When people think of Berlin, they most likely think of darkness, of night crawling through the city’s famous, outlandish nightclubs. But in the view of Henrik Tidefjärd, Founder and Travel Designer of Berlinagenten and an expert in guiding guests through the city, especially on forays through that nightlife, the summer outdoors in Berlin is equally enticing.
“Berlin in summer is an electrifying destination that seamlessly combines vibrant culture, lively outdoor activities, crazy nightlife and rich history,” he says. “During the warmer months, the city transforms into a playground of fun and relaxation.”
One Of The Greenest Cities In Europe
The relaxation is evident in displays of locals stretched out in the various parks in this very green city, some bordering the Spree, the river that bisects it. There are 2500 parks and gardens overall with the central focus on Tiergarten, at 519 acres the largest, containing landscaped gardens, a boating lake, cafes and the Berlin Zoo. Others include the riverfront James-Simon- Park near Museum Island, nearby Monbijoupark with a swimming pool for children and the gem like Körnerpark in Neukölln with canals, a colorful flower garden and a gallery displaying prominent artists plus pockets of greenery throughout this sprawling city.
Open Air Culture
Other outdoor settings have a more cultural focus. Among them: The Kolonnaden Bar on the northern tip of Museum Island features free performances from Wednesday to Sunday weekly with each day featuring a different musical form from acoustic to jazz, opera and DJ sets. Outlandish theater productions take place in The Monbijou Theatre in Monbijoupark. From July 17-21, the Classic Open Air festival turns the Gendarmenmarkt, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, into a concert stage featuring jazz, pop, rock, opera and classical music with some performances accompanied by a light show or fireworks.
Berlin Introduction: History, Beer and International Cuisine
There are so many summer highlights that Tidefjärd recently turned a tour he does for friends visiting the city into an itinerary for VIP clients. It starts with lunch at Umami, a Vietnamese/Asian fusion restaurant based on family recipes that has several locations in the city including one that opened in June in the center next to Checkpoint Charlie. The former border between East and West is a launching point for other historic points and stories of the city’s Nazi and Soviet eras.
A beer stop is next at Markthalle Neun, the 19th century food hall that now houses a variety of food market stalls and cafes. Dinner follows at Le Petit Papillon, the summer terrace of the restaurant Maison Papillon, located below the tracks of the S-Bahn at Zoo Station in Charlottenburg. The restaurant is known throughout the year for creative menus and social A list guests’ dance parties; these continue in the summer terrace as well.
Cultural Activities That Could Only Take Place In Berlin
The next day is a pool day at Maaya, a new combination swimming pool and cultural complex spotlighting food, art and music from Africa and South America. In the evening, guests experience teledisko, a mini disco and photo booth located in a telephone booth, a uniquely Berlin invention, followed by a visit to R.A.W.-Gelaende, the former National Railway Repair Works that is now a cultural complex.
Dinner follows at the restaurant/club Pirates which has a pirate themed décor, a large terrace on the Spree, a menu ranging from seafood to pizza and a beach bar with sand. The scene shifts at midnight to the bar/club Klunkerkranich located on the roof of a parking garage in the edgy district of Neukölln with views over the city—and dance clubs in the floors inside.
Restaurants To Try; Floating Down The River
The remaining two days feature a mix of meals at, among others, the multicultural Manifesto Market in Potsdamer Platz and dinner on the roof of Soho House (other restaurant choices in town include the recently opened Jolie Bistrot with a mahogany lined interior and tables outdoors, the live fire grilling specialist Kramer Restaurant, a new hotspot Navi New Indian and the summer menu at the artsy, dark Verōnika Berlin within the Fotografiska Museum with cocktails following on the terrace of Bar Clara a floor up). Daytime clubbing at Berghain, still impossible to get into after 20 years, occurs in the famous club’s adjacent garden; chilling occurs in the pool of Arena Berlin situated directly in the river and later on a boat floating down that river.
Hotel Adlon Kempinski’s New Wellness Retreat
After exploring the town, chilling can continue for guests of the most famous hotel in town, Hotel Adlon Kempinski. The hotel is most famously known for its history-dating from 1907 and the residence of choice for visiting royals, heads of state and movie stars- and its location: adjacent to the iconic Brandenburg Gate. But following an eight month renovation unveiled last fall, the hotel now has a significant wellness retreat making it the place to rejuvenate as well. Within its 10,000 square foot lower level location are a new, black tiled swimming pool, whirlpool, extensive sauna area, experience showers with changing colors, sounds of nature and massaging rain flow and a 24 hour state of the art gym. For those who get hungry while hanging out there, there’s a new pool bar serving fresh fruit and vegetable juices, a Caesar salad and healthy bowl combinations. But since this is Berlin, also currywurst but with the Adlon touch of edible gold leaf.