Berlin Bar

It is so rare that I hand out the old one star, but in this case it is truly well deserved. I have never encountered a Business that both had it so right and simultaneously had it so wrong. What is going on Berlin Bar?
Born of such a clever concept, East and West Germany separated by the wall, an opulent room and a bunker room. Sounds great and when you hear about this you imagine a fantastic evening of how this could be both a classy lounge and a filthy nightclub at the same time, right? Well that’s what I thought. Maybe that was my mistake.
What Berlin Bar gives you, is opulent and bunker both decorated fabulously with fantastic staff– whom you only get table service from (rarely) — and music so loud that you can not even hear anyone who isn’t a centimetre away from you. Oh and no dancing. Plus there is some guy going around to tables doing magic tricks.
I was so bored and sober. I couldn’t get a staff member to my table to take my money to give me alcohol to save me from their horrible venue! It was like truly being in East Germany! Not to mention the air conditioning only worked on one side. It was horrifying. It was truly one of the worst nights I have ever had.
I thought it was a joke. Please sit here quietly, listening to this terrible loud music, watch German propaganda and be stone cold sober.
It’s a shame, because it was SO much potential!

Spending just a few days in Melbourne means having to choose wisely which bars to try out in the evenings –we wanted to try every cool bar we had heard of but had to stay reasonable; such is life-.
We ended up going up the stairs of the Berlin Bar, taking a few pictures of the lovely light garlands all over the ceiling.
Then, when you get at the door, you just have to ring and wait.
A waiter came to welcome us and explain a bit of the concept to us. Really liked the fact of being able to choose between the 2 universes: West Berlin VS East Berlin! After having a look at both rooms, since West Berlin didn’t look that exotic to us, we settled for East Berlin: the decoration is quite different –you can even expect to find bunk beds-​, though I admit I would have expected something even more special (come on, East Berlin guys!). I also found the place a bit too dark.
Loved the menu, especially the Germany cocktail map –didn’t really pay attention to the rest, however our neighbour’s currywurst looked pretty appealing!- which is really funny. Some cocktail mixes are pretty audacious, I chose the Angela Merkel which was really good –sweet, fruity– though it didn’t have anything really special, and it was a bit expensive –every cocktail is 20 dollars–
Not sure I would come back but it was nice trying it once anyway!

Been meaning to get here for ages on the words from friends who raved, and pleased to find Berlin Bar lives up to the hype. Yes, the theme is all a bit of a novelty, from having to press a buzzer to be welcomed in, to the introductory tour of the east/​west rooms, and it does feel as if you’ve stumbled into an immersive theatre experience (wouldn’t surprise me to find the bar-​staff are all also actors), but let’s face it — that’s probably why you’re here!
We got the cocktail of the month special — which came complete with a smoked glass to add a bit more theatre to the experience — and also a boiler-​maker of spiced rum and accompanying German beer (of course). Overall the drinks menu looks carefully cultivated to the point where I very much doubt you can go wrong with your selection.
You wouldn’t go every week as the novelty would surely fade, but it’s a fantastic spot to take friends and out-​of-​towners to show off one of the very cool bars we are lucky enough to have here.

Incredible atmosphere and delish cocktails. The menus are fantastic and I love map tracking myself to another brilliant cocktail. My favourite the Angela Merkel. The staff are very attentive and friendly. Will be back

Heard about this place on some website about hidden Melbourne bars and with my emphatic love for Berlin, myself and a couple of friends thought to give it a try. If you’re not paying attention it’s easy to miss the place hidden somewhere in the laneways of Chinatown. One there, go up a couole of flights, ring the buzzer and wait.
Bar another pair we were the only ones in the bar but that was okay for a Sunday night I guess. The bar is different. Torn between two worlds it is split ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ drawing inspiration from the divide between East and West Germany. Décor is fsscinating with bizarre artworks and signs. We chose to sit in the East German section which had a black and white German film playing on the projector on one of the walls (no sound) and a very sort of grungy East Berlin vibe. The lady serving us was nice and the cocktails were yummy! We even had the bartender impress us with his fire skills while making what I can only assume was a Blazer.
Would I come back here? Yes, but hopefully next time it’ll be abit busier on perhaps a Friday or Saturday night.

We made it to Berlin!
I had heard about this place numerous times through a friend, and expected way more than what was actually there. Maybe I should be blaming my friend who described it to me…
Pros: One side is pretty posh, the other is supposedly more «raggedy.» I did like that you wait to get in, after ringing a doorbell and that everyone is guaranteed to get a table with seats. It’s right one floor up from House of Maximon.
Cons: Because you are seated to a table, that can make some people feel obligated to get a drink even if you were here just to have a look around the bar. All cocktails are 20+ and every beer there is a German wheat beer. Also, do not order chips here, you are just asking for a salt overload.

I have a soft spot for themed bars and helpful bartenders. So the Berlin Bar gets an A-​Ok in my book. We arrived later in the evening when the bartender had more time to chat and make recommendations. There is a decent selection of spirits behind the bar, but there is no full menu available anywhere and apparently the list online is outdated. The menu available at the tables steers people to the higher priced drinks: $ 20 cocktails and $ 13+ beer. The guys behind the bar took a little time to chat about some of the liquors that were available and make some spirits suggestions. So I ended up ordering a cactus vodka drink.
The East and West Berlin theme is amusing. The bar is divided into two sections with a posh West side featuring comfy seating and the East side with large wood tables, exposed light fixtures, and bunk-​bed. Guess who insisted on bunk-​bed photos at the end of the night…
While pricey, I’d have no qualms about returning the Berlin Bar for a drink.

I love a themed bar, there is so much opportunity for fun!
Berlin Bar started out well — down a dark lane way and having to ring a door bell to gain admittance, all add the the occasion. The bar was much smaller than I was expecting, but I didn’t think that was a problem. The west looks like a fairly normal bar, it’s on the east that the theme comes into play. With bunk beds, bath tub and iron storage boxes as the décor you can take some funny photos and enjoy being somewhere slightly different.
The bar staff are friendly and knowledgeable, don’t be scared to order from the bar rather than the initial drinks menu you are given (it’s mainly cocktails @ $ 20 a pop). For me this bar is for a fun drink before moving on elsewhere, staying here all evening could prove pretty pricey.

Hmmm, to be flat out honest I didn’t even notice/​register the
so called apparent division of east and west. it’s all the same to me
well in the dimly lit surrounds anyway. I did notice the bunk beds.
Curious. Put beds in a place specifically designed for drinking and
alcohol. It would make for an amusing mix at least once a week
I’m sure. Didn’t really get to try many of the cocktails, they’re all
$ 19-​$ 20 I think. I’ve tried all of the beers on the list, so that was a miss.
The tequlia based cocktail, with blood in it’s theme was pretty good.
Upon ordering a «Daquri» a friend was informed, «we’re out of limes
so here’s a margarita instead» Uh, what? anyway, the time spent here
has been enjoyable so far. The going into the prison styled door was
quite cool for the first time, and once there, it doesn’t prove that hard
to find. No issues with the staff, they all seem fine, but I might need to
see this place in full light to get a better idea of it’s layout and design.

I had previously rated this place ³⁄₅ but am now giving ¹⁄₅ and would give it «0» if I could. I have never felt unwelcome in a bar in Melbourne but the attitude of the staff here and the service were galling.
The frustration of this experience was so high that I, and I have never done this before, actively discourage people from giving this place their custom. If I was the owner of this venue I would be embarrassed to have THE worst staff of any bar in Melbourne, full stop. It’s a shame because the space is actually quite neat.
So…
1) My friend and I enter and let them know that we have a party of 8 — we are told that this it is «not acceptable» to have that many people… a quick glance around the bar… it is empty.
2) We ask if we can be seated at a larger table (remember the bar is empty) — no you can only have the two seated table.
3) We ask if we can go to the ‘East’ side — no it’s not open yet. Literally, literally five minutes later two other people walk in and are taken to the ‘East’ side.
4) We get the cocktail menu — no prices
5) Some of our friends arrive — 10 minutes after us… they are not allowed to sit next to us, at the empty table, but are taken to the ‘East’ side.
6) We get up to move to be next to them — the actual quote — «You should inform me before you start playing games»…right…despite us telling you that we were waiting for people before we waked in and asking to be seated at a larger table.
7) Now seated next to our friends two more walk in and are not allowed to enter because our party is too large (4 people at this stage). The bar is still basically empty at this stage. We ask if they can simply be seated at another table, rather than with us — nein! They are not allowed in — so if they had just said they weren’t with us, it would have been fine!
8) An average beer is $ 13!

Awesome themed Bar!
For those who havn’t made the long trek from Eurotrash to Berlin Bar (which is next door) you are missing out, after 3 flights of stairs and an exclusive entry styled door bell you find yourself entering in to West Berlin Circa 1945. Beautiful layout in this cosy bar. Take a quick right and you enter over the Berlin Wall into East Berlin with a strong Communist feel to it. Barbed wire, Bunk beds to sit on make this a must see.
Oh yeah and they served amazing cocktails as well!
I am glad to tick this one off the bucket list.

Will go back to the Love Parade drinks. Deliciousness in a glass with a heart lollipop to top it off. Read other reviews for décor details etc. I’m just in it for the Love Parade.

To be honest, I would have liked it if East Berlin was a bit more grungy, and both sides were a bit more packed. This place probably had its day, but that day seems to have passed. Worth a visit for a theme bar.
Drinks are good, if a little slow (on both sides). The roast duck, wattleseed and dandelion root brandy and pumkin chai were both unique and quite tasty.

You know what I love about Berlin Bar? They have totally re-​contextualized the Cold War. I mean, it was a horrible time to live in Germany. The Eastern Bloc, although perhaps more desirable in its politics, was a desolate, wasteland of a city. When you step into Berlin Bar, on the other hand, you only want to be in the Eastern Bloc. The Western Bloc is just a modern day bar — boring! We want bath tubs! We want bunkers! We want dirt, and grime and all things poor!
So what should you take away from this? Only go to the Eastern Bloc.
In other news, Berlin Bar was really helpful when I approached them as a potential site for birthday drinks. Unfortunately they weren’t able to secure a large enough space on a Saturday night but they were so nice about it, unlike many, many other top Melbourne bars. I won’t mention any names, that would be tacky.

Briefly looking at other Unilocalers’ reviews it is quite clear to see such a large discrepancy about their thoughts on Berlin Bar. I can see both sides of the coin and agree with both. The thing about places like Berlin Bar (and say The Attic above Black Pearl) is that they tread a very thin line between trying to be an exclusive place to drink and overstepping the mark to piss off their customers.
They should be more accommodating to their customers and also bear in mind how much it costs to frequent such places.
As for the concept and the drinks, I was really impressed with Berlin Bar. Anyone that loves the film Goodbye Lenin would probably love the concept too. Their cocktails are beautifully made and have the price tag to match.
I wouldn’t choose to come here regularly myself but friends in hospo love it.

A bit of a wank really. The bar is divided into two halves: East Berlin and West Berlin. The former is grungy with Army netting and graffiti. The latter is clean and classy. You get to choose which side you sit in. We chose East Berlin and were led to a table by a waiter who then brought us drink menus and poured us waters.
The cocktail list is also divided into East and West, with ‘Eastern’ names like Love Parade (vodka with vanilla, strawberry and apple) and Checkpoint Charlie (French brandy with berry and pepper). I just couldn’t do it, it seemed too naff. So I ordered a Lowenbrau which set me back over $ 10 for less than a pint. Nice. (That was sarcasm.) I even had to call the waiter over to order it.
I can see that it’s just trying to have a little fun, but in my opinion it’s all a bit tacky and well overpriced. It thinks it’s a high-​end bar when really it’s naff.

I cannot say that I’m a fan. At. All. Had a booking, and when I arrived just after the rest of my group (who was inside, drinking), I was told that I could not come inside. They were ‘full’. After about 15 minutes of waiting and trying, through my friends, to get let in, I made my way up the stairs and past the door buzzer.
…the only people there were my friends. With whom I booked my reservation. I’m sorry, wasn’t the bar ‘full’? Were the cocktails and bottle of champagne not enough spending? Or did we give you too much work to do that you didn’t want another person with another drink order?
The bar isn’t that cool, once you’re in. Oh, and the prices are high. Oh, and the service never got better than what I got when I was talking through the buzzer while I was waiting to get in…

My fellow reviewers have captured beautifully the theme of this bar. Ring the doorbell, be let in and sent to a table. It’s quite exciting, the cocktails seem bizarre but have clearly been created with both the theme and the taste experience in mind. Roast Duck IN a cocktail? Don’t mind if I do (and for the record, it was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before but delicious).
So I’ll talk about what it’s like to go to Berlin Bar. What it’s like to sit in a bar (especially on the East Side’s luxury) that is, essentially, glorifying and commodifying the aftermath of one of the worst events in the 20^th century. Yeah, it’s weird.
I think what confused my poor little brain the most was that I was very quickly sucked into the experience and felt that yes, I was in an exclusive but secret club, right down to the point where I didn’t want to look outside and see Berlin circa 1950 on the ground. Am I one of those «capitalist pigs»? Am I American? Am I German? Am I a spy? Who am I? What role is this? Should I be wearing red lipstick and looking sultry? Oh shut up, Jess, and drink your cocktail.
A very successful theme, albeit a little disturbing in its success.

Berlin Bar is a trendy cocktail bar that is separated into two very distinct parts. The first bar represents the lavish Capitalist East Berlin, and is the vision of decadence with plush velvet couches, a large Klimt mural and gold walls. The adjoining bar represents Communist East Berlin, and is decked out like a war bunker, with glass-​covered bathtubs for tables and war memorabilia all around. To access the bars, you have to ring a doorbell at the top of a dark flight of stairs, whereby you are transferred to your final destination (East or West) by a dapper German in a tux.
For a concept that could have easily fallen into silly, kitsch territory, Berlin Bar is actually a very successful exercise in style and atmosphere. This is helped by the fact that most of the immaculately dressed bar staff are actually German (or at least European) and speak with thick accents (a very nice touch).
The cocktails at Berlin Bar are really good. They’re not cheap, at around the $ 20 mark, but they’re definitely worth it. Make sure to try the Love Parade. Tastes insanely good, and has some serious kick to it!

When walking down Lonsdale Street, make a right onto Corrs Lane, a thin laneway that leads to Chinatown. Whilst it’s not a secret laneway, if you’re not careful, you’ll definitely miss it.
At the end of the laneway and on the left is an inconspicuous door that leads to a set of stairs. Walking up the stairs, you ask yourself, «Am I in the right place? Where is this Berlin Bar?!» At the top, you’ll find a closed door, a doorbell, and a sign that reads: «Welcome to Berlin. Have your passports and papers ready». You ring the doorbell and the slit in the door opens… you wait… and they finally let you in.
Inside, the bartender explains that Berlin Bar is split by the ‘Berlin Wall’ into West and East Berlin. West Berlin is decorated in decadence and luxury with leather seats and private tables whilst East Berlin looks like a Communist bunker with ammunition tables and socialist street art.
Once the adventure of finding Berlin Bar ends, you’ll have to decide which side is for you. Are you a West Sider craving a Caper Berry and Eucalyptus cocktail? Or are you an East Sider in need of a Checkpoint Charlie? You’ll find me in the East with a classic Charlie Chaplin. Cocktails are $ 19.