Are you longing for sun, warmth and long summer evenings? Then you'll find a few good tips among our selection of new openings in April. Jones Ice Cream has opened a new branch in Prenzlauer Berg, while Rewe is only stocking fresh, vegan and plant-based products in its newly opened supermarket in Friedrichshain. Rough Trade has a surprise for all vinyl fans just in time for Record Day and when the sun goes down, Washbar invites you to a mysterious Speak Easy date underground. Here are the 11 new openings in April that you should not miss!
Tip 1: Jones Ice Cream opens in Prenzlauer Berg
Summertime - ice cream time! Right as it started getting warmer outside, Jones Ice Cream opened a second branch in Prenzlauer Berg at the end of March. All sorbets and ice creams are freshly prepared for you every day. In addition to classic flavours, the menu also includes more unusual flavours such as liquorice caramel, whisky pecan, chestnut rum or peanut butter with jam. Of course, you will also find vegan flavours.
When: daily 12 - 7 pm
Where: Eberswalder Straße 32, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 2: Rough Trade brings vinyl to Neukölln
Just in time for Record Day Rough Trade opens a store in Neukölln. The legendary record shop is moving into a former department store in the centre of the vibrant Karl-Marx-Straße. In addition to vinyl, books, merchandise and record players, there will also be coffee and other drinks. In addition to Rough Trade, several other shops and offices will be moving into the newly opened Kalle directly opposite Stadtbad Neukölln. You can also look forward to a food market and a 4000 square metre roof garden.
When: from 18 April, 11 am
Where: Karl-Marx-Straße 101, Neukölln
11 Cool record stores in Berlin
Tip 3: Visit Berlin's mysterious Speakeasy Bar
It doesn't get much more exclusive than this. In Berlin's new speakeasy bar, which is hidden in the rooms of the Wash Bar, you can enjoy a private evening. "The storage" fits the two of you plus a private bar tender. Since you now can conveniently book your time slot in the pop-up speakeasy online, it does not seem so secret anymore. But on site, the whole thing still feels wonderfully wicked. Two surprise cocktails, water and snacks are included.
When: depending on the time slot
Where: Brunnenstraße 163, Mitte
Tip 4: Explore biographies of the stumbling blocks with the new app
You are probably familiar with the Stolpersteine, which commemorate those persecuted under National Socialism. Since 1996, the shiny golden brass plaques, which are usually laid in front of the last freely chosen place of residence of the person persecuted, can also be found in Berlin. In a new app, the Stolperstein Guide, you can now view the locations of numerous Stolpersteine directly on your smartphone and find out more about the biographies and fates of the people behind the engraved names.
When: as of now
Where: available for free in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store erhältlich
Tip 5: Get fresh sushi at Friendly Fish
Sushi to go is now available at Friendly Fish, Berlin's newly opened fish shop on Oranienburger Straße. Fresh fish from selected suppliers is rolled in seaweed every day and packed in pretty cardboard boxes to take away. Get your favourite combo, vegan rolls, nigiri, rice boxes and delicious sides such as edamame, miso soup or truffle and spinach salad. Order by phone, online or on site. However, you'll have to enjoy your meal elsewhere. Friendly Fish is takeaway only!
When: Monday to Saturday 11am - 7pm
Where: Oranienburger Straße 5, Mitte
Tip 6: Go on a tour of the Natural History Museum with Sandra Hüller
Since 10 April, you can go on a tour of the Natural History Museum with Sandra Hüller in your ear. Together with Christoph Müller (Schauspiel Leipzig) and Tocotronic singer Dirk von Lowtzow, the Oscar-nominated actress will take you on a journey of discovery into the Anthropocene, the "age of man". The authors of the literary audio guide naturally also address the consequences of human influence on our planet. Wander through the rooms and gain a new perspective on the worlds of the Natural History Museum, which extend far beyond the dinosaur era.
When: since 10 April
Where: Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Invalidenstraße 43, Mitte
Tickets for the Museum of natural history
Tip 7: Rethink play at Radical Playgrounds
With Radical Playgrounds, the Gropiusbau is opening completely new play areas in Berlin to mark the UEFA EURO 2024. A kind of artistic amusement park will be created in the car park at the Gropiusbau, which will explore the meaning of play in our society. Is it about competition, about winning or losing? Do there have to be rules or does playing also create freedom? Workshops and performances encourage people to reflect, but also to simply try things out, learn through play - or even unlearn the one or other unnecessary habit.
Preview: In our May episode of Berlin Unboxed, curator Joanna Warsza and the two former national footballers Josephine Henning and Tabea Kemme meet at the Radical Playgrounds for a playful exchange.
When: from 27 April to 14 July Wednesday to Sunday 11am - 8pm (opening weekend from 12pm)
Where: Niederkirchnerstraße Niederkirchnerstraße 7, Kreuzberg
Tip 8: Name, app & more - all Uber, all new?
There is a new name in the city: The Mercedes Benz Arena was taken over by Uber in March. This means that the two large event halls in Friedrichshain are now called Uber Arena and Uber Eats Music Hall - and will be located on Uber Platz in future. But that's not all: to mark Uber's tenth birthday in Germany, according to the press release, Uber is also bringing the convenient ordering model of the Uber app to all visitors of the event location. With the new Uber Platz app, you can see the programme, tickets and all information about the event at a glance with just one click. If you use the app diligently and take part in surveys, you can even get a free drink.
When: since 22 March
Where: Mercedes-Platz/Uber-Platz 1, Friedrichshain
Tip 9: Visit the newly opened Art Space in the Eierhäuschen
From now on, you can also see art in the historic Eierhäuschen. Four different exhibitions on the themes of landscape, nature, architecture and public space are planned in the Spree Park Art Space this year. The first exhibition shows what the previous artists-in-residence have discovered in the Spreepark. You can look forward to a multi-sensory experience. Since February, you have been able to fortify yourselves in the large restaurant "Ei-12437-B". The beer garden, terrace and outdoor areas with a large playground will also open in April.
When:
- Spreepark Art Space Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm
- Restaurant: Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, Friday & Saturday additionally 6 pm to midnight
- Biergarten: until May on weekends 6 pm to 8 pm, from May onwards probably daily
Where: Kiehnwerderallee, Plänterwald
Tip 10: Immerse yourself in new audiovisual art worlds
Lumus Instruments, who were represented with a digital artwork at Himmel unter Berlin in May 2023 with Polynodes II (see image), are now hosting their first own exhibition in Berlin in May 2024. Of Now is a combination of audiovisual live performance and avant-garde music. The venue for the choreographed sound-media art is the monumental space of the former Monopol distillery.
By the way: Boris Acket, who also collaborates as a musician in the "Of Now" installation, will be showing his own works at The Dark Rooms II from 26 April to 10 May.
When: Of Now from 1 May
Where: Provinzstraße 40-44, Reinickendorf
Tip 11: Pure vegan shopping in the newly opened Rewe branch
From bread rolls to hair shampoo, all products in the new Rewe shop are plant-based. The supermarket chain is thus following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Berlin start-up Veganz, which now only sells all its products online. Rewe sees the vegan shop on Warschauer Brücke as a test balloon and hopes that other Rewe supermarkets will learn from it. You will therefore find a much wider selection of vegan and plant-based products on the shelves here than in other stores. This is because Rewe will also be offering new vegan products and brands here.
When: Warschauer Straße 33, Friedrichshain
Where: Monday to Saturday 7am - 10pm
