Wowsville

In the Reichenberger Kiez, there's a bar that's also a record store: records are for sale in the back room, drinks are served at the front, and a framed photo of Iggy Pop hangs on the wall. The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed, rock 'n' roll plays without pretense. For a quick meal, there's a pizzeria directly opposite, and an afternoon is enough for browsing.

Rock’n’Roll Bar with Record Store on Ohlauer Straße

Ohlauer Straße is located in the Reichenberger Kiez, just a few minutes from Görlitzer Park, and is one of the quieter streets in this part of Kreuzberg. Behind house number 33, Wowsville opens its doors, and the bar does something that has become rare in Berlin: it combines a pub and a record store under one roof. Records are for sale in the back room, while drinks are served at the front. This makes the place interesting twice over, once for the evening and once for the afternoon, if you just wanted to browse. A framed photo of Iggy Pop hangs on the wall, and no more explanation is needed to understand what this place is all about. Directly opposite is a pizzeria, should hunger strike in between. This is more practical than it sounds, as the bar itself does not have a kitchen. Those coming from Wrangelkiez or the park will be there in a few minutes. The establishment’s reputation relies less on its size than on the mix of bar and record shelves.

Vinyl in the Back Room and an Unpretentious Vibe

What distinguishes Wowsville from the larger establishments on this list is its size and its vibe. There’s no stage, no cloakroom, and no ticketing, but rather a bar, a sound system, and a clientele mostly from the neighborhood. Accordingly, things are relaxed: rock ‘n’ roll plays here without pretense and without bouncer logic; you come in, order, and stay as long as it feels right. This very casualness has earned the place its reputation, and it explains why it appears in virtually every list of Berlin rock bars. Those who want to end the evening musically often find the real conversation starter among the records in the back room. Wowsville does not publish prices, neither for drinks nor for records. There is also no information on accessibility. This fits the picture: this place thrives not on announcements, but on people simply dropping by. For an unplanned evening, Wowsville is one of the most reliable addresses in Kreuzberg. Anyone leaving with records under their arm has done everything right.