Berlin

I have spent the majority of my adult life thus far traveling--on average Id say about 70%. In my line of work, you got to know the cities you were in--you had to. And here's the deal: you trade in some depth in your homebase relationships for a carousel of fascinating strangers you get to join as a guest
star right smack in the midst of their life in their country or city etc.

Think of Berlin as the brass ring on that carousel--its cheap and its trashy and dammit you love it because well deep down you're probably a little cheap and trashy yourself, and so are the hipsters and the drag queens and the finance bros who are dancing along with you because this is y'all's SONG! And so is the next and the one after that.

In this Instagram world built, scrubbed, and carefully manufactured to broadcast uncontroversial signifiers of The Good Life, damn if it doesn't feel amazing to be reminded of the real thing when you stumble upon it. And feeling no less loved and welcome in your jacket and tie than you feel towards all the others in that mix of a place is so awesome. If you're some douchey music snob try grooving on the good faith.

Berlin is hands down my favorite club on the face of this planet. Has been since my first visit 10 years ago. I pop by at least once every time I've been back in Chicago since.

I believe we Americans are headed for better days. That we're worthy of love and celebratIon just for doing our best to keep building that more perfect Union. I pray God will bless and keep this gem through these isolated, polarized times. Look y'all we're gonna need it. Who knew that, while Les Deux was setting the stage for performative partying, Berlin saved some space for us to get down IRL. X

How can you not love this place? Yeah, it's $10 to get in for the cover normally, but you're in such a safe space here and can totally be yourself. This is extremely close to where I live and I love that it's nearby.

I wanna hear more hip hop here, but overall I love that the crowd is diverse, people are friendly, and you can step up on the multiple platforms and shake your booty and no one will care. This place really welcomes all from what I saw, and it's convenient location right next to the Belmont L station makes it very easy to get to from many parts of Chicago.

I believe we got two drinks on a Saturday night ($10 card minimum btw) and it was $7 each. Not bad at all. It's also cool that the DJ has a little booth room that you can see into but still private. Idk, the vibes here are great. Haven't caught a drag show yet, but eventually I will.

Thank you for being here Berlin. Chicago needs more of this energy.

Been coming here for YEARS now, and it still has some of the best vibes in the city! The drag shows are always so fun and clever, and the queens have THE BEST energy. I've had a few too many Berlin bombs over the years, but will still always recommend them to my friends coming into town for the weekend. Bar wait lines are often long, and it can take a bit to get a drink in your hand, but the bartenders always make sure to be friendly once you manage to wiggle your way in.
Always crowded and loud, but absolutely worth it and a WILD time if that's what you're looking for!

Great place to join a bunch of friends and unwind from a long week of work. Amazing vibe and all around fun place!

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! Bible, I have never been surrounded by so many rude, entitled staff before, especially in the hospitality industry. Stephen & the doorman in the hot pink beanie must take a few courses on communicating and interacting with patrons. They should not be working the door. They acted so entitled and so condescending.
We were visiting out of town, and my aunt and her wife wanted to check out Berlin. There was a line because somebody named Chi girl was having her after party there, and so I went up to the pink beanie guy and asked if we could tip him to skip the line and buy tickets inside; I was unaware that this was some cardinal sin, but he made sure to let me know I would be punished for even asking -- he even informed several other employees that I was trying to bribe him like does he not know how nightlife works? Then we waited in line because my aunts were persistent on attending this lame club, and we finally got to the front, and Steven/Stephen decided to let three or four people behind us go ahead of us. It was so ridiculous that I didn't understand the need to exclude anybody. This is supposed to be an all-inclusive club, and I have never been treated so poorly. I'm the first to acknowledge and respect rules and regulations. It wasn't like they were over capacity because they were allowing people without tickets behind us in line to prove a point and try and shame
Us for no reason. I highly recommend the Abbey or pump or strut. If you ever come to Southern California, I guarantee everyone will be happy to see you. Make sure you have the best time, and it will be 10 billion times more fabulous than this dirty little hole in the wall.

I refuse to pay a cover to get in here. For what?! Not live music. Not an event. The same playlist you'll find at any other bar in the neighborhood. I'm giving you cash for the privilege of buying drinks from you? Nah. Bought those drinks elsewhere.

We never made it in ! The doorman needs to go to New York or West La and learn from them ! He sucked !

Small cute nightclub with a grunge decor. It was packed when we entered around 11pm and was still packed when we left at 2am. It was Modonna night so they were playing Modonna music videos all night. Everybody in the club were huge fans n knew every word od the song. Mostly gay men attended since its a gay club but all was welcome.

The best part was the 2 mini stage that we were allowed to climb up on to or walk up the stairs behind it, which can dance on. For those not shy

Awesome alt vibe. Very fun. Different from boystown. Dancing good. Open late.......................

In winter, it's more like Brrrrrrrrrrr-lin. But then so is the capital of Germany.

Berlin is actually one of the coolest and most progressive, multi-cultural, liberal, and sexual cities in the world. But not a lot of people know that.

As for the Chicago nightclub, I have mixed feelings about Berlin. On the one hand it's a really great alternative club that reminds me a little bit of the Continental in Buffalo in the old days. On the other hand I didn't really like the music they played here, or that I got charged $7 to get in.

Some of the stuff that goes on right outside is pretty crazy such as people trying to sell you hard drugs. But the bouncer guy on the door is super cool. I got hit on by a few girls and guys, but the ones that I really wanted to make out with ignored me. Oh well. Maybe they wouldn't have tasted nice anyway. (Sour grapes).

It's not the cleanest club. There might be a few Germs in here. Or there might not be Many. Or Any. Get it. Germ Many. Germ Any. Nobody. No.