Just accept that it’s not your night, and move on. You’ve not experienced Berlin until you’ve been turned away from at least one club!

Gay Bars in Berlin

gay berlin dragqueen

A long time ago, you’d find most Berlin gay bars in the Schöneberg district. Nowadays, they’re sprinkled all over the city. Here are some of the best gay bars in Berlin!

Silver Future

Located in the super-trendy area of Neukölln, Silver Future is a colorful little bar with a friendly atmosphere. It’s one of the most popular gay bars in Berlin, so on the weekends, it can get swamped. The bar is popular with women, but in general, the crowd is mixed.

Möbel Olfe

Möbel Olfe is one of the most famous gay bars in Berlin, and it promises unlimited fun. Tuesdays are for women, whereas Thursdays are most popular with gay men. However, everybody is welcome here; and all kinds of events run throughout the week.

Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke

No Berlin gay guide could be complete without the mighty Monster Ronson. This karaoke bar has booths for you to sing with your friends, or a stage ready for your performance.

Dedicated to queer culture, everyone can feel comfortable here. Tuesdays are drag nights. If you’ve always fancied yourself as a drag performer, sign up to the “poke house” – an opportunity for burgeoning queens to strut their stuff on stage.

Blond

Located in Schöneberg, Blond is a laid-back and cheerful bar that’s great for cocktails. It hosts a range of irresistibly camp events – bingo, 80s nights, and Schlager songs are some of the unmissable ones! Out of all the gay bars in Berlin, Blond is undoubtedly one of the friendliest.

Zum Schmutzigen Hobby (The Dirty Hobby)

Zany, tawdry, and unconventional, this small bar is a real gem of Berlin’s gay scene. It’s the perfect place to drink and socialize, Complete with great music and drag shows. On Sundays, it hosts a viewing party of the German crime show Tatort. Because of course it does.

Lesbian Bars in Berlin

Berlin makes an effort to carve out spaces for queer women. Here are some of the best lesbian spots in Berlin.

Die Begine

Originally, this cultural center was a refuge for women and their children. Over the past couple of decades, Begine has transformed into a women-only venue, hosting many types of events.

There’s something for everyone here – whether it’s a cabaret, art exhibits, workshops, or just a damn good party, every woman can find something they love at Die Begine.

Girl’s Town at Gretchen Club

Gretchen Club hosts one of the best lesbian nights in Europe! The crowd is welcoming, and the party is epic. Girl’s Town is a fun and glitzy safe space for queer women. It’s a staple experience for anybody wishing to explore LGBT Berlin.

Himmelreich

This bar has a cozy, vintage feel that will have you lounging and chattering in no time. Every Tuesday, Himmelreich hosts Women’s Lounge. This lesbian night is so popular the bar can reach full capacity, so arrive early if you want space to breathe!

Gay Cruising Bars in Berlin

gay berlin guide

Berlin is hedonistic, and LGBT Berlin is no different. When it comes to cruising, there are many spots to cruise from. Enjoy this small list of some of the best.

Lab-oratory

Berlin’s ultimate cruising club. Lab-oratory is intense, unbridled fun for men only. This huge cruising bar is technically part of Berghain. To get in, walk past the Berghain queue and find the “secret” entrance. If you choose to go to Lab-oratory, be aware! Out of all the hedonistic clubs in Berlin, this one maybe comes out on top. It hosts different events catered to specific fetishes, some of them quite extreme, so make sure to check the events calendar.

Culture Houze

This cruising spot is open to all genders and is very fetish oriented. Culture Houze is a sultry playground of erotic pleasure. There is plenty of dungeon equipment and a small cinema showing pornographic movies. Culture Houze is another club where it’s advisable to check the events calendar.

Der Boiler

Germany has a very ingrained sauna culture, so of course, you’ll find at least one cruising Sauna in Berlin. Der Boiler is enormous, and it has everything. All kinds of spa equipment, massage, dark rooms, and private cabins.

Ficken3000

Smaller than the other cruise bars but no less pleasurable, Ficken3000 is especially fun to visit on a Sunday. As a warm-up to your night, take a drink in the bar while watching pornographic movies. Then, head into the darkroom to have some of your own fun.

Gay Berlin – Best Gay Clubs and Parties in Berlin

gay berlin berghain

Berlin is famous for its clubbing scene – and deservedly so. Phenomenal music and awesome people are everywhere. Here’s a list of some of the most notable gay clubs in Berlin, and a few unique ones too!

Kit Kat

There are a lot of fetish clubs in Berlin, but none are as famous as the iconic Kit Kat. It’s not a gay club, but it’s certainly not a straight club either. There are two regular gay parties – Revolver once a month and Gegen Circus every two months.

Perhaps the most fun time, however, is Saturday, when loyal regulars party until Sunday afternoon. Although there’s plenty of x-rated fun happening in Kitty, Kit Kat is more freedom-focused than sex-focused.

Enjoy your gay party in Berlin the way you want to – whether it’s pole dancing on top of the bar, swinging naked over the indoor pool, taking advantage of the dungeon, or losing yourself on one of the dance floors. The dress code is strict but allows lots of room for creativity.

Berghain

The most famous club in Berlin, and the most notoriously difficult to enter. Once you’re in, however, you’ll be blown away by some of the most face-melting, nastiest techno you’ve ever heard. If you like techno, Berghain is a gay club in Berlin that you simply cannot miss. Queues are shortest on Sunday morning, but this is also the time when it’s more challenging to get past the bouncers.

Schwuz

Vibe-wise, Schwuz is almost the polar opposite of Berghain. It has a relaxed door and a friendly, casual atmosphere. Don’t miss some of the themed parties – Madonnamania is sure to give you a welcome break from heavy techno beats. Relax, and have a good time at one of the friendliest gay clubs in Berlin.

Cafe Fatal at SO36

A unique gay party in Berlin that takes place every Sunday. It opens at 19:00, and the first three hours are strictly for ballroom dancing. If you want to show off some of your best moves with a partner, this is the place for you. After the ballroom dancing, the party turns into a cheerful disco.

Gayhane at SO36

SO36 seems to be the place to go for gay parties with a twist! Gayhane is a once-a-month affair marketed as an “oriental” party – what this means is you’ll hear the best of Turkish and Arabic pop music. Best of all, there’ll be some fabulous belly dancers ready to entertain you. This is definitely one of the most unique, and gloriously camp gay parties in Berlin.

Die Busche

A gay club in Berlin showcasing the best of club anthems and 80s music. The club spans three floors, meaning there’s no shortage of dancing space and no excuse not to get your groove on and dance the night away!

Buttons at ://about blank

The final entry on this list, Buttons, is a formidable techno party open to all of the LGBT community. Come here for creative costumes, and heavy techno beats. Like any good gay party in Berlin, Buttons raises the roof for an entire day.

So that concludes our gay Berlin guide. We hope you enjoyed our list. If you visited any of these places, be sure to leave a comment!

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This city is chocked full of awesome things to do, and the gay scene in Berlin is amazing. Here are the top gay bars, clubs, and parties in Berlin Germany!

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Brittany Muldoon

Written by Brittany Muldoon

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Brittany had brief stints in North Carolina and North Dakota before moving to Prague, CZ, where she's been living for the past 7 years. Having traveled most of Europe over the past decade, she loves sharing her experiences through her writing and photography. She's recently started dipping her toes into solo travel and hopes to explore more of Portugal and the Nordic countries in the coming months.

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