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.
Food program: None
Tip: Open Wed-Sat only. The room is loud and theatrical; bookings online for a quiet booth.
Address: Prenzlauer Allee 242, 10405 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.
Signature drink: Berlin Gin cocktails
Food: Snacks and small plates
Tip: Hotel bar with terrace seating in summer. The Berlin-Gin flight from local distilleries is the order.
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.
Signature drink: Bourbon Old Fashioned
Food: Snacks
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bourbon tasting flight of three is the order to start.
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.
Signature drink: Jazz Manhattan
Food: None
Tip: Live jazz Thursday to Saturday from 21:00. The Manhattan is the room's signature order.
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.
Signature drink: Seasonal cocktails
Food: 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.
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.
