netlounge Berlin | about Berlin | hotels | scenes & zones | abc 

Mitte: around Rosenthaler Strasse "Mitte," the district located between the Fernsehturm (Television Tower) and the Brandenburger Tor, is the historical center of Berlin. The area is full of sites and buildings loaded with historical significance, just waiting to be discovered. And - Mitte has become the center of Berlin nightlife. Mitte, located in former East Berlin, is now one gigantic construction site; a labyrinth of closed-off streets and detours. In the many abandoned buildings, the ruins of the GDR, Berlin's sub-culture has found a place to settle down. Oranienburger and Rosenthaler Strasse have become the middle-point of the scene. At night, things begin to pick up here. There is still, however, a lot to see in Mitte during the day. If you are interested in seeing the city on foot, a good place to start is the Brandenburger Tor. This is where the Wall once stood, where memories are conjured up: images of crowds cheering and crying "Wahnsinn" (unbelievable) as the Wall fell that November night. Just a few steps away is the "Reichstag", among the most famous sights of Berlin. After reconstruction it once again houses the German parliament. Now there is a big transparent cupola with spires on top of the building - an ideal work out for tourists. Climbing up you can take a look at what still lies ahead of you ... The broad street which leads from the Brandenburger Tor eastwards towards the Fernsehturm is called "Unter den Linden." Under the Nazi regime, it served as the route for their evening military marches by torch-light. But before WW II, Unter den Linden was an elegant boulevard which intersected the once exclusive shopping street Friedrichstrasse. A French department store is now building on this tradition. At the heart of this multi-level glass construction designed by Jean Nouvel is an egg-shaped void which extends from the top floor to the bottom. A must-see for architecture fans. Not far from here are a lot more important historical sites - and one of the most beautiful squares of Berlin. Friedrichstrasse to the north leads you to Oranienburger Straße. At the western end of it is the Tacheles building. Once an abandoned factory, then later a refuge for squatters, today Tacheles has become a symbol for alternative culture providing rooms for ateliers, exhibitions, a cinema and café, and performances of all sorts. The inner courtyard of the building, designed by artists, is also quite an experience at night. From Tacheles, one can see the gleaming of the golden cupola of the Jewish Synagogue. After WW I, many eastern European Jews came to settle down in this part of Berlin, also known as the "Scheunenviertel". At the eastern end of Oranienburger Straße is another highlight in Mitte, the "Hackeschen Höfe" in Rosenthaler Strasse. This is a building complex from the 1920s, consisting of five separate inner courtyards, which has recently been restored to its original condition and now boasts a theater, cinema, galleries, cafés and the popular 'Chameleon'- cabaret. Hackeschen Höfe these days is THE place to go on Saturday nights - here is where it's on. The whole terrain in Mitte consists of clubs and bars. Whoever wants to seriously go out in Berlin, does so in Mitte. While bars are already full by 10:00 pm, things don't really start happening at the clubs until 1:00 am.

Cafés Café Aedes East located in Hackeschen Höfen, with impressive interiors Café Orange good place to meet, on Oranienburger Strasse Strandbad Mitte scene café tucked away in Auguststraße Zapata the café in Tacheles

Restaurants Brazil Brazilian dishes at the 'in'-restaurant in Mitte Skales excellent Greek restaurant renowned in the scene Bars Aktionsgalerie scene bar with off-art exhibitions Eschloraque small artists' bar close to Hacksche Höfe Hackbarth's one of the first in the East after the Wall came down Obst & Gemüse cool and casual place on Oranienburger Strasse Silberstein metal sculptures and modern music

Clubs Roter Salon small ballroom with colorful alternating attractions. Tresor a bank strong room, turned into a Techno-joint

netlounge Berlin | about Berlin | hotels | scenes & zones | abc