In some of Berlin’s cosiest cafes, bars and restaurants…

(3 minute read)

From endless gray skies and swaths of rain to blustery, bone-chilling winds, winter in Berlin is far from serene. If you can’t find the time (or, let’s face it, the money) to escape the dull days of the dregs of winter, but you simply refuse to let the weather compel you into becoming a homebody, find solace and refuge here—in Berlin’s most intimate bars and restaurants.

A sanctuary in Sprengelkiez, step through the front door at Saint Bess, get a glimpse of the huge white-washed pizza oven, then tuck yourself away downstairs in their wonderfully cozy dining room. Lined with exposed brick and decorated with sweeping branches and simple candles, it’s a sleek and refined space that still manages to feel easygoing and comfortable. Paired with a pizza and a pint of Brooklyn Lager from the tap, your trip up to Wedding will be generously rewarded.

Tucked just off the main drag between Kotti and Paul-Lincke-Ufer, Das Hotel is a tiny bar that tends to pack people in with its commendable selection of music and tasty cocktails. The maroon velvet curtains keep out the cold wind as people start to make their way into the candlelit hideaway, flowers swaying softly from the ceiling as wooden barstools scrape the floor in an effort to make space. If the main bar is too packed, jump next door for the same vibes and extra room—to dance? Sure, why not.

There’s almost nowhere I’d rather be than the wine bottle, brick-lined cove that is jaja. Simple pendant lights emit a warm glow and the neon sign shines, reflecting off the simple white and green subway tiles lining the small bar. Delicious nibbles accompany natural wines by the glass or bottle and, as the night grows darker, the space becomes only that much more appealing.

Muted tones cover the walls and ceiling of what used to be a classic Berliner Kneipe but is now the latest addition to Berlin’s ever up-and-coming Wedding, Gedeih & Verderb. With glass block windows, tall ceilings, and plenty of seating space, what keeps it cozy is not only the dark wooden booths, dim lighting, and candlelight aura common in bars across Berlin, but the lighthearted atmosphere of a neighborhood retaining its past while slowly coming into its own.

One of my favourite restaurants in Berlin, St. Bart also happens to be one of the coziest. With a real English gastropub vibe, the plates are perfectly portioned for sharing which promotes a distinctively jovial atmosphere both at the individual tables and throughout the restaurant itself. Whether perched at the bar or settled in among the long wooden booths, at the stroke of midnight, a seamless transition from restaurant to smoking bar occurs—so feel free to stick around before bundling up to face the cold.

In the middle of Neukölln’s Rixdorf, Herr Lindemann is a cozy bar serving up earthy cocktails with a medicinal twist. Subdued shades of chartreuse wash the walls and color the furniture, adding a distinctly relaxed feeling to the laid-back bar. Whether you opt for an herb-forward cocktail or a simple glass of wine, settle in—the colder the weather, the longer you’ll want to stay.

Don’t be scared off by the bold yellow paint covering the outside wall of Geist im Glas, it’s far from what you’ll find inside. With walls that provide a meeting place for a variety of textures, from exposed brick and whimsical depictions to bare concrete and remnants of wallpaper shorn long ago, the golden light that emanates from a few key places (the bar and booths among them) and replicates the warmth and comfort of a setting sun. Don’t worry about finding a space, an eclectic mishmash of furniture a plenty provides a seat for every wandering soul.