Top Bars in Germany

Little Link ★ 4.8 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Maastrichter Str. 20, 50672 Koln

Little Link on Maastrichter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is an award-winning cocktail bar; named Germany's most innovative bar for seasonal drinks.

Le Lion Bar de Paris ★ 4.8 · Hamburg

altstadt · Rathausstrasse 3, 20095 Hamburg

Le Lion Bar de Paris on Rathausstrasse in Hamburg's Altstadt is Joerg Meyer's classic cocktail room since 2007 and the cradle of the 2008 Gin Basil Smash.

Tip: Ring the buzzer at Rathausstrasse 3; dress code smart. The Gin Basil Smash is the house pour.

Schwarze Traube ★ 4.7 · Berlin

kreuzberg · Muskauer Strasse 15, 10997 Berlin

Schwarze Traube on Muskauer Strasse in Kreuzberg has run a no-menu bespoke cocktail room since 2012; tell the bartender a spirit and a profile and they build.

Tip: No menu. Tell the bartender a spirit and a taste profile. Ring the bell, reservations by email; small room, 18 covers.

Velvet ★ 4.7 · Berlin

neukoelln · Ganghoferstrasse 1, 12043 Berlin

Velvet on Ganghoferstrasse in Neukoelln is a hyperseasonal cocktail room from a small team that resets the menu every week around foraged Berlin plants.

Tip: The menu rewrites weekly so ask the bartender what is on this week, and skip Tuesday (lab day).

ONA MOR ★ 4.7 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Roonstr. 94, 50674 Koln

ONA MOR on Roonstrasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng is listed on Cologne Tourism for craft cocktails and DJ nights in a lively neighbourhood bar room.

Toddy Tapper ★ 4.7 · Cologne

agnesviertel · Schillingstr. 27, 50670 Koln

Toddy Tapper on Schillingstrasse in Cologne's Agnesviertel is a South Asian-inspired cocktail bar mixing drinks with coconut toddy and tamarind infusions.

Schumann's Bar am Hofgarten ★ 4.7 · Munich

altstadt-lehel · Odeonsplatz 6-7, 80539 München

Charles Schumann's Schumann's Bar on Munich's Odeonsplatz is the city's classic American bar; the room transitions from restaurant to cocktail hour around.

Tip: Closed Saturdays; the smaller Camparino next door and the upstairs Fleurs du Mal are quieter rooms.

Zephyr Bar ★ 4.7 · Munich

glockenbachviertel · Baaderstrasse 68, 80469 München

Zephyr Bar in Munich's Glockenbach since 2011 runs Lukas Motejzik's experimental cocktail programme; the room won Mixology Bar Team of the Year 2025.

Tip: Walk in early or be queued; the bar's house creations rotate seasonally.

Buck and Breck ★ 4.6 · Berlin

mitte · Brunnenstrasse 177, 10119 Berlin

Buck and Breck on Berlin's Brunnenstrasse has run an unmarked speakeasy cocktail bar since 2010; 14 seats around a single bar, classic and pre-Prohibition.

Tip: Unmarked door, ring the bell. Reservations only via email; the bar opens at 19:00 with two seatings.

Victoria Bar ★ 4.6 · Berlin

tiergarten · Potsdamer Strasse 102, 10785 Berlin

Victoria Bar on Berlin's Potsdamer Strasse in Tiergarten has been the city's reference classic-cocktails bar since 2001; the long brass-and-leather room runs.

Tip: Walk-ups for the bar from 18:30; the back banquettes need a phone call. Closed-door cocktail school runs Monday afternoons.

Beckett's Kopf ★ 4.6 · Berlin

prenzlauer-berg · Pappelallee 64, 10437 Berlin

Beckett's Kopf on Berlin's Pappelallee in Prenzlauer Berg has run a no-menu classic cocktail bar since 2004; the room is named after Samuel Beckett's head.

Tip: No menu. Tell the bartender what you like; the Old Fashioned and the Negroni are the room's defaults.

Rum Trader ★ 4.6 · Berlin

charlottenburg · Fasanenstrasse 40, 10719 Berlin

Rum Trader on Fasanenstrasse is the oldest cocktail bar in Berlin, behind an unmarked black door trimmed in gold off Charlottenburg's Fasanenstrasse.

Tip: Ring the bell, dress up a touch, and let Scholl steer the round. Cash only, closed Sundays and Mondays.

Seiberts Classic Bar ★ 4.6 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Friesenwall 33, 50672 Koln

Seiberts Classic Bar on Friesenwall in Cologne is one of the city's classic hotel bars, featured in the 150 Bars book with an elegant cocktail list.

Rosebud Bar ★ 4.6 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Heinsbergstr. 20, 50674 Koln

Rosebud Bar on Heinsbergstrasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng has operated since 1991; a neighbourhood bar with a curated cocktail list and reliable crowd.

Christiansen's Fine Drinks and Cocktails ★ 4.6 · Hamburg

st-pauli · Pinnasberg 60, 20359 Hamburg

Christiansen's Fine Drinks on Pinnasberg in Hamburg's St Pauli has poured classic cocktails since 1997, with over 850 spirits including 250 whiskies.

Tip: Closed Sundays. Weekend nights run until 04:00; weekday nights close at 02:00.

Bar Gabányi ★ 4.6 · Munich

altstadt-lehel · Beethovenplatz 2, 80336 München

Bar Gabányi on Munich's Beethovenplatz is Stefan Gabanyi's speakeasy-style cocktail room since 2012; a deep whisky collection and live piano on weekend.

Tip: Open Wed-Sun only; the latest opening is Friday and Saturday at 05:00.

Lamm Bar ★ 4.5 · Berlin

prenzlauer-berg · Wisbyer Strasse 1, 10439 Berlin

Lamm Bar on Berlin's Wisbyer Strasse at the northern edge of Prenzlauer Berg runs a craft cocktail bar local mixologists recommend to each other.

Tip: Open Mon-Sat 18:00-00:00 and Sun 17:30-23:30. Reservations for groups up to 15 until 20:00; otherwise walk-up to the bar.

Monkey Bar Cologne ★ 4.5 · Cologne

altstadt · Im Klapperhof 22-24, 50670 Koln

Monkey Bar in Cologne's Friesenviertel at Im Klapperhof mixes cocktails and hosts DJ nights; a reliable Belgian Quarter evening starting point.

Brauerei Paeffgen ★ 4.5 · Cologne

agnesviertel · Friesenstrasse 64-66, 50670 Koln

Brauerei Paeffgen bar on Friesenstrasse is the city's oldest independent Brauhaus; hand-brewed Kölsch served by kobes from the historic chestnut garden.

Bar Tausend ★ 4.4 · Berlin

mitte · Schiffbauerdamm 11, 10117 Berlin

Bar Tausend on Berlin's Schiffbauerdamm runs an unmarked door under the train tracks at Friedrichstrasse station; the bar runs late, the cantina kitchen runs.

Tip: Unmarked door under the train tracks, the entrance is a side gate. The bar from 20:30 runs cocktails until 04:00.

Bar Bonvivant ★ 4.4 · Berlin

schoeneberg · Goltzstrasse 32, 10781 Berlin

Bar Bonvivant on Berlin's Goltzstrasse in Schoeneberg runs the city's reference vermouth bar with 50 bottles on the back wall; the cocktail list runs.

Tip: The walk-up bar takes early-evening crowds; the back booth seats four and books online a week ahead.

The Curtain Club ★ 4.4 · Berlin

tiergarten · Potsdamer Platz 3, 10785 Berlin

The Curtain Club at the Ritz-Carlton on Potsdamer Platz runs an elegant cocktail room behind heavy drapes off the hotel lobby, the carte built around.

Tip: Hotel bar, smart-casual at minimum. Daily 18:00-01:00; the live-music nights pack the room early.

Stagger Lee ★ 4.4 · Berlin

schoeneberg · Nollendorfstrasse 27, 10777 Berlin

Stagger Lee on Berlin's Nollendorfstrasse in Schoeneberg runs a 1920s American whiskey bar with 200 bourbons, the music is bluegrass and country.

Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bourbon tasting flight of three is the order to start.

Reingold ★ 4.4 · Berlin

mitte · Novalisstrasse 11, 10115 Berlin

Reingold on Novalisstrasse in Mitte is a low-lit 1920s cocktail lounge favoured by Berlin's media and advertising crowd, classic-era drinks set to recorded.

Tip: Ring the bell, dress up a touch. Quieter mid-week before 22:00; the room fills late on weekends.

Gaffel am Dom ★ 4.4 · Cologne

altstadt · Bahnhofsvorplatz 1, 50667 Köln

Gaffel am Dom at Cologne's main station forecourt pours Gaffel Kölsch from 10-litre table taps facing the Cathedral; Friday sing-alongs from 22:30.

The Boilerman Bar Altes Hafenamt ★ 4.4 · Hamburg

hafencity · Osakaallee 12, 20457 Hamburg

The Boilerman Bar at the 25hours Hotel Altes Hafenamt in Hamburg's HafenCity runs a rum and highball programme, with the entrance on Ueberseeboulevard near U.

Tip: Bar manager Jonas Buchsein leads the highball list, on the team since 2022 and bar manager since the late-2025 refresh. Walk-in seats available most nights.

The Chug Club ★ 4.4 · Hamburg

st-pauli · Taubenstrasse 13, 20359 Hamburg

The Chug Club on Taubenstrasse in Hamburg's St Pauli is Betty Kupsa's agave-spirit shrine, with stained-glass windows, a church-like back bar and a long list.

Tip: Open Mon to Thu and Sun 18:00-01:00, Fri and Sat 18:00-02:00. Masterclass nights run on the Chug Club's events calendar.

Pacific Times ★ 4.4 · Munich

glockenbachviertel · Baaderstrasse 28, 80469 München

Pacific Times in Munich's Gärtnerplatzviertel since 1997 is the city's California-tiki cocktail bar; long bar, top spirits, late kitchen for snacks.

Tip: Walk in for a stool at the bar; reserve for dinner upstairs.

Windhorst ★ 4.3 · Berlin

mitte · Dorotheenstrasse 65, 10117 Berlin

Windhorst on Berlin's Dorotheenstrasse near the Bundestag has run since 1991 with the same bartenders; the martini and the journalist regulars define.

Tip: Smoke-friendly room (rare in Berlin). The Vodka Martini is the canonical order; cash and card accepted.

Thelonious ★ 4.3 · Berlin

neukoelln · Weserstrasse 202, 12047 Berlin

Thelonious on Berlin's Weserstrasse in Neukoelln runs a jazz-themed cocktail bar with live music three nights a week and an Old Fashioned program.

Tip: Live jazz Thursday to Saturday from 21:00. The Manhattan is the room's signature order.