Where to Go Out in Berlin if You Don’t Like Techno

Berlin is the techno capital of the world, home to the best club in the world (Berghain) and some of the most fun, surprising and long-opening venues around (one club used to have a labyrinth in it). But what if the chest-thudding beat and repetitive dance moves are not really your style? Well never fear, we have you covered with the 5 best (non-techno) clubs in Berlin.

1. 8MM Bar

Schönhauser Allee 177b, Prenzlauer Berg

Despite being as cosy as your living room, 8MM has been a huge player in Berlin’s underground rock and roll scene since 2002. Curiously, the DJs here swear by vinyl, and when the turntables need a clean, there’s no shortage of live performances to sing along to. Plus, its intimate size and chilled-out atmosphere makes it the perfect venue to mingle with a pretty international clientele.

Fans of the genre who make the trip here have been rewarded pretty handsomely, with previous performances by legends such as Franz Ferdinand, Interpol and Bloc Party! So, if you wanted a chance to knock back a few brews with a rockstar, this would be the place to do it.

2. Cassiopeia

Revaler Strasse 99, Door 2, Friedrichshain

This sub-culture club is in the heart of the RAW Gelände in Friedrichshain – a graffiti-covered expanse of ex-train repair buildings that is now a cultural centre for creatives, a hub for climbers, and a great inner-city location for skaters.

Cassiopeia plays the full gamut of hip hop, R&B and club classics. Even better, you don’t have to wait until the weekend – Super Tuesdays will see you twerking away to Super 80s, hip hop and disco.

3. Süß war Gestern (aka Yesterday was sweet)

Wühlischstraße 43, Friedrichshain

This small, laid-back lounge bar/club plays a variety of musical styles – the small basement floor is where you will want to go for R&B and hip hop. Outside, the door people are generally very nice and there is often no door charge, and inside there is an eponymous cocktail that will rock your dancing socks off – all ginger and whiskey.

Prepare to dance it out and get sweaty. If you need to take a breather, you can always settle back on one of the couches and play Super Mario on the Nintendo. Why not?

4. Havanna Club

Hauptstraße 30 Schöneberg

Salsa and all things Latin seem to be much more popular in the western part of Berlin – so head to the western district of Schöneberg and get ready to shake it.
Over 4 dancefloors Latin beats (including salsa, bachata, merengue and reggaeton) are played alongside hip hop and dance classics.
Don’t know how to salsa? No problem, there are dance lessons every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

5. Matrix

Warschauerplatz 18, Friedrichshain

Last, but most certainly not least, Matrix club will always be there for you. Open 365 days a year, with 7 floors playing different music styles, it is the non-techno favourite in Berlin and is usually very busy.

The club is located in the basement vaults of the Warschauerstraße S bahn station and, compared to other large clubs, is usually relatively cheap to enter (€6 to €12).
It is definitely a place to end the night (or nights depending on your level of endurance).

Want to jump the cue at Matrix? The SANDEMANs Pub Crawl ends at the club and the ticket price (€12) gets you free VIP entry (so no lining up!) in addition to all the four excellent bars you visit before (oh, and all the free shots).

Last update: 8 January 2020.