Picture yourself wandering the lively streets of Kreuzberg on a brisk evening. Neon signs cast their light on crowds emerging from cozy bars and sleek lounges. Berlinâs vibrant cocktail scene welcomes everyone from cocktail enthusiasts to adventurous newcomers. While Germany is famous worldwide for its beer, Berlin stands out with a dynamic cocktail culture filled with creativity, history, and multicultural influence.
Berlinâs drinking history is as layered as its architecture. Since the era following World War II, signature local liquors have become icons in the cityâs nightlife. Berliner Luft is a crisp peppermint liqueur. It joins Korn, a simple grain spirit, along with Wodka Gorbatschow, JĂ€germeister, and Kleiner Feigling. These bottles have migrated from SpĂ€ti shelves to the back bars of upscale cocktail venues, serving as both nostalgic favorites and foundations for new innovations.
Cocktails and Bars
Experience Berlin through its most iconic cocktails, each with a story that mirrors the cityâs energy.
Berliner Luft Cocktails (Various Bars and SpÀti Shops)
Ingredients include Berliner Luft, vodka, mangonektar, soda, lime, mint, or hot chocolate. The flavor is cool and minty, and the liqueur is used in shots, chilled drinks, or mixed cocktails such as the Berliner Mojito and HelgolĂ€nder Cocktail. Berliner Luft grew in popularity during the DDR period and still captures the cityâs “Pfeffi” charm. Today, people enjoy it in cocktails at lively bars or as a quick shot from a SpĂ€ti.
Kleiner Feigling Fruity Feigling (Booze Bar, SpÀti Shops)
Kleiner Feigling Kirsch-Banana, strawberries, pineapple, maracuja nectar, and ice make up this playful drink. It is fruity and sweet with tropical notes. Kleiner Feigling began as a party staple and now inspires vibrant creations at Booze Bar. Berliners turn this nostalgic shot into an imaginative mixed drink enjoyed in cheerful settings.
JĂ€germeister Berlin Mule (Green Door)
This cocktail features JÀgermeister, ginger beer, lime, and soda. The taste brings together herbal spice and the tang of ginger. JÀgermeister is a staple in German spirits, but in Berlin, the Berlin Mule has become a flagship cocktail at Green Door in Schöneberg. The atmosphere is comfortable and lounge-like, making every guest feel welcome.
Velvet Forest Flavors Sour (Velvet Bar)
Velvet Bar mixes botanicals from Berlinâs parks with egg white and lemon. The result is earthy, tangy, and aromatic, with a frothy cap. Velvetâs approach is to forage wild herbs and flowers, transforming them into culinary surprises. Spending an evening at Velvet feels like discovering a new dimension of the cityâs natural beauty.
Wax On Peanut Butter Martini (Wax On Bar)
Wax On Bar uses peanut butter-infused vodka, dry vermouth, and bitters to create a creamy and nutty cocktail. The flavors are rich, while the technique is sophisticated. Located in Neukölln, Wax Onâs bartenders adjust recipes nightly, offering a different sensory experience every visit.
Buck & Breck Classic Martini (Buck & Breck)
Dry gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters form the core of Buck & Breckâs signature martini. This cocktail is crisp and botanical. The bar itself is hidden behind an unassuming door near Friedrichstrasse and is modeled after Berlinâs classic speakeasies. The ambiance is intimate with just eight seats. Each drink receives intense attention and respect.
Mampe Halb&Halb: A True Berlin Legend
Mampe Halb&Halb is more than just a spirit. In 1831, Dr. Carl Mampe, a physician from Stargard, combined alcohol with herbs to create a medicinal bitter intended to fight cholera. This âbitter tropfenâ soon became a popular schnapps. The Mampe family moved operations to Berlin in 1877. By 1894, Mampe Halb&Halb, made from bitter orange and more than 130 different herbs, became the brandâs flagship product. The liqueur is half sweet and half bitter. It has won prestigious awards such as the Grand Prize at the 1904 Worldâs Fair. Mampe was an institution in Berlin throughout the twentieth century, with “Mampe Gute Stuben” taverns frequented by locals and artists. The Mampe elephant logo, inspired by two real elephants sponsored by the company, became symbolic of Berlinâs spirit. Although Mampe faded in the late 1980s, it was recently revived and remains a treasured brand. It is sold only in the city and featured in contemporary bars and tastings.
Mampe Halb&Halb can be used as a creative base for a Berlin Mule. Replace JĂ€germeister with Mampe Halb&Halb to add the liqueurâs complex herbal and orange notes to ginger beer and fresh lime juice. Fertig ist die Laube. The result is both traditional and adventurous. This is a perfect choice for anyone exploring Berlin’s evolving cocktail scene.
Modern Innovations
Bars like Velvet and Wax On are leading experiments with locally sourced ingredients, wild forages, vegan alternatives, and unusual infusions. Berlinâs cocktail landscape is constantly changing through new techniques and ingredients, keeping the city at the forefront of global mixology trends.
Connecting Through Cocktails
Cocktails help shape Berlinâs social life, whether shared during daytime SpĂ€ti gatherings or savored in sophisticated rooftop venues. The scene is diverse, stretching from underground speakeasies to luxurious hotel lounges. Sharing a cocktail creates bonds and bridges differences, making every experience in Berlinâs bars special.
Practical Tips
Visit neighborhood favorites like Velvet for adventurous flavors, Truffle Pig and Wax On for creative mixes, or Curtain Club at the Ritz Carlton for luxury. Ordering cocktails is relaxed but appreciates respectful engagement with bartenders. Try local spirits to get the most authentic experience. Expect to pay eight to fifteen euros for most cocktails. SpÀti shops sell shots and simple mixes for just a few euros.
Savoring Berlin
Berlinâs cocktail culture embodies the cityâs bold and innovative character. Every sip, whether a Berliner Luft shot or a Mampe Halb&Halb Berlin Mule, captures a piece of the cityâs history and creativity. To drink a Berlin cocktail is not just to enjoy new flavors, but to connect with the energy and spirit that continue to shape Germanyâs most daring city.
Photo by Esther.