11 late-night dives worth the night across Germany, editor-ranked. All Germany guides.

Diener Tattersall ★ 4.1 · Berlin

charlottenburg · Grolmanstrasse 47, 10623 Berlin

Diener on Grolmanstrasse runs as the West Berlin artists' pub, with around 500 portrait photos of actors and writers on the wood-panelled walls; ex-boxer Franz Diener took it over in 1954.

Tip: Open from 18:00; closed Sundays. Knockwurst with sauerkraut and a beer is the order.

Holy Home ★ 4.1 · Munich

glockenbachviertel · Reichenbachstrasse 21, 80469 Munich

Holy Home on Reichenbachstrasse fits a small, dark, smoky room with long wooden tables and a rock soundtrack, drawing a tight Glockenbach crowd that arrives late and stays until the doors close at 03:30 on weekends.

Tip: Tiny room; reservations recommended after 22:00 on weekends. Cash is easier than card.

Bei Schlawinchen ★ 4.0 · Berlin

kreuzberg · Schoenleinstrasse 34, 10967 Berlin

Bei Schlawinchen on Schoenleinstrasse has run 24 hours a day since 1978, with bicycles and toy dolls bolted to the ceiling, two-euro beers, a foosball table and a clientele that never quite empties out.

Tip: Open literally always; arrive at 04:00 to see the room at full strength. Cash only; smoking inside.

Trinkteufel ★ 4.0 · Berlin

kreuzberg · Naunynstrasse 60, 10997 Berlin

Trinkteufel on Naunynstrasse runs as Kreuzberg's hardcore-and-metal dive: loud guitars, cheap pours, a foosball table that's always busy, and a clientele that prefers the bar to the pavement until sunrise.

Tip: Doors at 15:00, no closing time; cash only. The kicker table is the centre of gravity.

Wohnzimmer Bar ★ 4.0 · Berlin

prenzlauer-berg · Lettestrasse 6, 10437 Berlin

Wohnzimmer on Lettestrasse near Helmholtzplatz furnishes its room like a 1960s living room with mismatched sofas, lace doilies and old armchairs; long pours, cheap beer and a daytime cafe role.

Tip: Open from morning; the room shifts from cafe to bar around 19:00 and runs late. Cash easier than card.

Schelling-Salon ★ 4.0 · Munich

maxvorstadt · Schellingstrasse 54, 80799 Munich

Schelling-Salon has run on Schellingstrasse since 1872 as Munich's oldest Viennese cafe-restaurant, with a long timber bar, billiard and table-tennis tables and a beer list that runs to Augustiner and Schneider on tap.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pool tables charge around 5 euro an hour; cash is easier than card.

Frau Bartels Bar ★ 4.0 · Munich

glockenbachviertel · Klenzestrasse 51, 80469 Munich

Frau Bartels Bar on Klenzestrasse runs a green-walled Glockenbach room with sofa arrangements, a small back room and a cocktail list of moscow-mule riffs and ginger-led house drinks for a mixed twenties-to-thirties crowd.

Tip: Doors from 18:00 weeknights, 17:00 weekends. Sister bars Herr Bartels and Madam Anna Ekke are walking distance.

Trachtenvogl ★ 4.0 · Munich

glockenbachviertel · Reichenbachstrasse 47, 80469 Munich

Trachtenvogl on Reichenbachstrasse occupies a former Lederhosen and Dirndl shop with original 1960s furnishings, a mid-room bar and a daytime cafe role that flips to a DJ-led evening room for the Glockenbach.

Tip: Card payments only; outdoor seating in the warm months. The kitchen runs until 21:00 most nights.

Cafe Cinema ★ 3.9 · Berlin

mitte · Rosenthaler Strasse 39, 10178 Berlin

Cafe Cinema beside the Hackesche Hoefe runs as a dim, smoky room with old film posters, mismatched antique furniture and a clientele that holds the place against the polish of the surrounding courtyard.

Tip: Cash easier than card; the back room is quieter. Stays open until 04:00 most nights.

The Shamrock Irish Pub ★ 3.8 · Munich

schwabing · Trautenwolfstrasse 6, 80802 Munich

The Shamrock has run a Schwabing Irish pub for decades with karaoke, live bands, comedy and a Thursday pub quiz, plus a Friday and Saturday late-night karaoke that pulls a packed room until 02:00.

Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Karaoke nights run Friday and Saturday late; show up early for the slot list.

Das Klo ★ 3.5 · Berlin

charlottenburg · Leibnizstrasse 57, 10629 Berlin

Das Klo near Ku'damm has run a toilet-themed novelty pub since 1971 with toilets as seats, urinal-bottle beers, test-tube shots and animatronic puppets that hammer guests on the head from the ceiling.

Tip: Tourist trap that locals respect; arrive after dinner for the full effect. Group bookings welcomed.