Best After Work Bars in Berlin

A subterranean bar beneath the S-Bahn arches on Schiffbauerdamm. The curved steel ceiling and dim amber lighting make it feel like a speakeasy from another era. The cocktails here are technically flawless, and the atmosphere rewards arriving early or late—never during the peak rush. Order: The house Negroni, served in crystal that catches the amber light

Compact wine bar on Oranienplatz with 140 natural wines by the glass and a wine list that changes with the seasons. The small plates change daily and are sourced from local producers. Go before 7pm to get a seat at the zinc bar. Order: Orange wine from the feature selection—Ora specializes in amber wines that taste like neither white nor red

14 seats, no sign on the door, reservations required. Berlin's most serious cocktail bar. Each drink is theatrically constructed by bartenders who have worked in Tokyo and New York. Expect precision and silence. Order: Defer to the bartender and taste their take on a Sidecar

24-hour café and bar on Brunnenstrasse, perpetually full of tech workers and journalists. Somehow maintains its charm even at 3am. Great Aperol Spritz and acceptable coffee at all hours. The outdoor seating fills up at 5:30pm. Order: Aperol Spritz with an orange slice and stay for the crowd-watching

Named after Samuel Beckett, this intimate cocktail bar seats 20 and feels like a library for drinkers. The bartenders talk you through every drink and every ingredient. No rushing. No shortcuts. Order: The house cocktail and the conversation that comes with it

Italian-run aperitivo bar on Goltzstrasse where the spirit of Milan meets Berlin pragmatism. Free cicchetti from 6-8pm with any drink. The bartenders pour generously and remember your name. Order: Negroni with free cicchetti—the best value happy hour in the city

Ground floor of a former brewery, all exposed brick and warm candlelight. The gin list runs to 60 labels sourced from boutique producers across Europe. The space feels timeless and intimate. Order: A gin and tonic with a gin you've never heard of

Rooftop above a shopping centre in Neukölln with panoramic views over south Berlin. Cash only, cheap beer, unforgettable sunsets. The most democratic rooftop bar in the city—everyone sits next to everyone. Order: Local Kreuzberg beer and a seat facing west for sunset

Natural wine bar with a serious cheese selection from across France and Italy. Opens at 5pm on weekdays, 11am on weekends. The owner's passion is visible in every pour. Order: A glass of natural wine paired with cheese from the kitchen

Dark wood panelling and a jukebox that tells the history of Berlin clubs from the 1980s to now. One of the last bars in Mitte that hasn't been sanitised or made Instagram-friendly. Feels like another era. Order: A beer and feed the jukebox

Legendary 24-hour institution that has been open since 1978. The breakfast at 3am is famous. The crowd shifts from professionals leaving work to night owls seeking coffee and cake. A Berlin institution. Order: Coffee and cake at any hour

Neighbourhood cocktail bar on Kantstrasse with a loyal after-work following from the surrounding media companies. Cocktails are inventive without being pretentious. The bartenders remember faces. Order: The bar manager's seasonal creation

The city's most beloved craft beer pub, a former butcher's shop with copper fermentation tanks visible from the bar. The beer list rotates quarterly. The crowd is serious about hops. Order: The house IPA, brewed monthly

Art collective turned bar with rotating exhibitions from local Berlin artists. The wine list skews towards natural producers and small-batch makers. The space feels like a gallery you can drink in. Order: A natural wine and take time to notice the current exhibition