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.
Food program: Tapas plates
Tip: Garden in summer is the seating to ask for. Walk-ups for the bar from 18:00; tables book a week ahead.
Address: Sophienstrasse 11, 10178 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.
Signature drink: Buck and Breck (Cognac and champagne)
Food: None (drinks only)
Tip: Unmarked door, ring the bell. Reservations only via email; the bar opens at 19:00 with two seatings.
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.
Signature drink: Tausend No. 1 cocktail
Food: Tausend Cantina restaurant attached
Tip: Unmarked door under the train tracks, the entrance is a side gate. The bar from 20:30 runs cocktails until 04:00.
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.
Signature drink: Hemingway Daiquiri
Food: Cheese boards
Tip: Walk-ups welcome but the room books fast on weekends; the rum tasting tray is the order.
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.
Signature drink: House vermouth on the rocks
Food: Tapas and charcuterie
Tip: The walk-up bar takes early-evening crowds; the back booth seats four and books online a week ahead.
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.
Signature drink: Bartender's choice cocktail
Food: None
Tip: No menu. Tell the bartender a spirit and a taste profile. Reservations by email; small room, 18 covers.
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.
Signature drink: Asian-spirit cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tip: Hotel bar, walk-ups welcome. The Japanese whisky flight is the order for a quiet weekday.
