The evenings are long, the nights are balmy: Summer in Berlin is best experienced outdoors. Culture and concerts are moved outside. Enjoy drinks on rooftop terraces, discover nice cafés and beer gardens, enjoy the sunset by the water, meet for a picnic, dance, chill or just look at the stars. The best places for your summer evening in Berlin. Our 11 tips!
Tip 1: Sundowner bar at the New National Gallery
When the sun goes down at the New National Gallery ...
... you can end the day there on the terrace in the bar "MIES-liwska". Until 27 August, the bar offers drinks and music every Friday and Saturday. At the same time, the exhibition by Barbara Kruger "Please laugh, Please cry" will be open until 22 on these evenings. Then you can also see the Neue Nationalgalerie in a completely different light, because when the sun goes down, the interior of the building looks completely different than in the daylight during normal opening hours.
When: until 27 August, Friday - Saturday 6 - 10 p.m.
Where: Neue Nationalgalerie, Potsdamer Strasse 50, Tiergarten
Tip 2: Brewdog Mariendorf
The scaffolding of the historic Mariendorf gasometer can be seen from afar. So are the two spherical gas tanks and the old water tower, which rises up into the air like a landmark of Marienpark. The historic brick buildings all around have been beautifully restored and are currently run by the Scottish brewery BrewDog. The spacious beer garden is joined by an equally spacious hall with brewing kettles, bowling alleys, pinball machines and a café. Outside, climbing frames, a small mini-golf course and lovingly designed seating areas invite you to an eventful summer evening.
When: Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 11pm, Saturday 12pm - midnight, Sunday 10am - 10pm.
Where: Im Marienpark 23, Tempelhof
Tip 3: Schlüterhof
In the heart of Berlin, but not easy to discover from the outside: the Schlüterhof in the Humboldt Forum. Surrounded by reconstructed baroque façades as well as modern storey walls, the large inner courtyard invites you to eat, relax and experience a colourful programme of events, shielded from the hustle and bustle of traffic: Concerts, music theatre, performances, installations and talks.
Where: Schlüterhof in the Humboldt Forum, Schloßplatz, Mitte
Tip 4: SummerLights Dark Matter
Dance into the summer night in the pulsating light of the gigantic pyramid sculpture STALACTITE. Relax on the cosy beanbags, enjoy cool drinks and electronic beats. With the SommerLights, light artist Christopher Bauder and the WHITEvoid team have created a completely new experience of light, space and sound under the open night sky. Take advantage of your visit to immerse yourself in the audio-visual art installations of Dark Matter.
When: until 4 September, Thursday - Sunday from 8 pm
Where: Köpenicker Chaussee 46, Lichtenberg
Tip 5: Ludwigkirchplatz
The RBB programme 100xBerlin voted it the most beautiful neighbourhood in the west of the city: Ludwigkirchplatz. It is a little hidden south of Kurfürstendamm, adorned by the imposing Ludwigkirche. The little ones romp around on the playground and afterwards get their ice cream in one of the two excellent ice cream cafés. Right on the square at Café Weyer, all of Wilmersdorf meets for Aperol and tarte flambée. Sit with them or on a bench, watch the neighbourhood life and let your mind wander.
Where: Ludwigkirchplatz, Wilmersdorf
Tip 6: Gendarmenmarkt
Its beauty and unique ambience in the historic centre of Berlin have made it famous: framed by the high domes of the twin buildings of the French and German cathedrals and the neo-classical concert hall, Gendarmenmarkt offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic summer evening: just stroll by, sit down with friends on the open staircase and then feast outside in the surrounding restaurants.
Where: Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte
Tip 7: Tempelhofer Feld
Unique in Europe: 386 hectares in size, this huge green open space has been available to all Berliners and Berlin guests since the closure of Tempelhof Airport. What can you do here? Quite simple: everything! Play, picnic, jog on the former runways, skate, bike or simply lie in the grass with a straw between your lips. And on balmy summer evenings, of course, enjoy the sunset.
Where: Tempelhofer Damm/ Columbiadamm, Tempelhof
Tip 8: RosinenBAR THF and thf cinema
If you're already on the field until the evening, why not stop by the Raisin Bar afterwards? Until 10 August, the Cultural Summer invites you to culture, drinks and snacks from 5 pm on Tuesdays to Fridays and from 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. With live music and DJ sets, you can let your eyes wander over the expanses of the apron around the famous historic Rosinen Bomber (CandyBomber). And for the Summer Edition, this time thf cinema invites you to Hangar 7 for a cinema experience among restored aircraft from the Museum of Technology.
When: Tuesday - Friday 5 p.m. - midnight, Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. - midnight
Where: Entrance to the RosinenBAR from Tempelhofer Damm 23, to Hangar 7 via Columbia Damm
Tip 9: Klunkerkranich
This green cultural garden above the rooftops of Neukölln is a real classic. Small concerts and sets provide the typical Berlin soundtrack for your summer evening with a panoramic view. Creative sculptures and a colourful crowd cavort between the green raised beds. Perfect for an after-work sundowner, from 4pm.
When: Monday - Wednesday 5pm - 1am, Thursday and Sunday 4pm - 1am, Friday and Saturday 4pm - 2am.
Where: Karl-Marx-Straße 66, Neukölln
Tip 10: House of World Cultures
The House of World Cultures is located directly on the Spree - and its terrace is a wonderful place for a summer's day. You can sit there, watch the ships go by, eat something delicious from the house's own restaurant, Weltwirtschaft. Check the programme to see if there's any music playing or films being shown. The Spreegarten with its self-service pavilion is also right on the water. And finally, you can hop on one of the boats directly from the pier and take a boat tour through Berlin's city centre.
When: Restaurant from 12 noon, Spree Garden in good weather from 11 a.m.
Where: House of World Cultures, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Tiergarten
Tip 11: Viktoria-Luise-Platz
An idyll in the middle of the city is the Viktoria-Luise-Platz with its magnificent residential buildings from the turn of the century. A beautifully landscaped green area and a splashing fountain adorn the grounds. Here you can end the day in one of the nice restaurants and cafés that surround the hexagonal square. Typical Italian ambience and delicious dishes are served at Osteria Ribaltone, Swabian cuisine at Wiesenstein opposite.
Where: Viktoria-Luise-Platz, Schöneberg
