Berghain

Berghain: Where Myth Meets Door Policy

Berghain is located in Friedrichshain, near the border with Kreuzberg, just a few minutes’ walk from Ostbahnhof. It is housed in a massive concrete colossal building from the 1950s, a former heating plant of East Berlin. To get in here, you need more than just a good mood. Berghain is known for its long weekend nights, its strict and selective door policy, and a diverse queer culture. It’s also worth noting: the club is extremely discreet when it comes to celebrities, which goes hand in hand with the strict prohibition of photo and video recordings.

Nevertheless, Berghain has been attracting international stars for years. The club is equally popular with celebrities, and Lady Gaga’s party night after one of her concerts in 2010 is now legendary. So much so that she used the club in 2013 for a PR session to promote her new album. However, even for global stars, the rule applies: Britney Spears was allegedly not admitted due to wearing the wrong shoes.

Sound, Floors, and the Feeling of Freedom

Berghain has three dance floors: the dark main room where most DJs play techno, the Panorama Bar as an upstairs area with a stronger focus on house, and the Säule on the ground floor. The resident DJs, including Steffi, Tama Sumo, Marcel Dettmann, and Ben Klock, with sets ranging from three to well over eight hours, and the architecture of metal and exposed concrete with ceilings up to 30 meters high, also contribute to its cult appeal.

Technically, the club sets standards anyway. The huge industrial area offers a minimalist main room with a first-class Funktion-One sound system, as well as other spaces like the Panorama Bar, Kantine am Berghain, Halle, Lab.oratory, and Säule. The club is known for its uncompromising sound, its stark industrial architecture, and an atmosphere of darkness, freedom, and ecstasy. Anyone who has experienced Berghain once understands why this celebrity club in Berlin has been world-renowned for over twenty years.