19 bars worth the trip across Germany, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Germany guides.
Schwarze Traube ★ 4.7 · Berlin
neukoelln · Wildenbruchstrasse 49, 12045 Berlin
Schwarze Traube on Berlin's Wildenbruchstrasse in Neukoelln runs the city's most-cited bespoke-cocktail bar; the menu is one question (what do you fancy) answered by the bartender.
Tip: No menu. Tell the bartender a spirit and a taste profile. Reservations by email; small room, 18 covers.
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 midnight, every weeknight.
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 cocktails.
Tip: Unmarked door, ring the bell. Reservations only via email; the bar opens at 19:00 with two seatings.
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 on the door window.
Tip: No menu. Tell the bartender what you like; the Old Fashioned and the Negroni are the room's defaults.
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 nights.
Tip: Open Wed-Sun only; the latest opening is Friday and Saturday at 05:00.
Lebensstern ★ 4.5 · Berlin
schoeneberg · Kurfuerstenstrasse 58, 10785 Berlin
Lebensstern on Berlin's Kurfuerstenstrasse in Schoeneberg runs the city's most stocked rum bar with 1,500 bottles and 800 absinthes; the room sits above the cafe Einstein Stammhaus.
Tip: Walk-ups welcome but the room books fast on weekends; the rum tasting tray is the order.
Fragrances ★ 4.5 · Berlin
tiergarten · Luetzowufer 15, 10785 Berlin
Fragrances at the Ritz-Carlton on Berlin's Luetzowufer runs a perfume-themed cocktail bar; each drink pairs with a specific fragrance shown on the bar's display wall.
Tip: Hotel bar with a strict dress code (smart-casual minimum). The perfume tasting flight is the order.
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 Asian-fusion plates.
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 aperitif-led and Italian-classic.
Tip: The walk-up bar takes early-evening crowds; the back booth seats four and books online a week ahead.
Le Croco Bleu ★ 4.4 · Berlin
prenzlauer-berg · Prenzlauer Allee 242, 10405 Berlin
Le Croco Bleu on Berlin's Prenzlauer Allee runs a cocktail bar inside the former Bötzow brewery's machine hall; the room is filled with taxidermy and the crocodile sets the tone.
Tip: Open Wed-Sat only. The room is loud and theatrical; bookings online for a quiet booth.
Bar am Steinplatz ★ 4.4 · Berlin
charlottenburg · Steinplatz 4, 10623 Berlin
Bar am Steinplatz at the Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin Charlottenburg runs a German-gin-focused cocktail program; the room sits on the corner of Hardenbergstrasse and Steinplatz.
Tip: Hotel bar with terrace seating in summer. The Berlin-Gin flight from local distilleries is the order.
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, the room is wood-panelled.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bourbon tasting flight of three is the order to start.
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 the room.
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 that rotates seven variants.
Tip: Live jazz Thursday to Saturday from 21:00. The Manhattan is the room's signature order.
Drinks & Co ★ 4.3 · Berlin
mitte · Sophienstrasse 11, 10178 Berlin
Drinks & Co on Berlin's Sophienstrasse in Mitte runs a seasonal cocktail program rotating with the market; the back garden seats 30 in summer with a quieter wave from 18:00.
Tip: Garden in summer is the seating to ask for. Walk-ups for the bar from 18:00; tables book a week ahead.
Lemon Leaf ★ 4.1 · Berlin
mitte · Wallstrasse 70-73, 10179 Berlin
Lemon Leaf at Berlin's NH Collection hotel runs an Asian-spirit cocktail program with shochu, baiju and Japanese whisky; the room runs late and walks up easily.
Tip: Hotel bar, walk-ups welcome. The Japanese whisky flight is the order for a quiet weekday.
Trader Vic's ★ 4.0 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Promenadeplatz 2-6, 80333 München
Trader Vic's in the basement of Munich's Bayerischer Hof has poured tiki cocktails since 1972; the city's longest-running theme bar and a Munich institution.
Tip: Reserve a booth on weekends; the Mai Tai is the room's signature pour since opening.