Golden Gate

Since 2002, Golden Gate has been located in an arch of the S-Bahn viaduct at Jannowitzbrücke. The premises belong to the railway, and trains run overhead. Upstairs, there are sofas and a piano; downstairs, techno and tech house play. As a techno club in Berlin, it operates consistently analog, as there is only a box office and cash payment.

Golden Gate: A Club in the S-Bahn Arch

Since 2002, Golden Gate has been located in an arch of the S-Bahn viaduct directly at Jannowitzbrücke station, with the premises leased from Deutsche Bahn. It was founded by Hubertus Graf Strachwitz and Reimund Spitzer; previously, it was a bicycle repair shop. Trains run over the heads of the dancers, which contributes to the club’s vibe: two levels, the floor downstairs, a chill-out upstairs with sofas and a piano, plus a small outdoor area facing the street. In 2015, the club extended its lease for another ten years, remaining in a location where the surrounding city has long since been redeveloped. Initially, rock and electroclash concerts were also held here; only later did the club become a staple afterhour destination.

Cash Only at the Door, No Online Sales, Own Label

Golden Gate consciously operates analog. Tickets are available exclusively at the door; pre-sales and online advertising are not part of it, social media plays hardly any role, and payment is in cash. Musically, the focus is on techno and house with a lot of tech house and a high proportion of DJs living in Berlin; internationally, names like A Guy Called Gerald or Dirty Doering are added. Its own event series include Compute, AGA Babies, and the Cynosure Nacht. Since its inception, the club has operated the label Golden Gate Club Records, which released its own compilations for its twentieth anniversary. Its reputation as an afterhour spot comes from parties that extend throughout the rest of the weekend and from a door policy that is more relaxed than in many other venues in the city.