BERLIN'S BEST INDIE MAGAZINE SPOTS

WORDS BY ROBBIE RUSSELL

(3 MINUTE READ)

What began as something of a rebellion against the rapidly changing media landscape and advancements in digital technology, became an incredible publishing sensation.

Independent magazines are increasingly popular and it’s no wonder why; they’re smart, stylish and curious- plus your coffee table will always look cooler with a copy of Cereal on it.

Indie mags are about discovering something new and interesting; whether that’s learning about the outdoor lifestyle through magazines like Another Escape, or embracing the slow life with publications like Kinfolk.

Such magazines, unlike traditional glossies, are open to obscurity, celebrating everything from the quirky to the downright wacky. Niche titles like She Shreds which celebrates female guitarists, or crafts magazine MacGuffin, which recently dedicated an issue solely to ropes and knots, prove that nothing is off limits.

Indie mags navigate the world of journalism with a sense of fearlessness and excitement, delving deep into the forbidden, the forgotten and the alluring.

What unites them is that they are fundamentally exploratory, and that’s kind of radical.

Fashion, fishing, gardening, baking, sneakers, sex, nature, plants- all subject matter is covered and offers readers endless inspiration.

In the truest sense of the word, there is something for everyone.

And with a pop-up store dedicated to this kind of magazine on every corner and a 78% increase in revenue, we can safely say that print is definitely not dead.

With that in mind, we encourage you to head out and pick up a print mag and discover something new- part of the fun however, is finding the perfect shop to cop.

Here are our favourite under-the-radar spots to find a brilliant independent magazine in Berlin.

VOO Store
Oranienstraße 24
10999 Berlin
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Located in the heart of Kreuzberg, VOO store is a creative concept space with a specially selected range of designer garments and shoes.

The uniqueness of the store is not simply grounded in the minimal design and meticulous, seasonal selection, but in the fact that it is complimented by two of our favourite things: magazines and good coffee.

A small part of the store is dedicated to a selection of independent magazines, so while you might visit VOO for some new sneakers, you could end up flicking through a copy of Wonderland and sipping a coffee instead.

Motto Berlin
Skalitzer Str. 68
10997 Berlin
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Dedicated especially to books, magazines and artists publications, Motto is an indie mag treasure trove.

The somewhat hidden store is located in a courtyard near Skalitzer Strasse, but it’s impressive selection means it’s definitely worth finding. Here you’ll find all the big titles like Vogue, Fantastic Man, The Gentle Woman and more, plus some smaller, more niche titles too.

Motto is well stocked and brimming with some brilliant and colourful titles, this means that there is little room to browse leisurely, though there are chairs scattered through the shop for you to sit at and get lost in something. /ul>

SoTo
Torstraße 72
10119 Berlin
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Mitte based menswear store, SoTo allows you to ‘dress up and dress down’. Touted as a ‘wild mix’ of American and European style, Soto bring a diverse selection of menswear to Berlin.

That’s not all, though.

When you visit the retail store, you’ll find a humble yet enticing selection of independent magazines to choose from. If you head to SoTo for some new garms, take the chance to browse their small selection and flick through one that reaches out to you. /ul>

SODA books
Weinbergsweg 1
10119 Berlin
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Being sister brand to popular Soda MÜNCHEN’s hardly makes Soda BERLIN under-the-radar, however, it’s more than worth a mention.

Their tag line ‘curious publications for curious people’ rings true when you see their impressive selection of art, illustration, fashion, design and photography magazines. Here you’ll find well known titles, as well as smaller indie ones- the purposeful design will no doubt lead you through them all.

With its light grey interior and minimalist mood, Soda BERLIN is a place where you can tell an incredible effort has been put into its design. The floor-to-ceiling shades of grey act as a backdrop to the colourful pop of magazine covers, making the search for your favourite one a total breeze.

So carefully laid out and well lit, Soda might be mistaken for more of an indie mag gallery than a bookstore (and often is, apparently!) So, go on and enjoy the art.

The Store (at Soho house)
Torstraße 1
10119 Berlin
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The Store X spans two floors of Soho house Berlin and offers an innovative retail experience where you can relax, eat and shop.

Through a collection of fashion, sneakers, books, magazines and more, The Store encourages shoppers to explore all corners of the retail space.

You can find a selection of independent magazines here and settle into their sofas to try before you buy. It’s definitely quality over quantity here with a small but well thought out collection of mags.

Located in central Mitte, there’s no excuse not to pop in.