The friendly little hippopotamus sculptures that welcome you to the Stue Bar are a greeting to the neighboring Berlin Zoo. The property of the elegant Hotel SO/Berlin Das Stue actually borders directly on the Zoological Garden Berlin. This neighborhood is playfully taken up with unusual design ideas in the hotel and bar.

The Stue Bar is otherwise casual, with lots of petroleum-coloured velvet, quiet lounge music in the background and smart bartenders who know their trade. Natural colours and precious materials such as natural wood, parquet and copper dominate. Everything appears reduced, but elegant.

The bar menu, with its large selection of whisky and wermuth, appears more classic than experimental and stands for relaxation rather than excess. Every 14 days, Berlin musicians from the jazz and soul scene play here and turn the bar into a stage. Artists like Jumaa, who draws from jazz, soul, Afrobeat and rhythm and blues, The Shoeswing Stringers, a band dedicated to the dance music of the 1930s or the composer and performer Leo Hofmann are welcome guests. Specials will be offered on the occasion of the filmfestival Berlinale.

A big plus point is the secluded, green terrace with large parasols, which is open to guests during the warm months. With a little luck you can hear the animal voices from the zoo and feel like on safari.