Part of the Berghain complex (the oft-touted “number one club in the world”), Panorama Bar offers beat-seekers endless rhapsodic pleasure with the world‘s top DJs and electro acts clambering for a turn on the decks. If you‘re brave enough, head downstairs to the bedlam of Berghain and experience bass-induced spinal jolts courtesy of the million-euro soundsystem.

In former incarnations, this hotel‘s cellar regularly played host to Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie while a ‘70s refurb saw it transform into the infamous Dschungel club, whose booths were frequented by Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed.

This legendary bar’s star-studded past (it was once the watering hole of Iggy Pop and David Bowie as well as the setting for an infamous Stones‘ interview) adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the atmosphere here. If you think you’ve got enough to mix it with these big shots, go and enjoy a tipple or tuck into some foie gras.

If the walls of this venue could talk, they’d likely impart, in a smokey subdued tone, debauched tales involving jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Nina Hill, Alice Coltrane, Diana Krall – all of whom have graced this stage. This Berlin jazz institution is everything it should be – intimate, dark, very popular and rife with history.

Don‘t fret about hordes of tourists. A former recording engineer from Hansa Studios (where David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Snow Patrol and U2 have all recorded material) will guide you through the ins and outs of Berlin‘s musical history, all in the cozy comfort of a six seater bus.

Hardwax was, and still is, the quintessential model for all independent record shops in Berlin. Devoid of any sales clerks taking the moral high (fidelity) ground, this vinyl vault is a must-visit for record lovers – especially those keen on hard, industrial sounds.

This former cinema still stages spectacles in its current incarnation as one of Berlin‘s best live music venues. Locals flock here for the impressive music program (the likes of Lily Allen, The Wombats and Hercules and Love Affair have all stomped the boards), ambient outdoor decking area and the weekly Balkan Beats parties.

Hedonistic luxury lovers meet elegant party people at this ultra slick ode to New York City‘s hotspots – despite Tausend’s inconspicuous location, this club is all about seeing and being seen.

Jamaican food fused with European cuisine might sound like a crazy idea but this one-time dining spot of the Wu-Tang Clan pulls together a select, but well-executed, menu oozing with gorgeous flavours and capturing all the fire and heartiness of the two owners‘ native country. 

Swathed in an attention-stealing fifth floor view over Potsdamer Platz, chef Michael Kempf‘s Michelin-starred restaurant exudes elegance from the furnishings to the (albeit slightly heavy) menu. Even the strictest fad dieter couldn‘t turn away from goose liver terrine with bottarga leads.


A million superlatives could not sum up the overwhelming sense of grandeur of Hotel de Rome. Designed by Ludwig Heim, Rocco Forte’s manor of luxury features exquisite architecture, an opera room and one of the city’s most renowned spa centres. Be warned: this all-encompassing world of opulence could get strangely addictive. If that white bathrobe has become a second skin, it‘s time to leave the building. 


The central location of this hotel may be one advantage and the clever modern design of each room may put your claustrophobic fears at ease. But the big drawcard is the complete sense of privacy offered to guests, courtesy of the hands-off approach from staff, meaning you can slip from your room to the wellness centre without having to rely on those well-honed cat burglar skills. 

Once a Nazi-era bunker, a storage space for tropical fruit and a hardcore techno and fetish club, this 3,000 sqm space was acquired by Christian Boros in 2003 to house his private art collection. We suggest enlisting the help of Giupetto to pull some strings to take a peek at works by Damien Hirst and Terence Koh – Sammlung Boros boasts a perpetual three month waiting list.

A world-famous treasure chest of antique goodies lies within this complex. It houses (get ready for it…) the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient Near East, the Museum of Islamic Art and the monumental reconstructions of archaeological building ensembles including the Pergamon Altar AND the Ishtar Gate of Babylon. The Pergamon should have Indiana Jones himself doing sniper rolls through the halls.

Former Stella McCartney designer Sandra Tietje and gallerist Florian von Holstein’s forays with antique dealings at Alfie’s Antiques Market led to a suite of vintage furniture boutiques. Situated in swanky Charlottenburg, their collection of treasures includes rare gems by Gio Ponti and Hans Wegner to name but a few.

This extravagant Art Deco building, created by New York-based architect I.M. Pei, is the perfect aesthetic companion to an afternoon of boutique trawling, with the likes of Gucci, La Perla, Akkesoir, Louis Vuitton and many more nestled amongst the labyrinthine staircases.