The Best Gay Clubs in Berlin: Ratings and Tips

For Revolver:

• Buy tickets early on the Revolver site
• Arrive early regardless of having a ticket, or it could be a hot-mess of a line

For Carneball Bizarre:

• Get there about an hour before opening as the line will wind around the corner and last for upwards of 4 hours or more if you get there even 30 minutes past opening. If you are one of the first, they are also less selective.

They can be hit or miss, but I have had times when I have been rejected there after waiting for 3 hours. As mentioned, arrive early and they are less selective. Furthermore, make sure you wear something kinky or at least bring something in your bag that you can show them at the entrance.

KitKat is a fetish club, so if you are not dressing the part, you will not be let in. A safe bet is to wear something like a harness, but feel free to make your costume individualistic as long as it abides by some sort of fetish.

And always break into smaller groups of maximum 2 when trying to get in.

This is not my favorite club for music. If you go on one of the bigger nights (Carneball Bizarre or Revolver), you will have 3-4 floors with varying hardcore-ness of techno (and sometimes house), but I haven't found the music experience to be the most memorable quality of this club.

As mentioned, Wednesday's Symbiotikka is generally much better, as music is more the focus.

This is an unparalleled atmosphere where all of your inhibitions will be released and everything will soon become normal. From the masturbating old man in the corner, to the good vibes around the swimming pool, to the BDSM shows in the basement fitted to look like a hospital, it is the epitome of an adult playground.

During peak periods in the night, the lines can be a bit long to get to the restroom, but definitely not as long as some other clubs (cough, cough Berghain). In terms of cleanliness, well you might need to lower your standards a bit for all the remaining entries.

With upstairs darkroom areas, to play beds scattered outside the dance floors, there are no shortage of places to explore...on top of that, whatever your preference for men is, they will likely be there at KitKat any night that you go. I am only knocking this down one star as there isn't really any private areas unless you are a filthy boy and do it in the aforementioned toilets.

I mark this one as one star because I once was in line and heard a girl behind me say she was waiting for 9 hours at that point. While this may have been an extenuating circumstance, considering this was right after COVID when clubs just started reopening, Berghain is just as famous for its atmosphere as it is for its lines.

This Instagram account is currently the most robust solution to figuring out how long the lines are before going 🤣:

Some tips:

• Okay, so cutting is unethical, and I hate to admit it, but all the regulars tend to do it. Nobody says anything to you because everybody in line is too afraid of standing out in front of the bouncer and not getting in. If you are one or two, just go for it and cut the line as much as you can 🙃.
• If you go to the sex club Lab on Saturday night, you can SOMETIMES ask for a bracelet as you are leaving, and then head into the Berghain guest list line (it hugs the building on the right). This also alleviates issues with being rejected -- this is the best little-known tip I think. This doesn't always work, but it is worth trying.
• Don't be too loud in line
• The left-hand line, which is generally much shorter, is for Lab and not Berghain. Be aware that unless it is Snax, these two clubs are not accessible to one another from the inside.

For Snax:

• There are no presale tickets, so just show up early and well before opening. If you don't, you could be waiting upwards of 3-4 hours, and since this generally falls in April and November, you will be freezing your exposed body parts off.

The bouncers are notoriously difficult. I've been rejected quite a few times before finally getting in. The main issue I encountered was being with 3 or more people, as they simply don't prefer larger groups.

While there is no official dress code for Berghain, the nightclub has a reputation for being a haven for techno-loving, all-black-wearing club-goers. Many people choose to dress in dark clothing as a nod to the club's underground, alternative vibe.

However, wearing black is not a requirement to gain admission to Berghain, and the club's notoriously strict door policy takes many factors into consideration beyond just clothing. Ultimately, it's more important to focus on embodying the club's ethos of openness, acceptance, and non-judgmental partying than on adhering to a specific dress code.

I will write some tips here, but I find that the algorithm for entrance is just far less predictable here, so take these with a grain of salt.

Tips for getting in:

• Put on a resting serious face
• Only go in groups of maximum 2 people; if you are alone, your chances are even higher. This means splitting up from your friends. If someone doesn't get in, hopefully they have a backup plan 🙈.
• Look like you are a seasoned raver—ideally wear black and/or dress stylishly. It helps to spend some time in Berlin observing the local style 🤣. Be individualistic, but don't make it look like you are trying too hard.
• Try to respond in German where you can (in my experience, they usually just ask "one (ein) or two (zwei)?" and respond accordingly 😁)

Here are some more tips for getting in, otherwise we will be here all day 😋.

Berghain and music go hand in hand, sporting both phenomenal acoustics and the world's best sound system. You will be forever changed by this musical experience.

In the downstairs floor, you will find very hard techno, while upstairs in Panorama Bar, you'll discover housey and disco vibes with an utterly good atmosphere. I thought I knew electronic music until I came to Berghain.

I hate to admit it, as I was always questioning the Berghain hype, but it is a truly unparalleled experience. When I went there for the first time, my clubbing experience changed forever. Particularly, I loved the vibe in Panorama Bar, which contained a mix of the most unique and attractive people I have ever seen, all dancing as one.

If you are in Berlin even once, you should try your luck just for the experience of the atmosphere. It has a relatively friendly staff once you are inside.

Literally some of the worst bathrooms ever. I remember waiting for 30 minutes before a worker cleared out the place saying it needed to be cleaned. You are better off planning accordingly 🤣.

Less of a focus than in KitKat—I consider KitKat to be the epitome of a fetish club—but I still rate this highly. You'll find some attractive people and a substantial darkroom.

You will also find little areas in various corners where you can explore.

Lab typically has shorter lines than Berghain, especially on regular Saturday/Sunday nights. You can usually get in within 15-45 minutes depending on the time of night. However, during Snax parties, lines can be substantial. On other nights of the week, there might not be a line at all.

The bouncers at Lab are generally more relaxed than at Berghain, as the venue is explicitly marketed toward gay men. They're efficient and professional, focused on capacity management rather than being overly selective. Dress code is minimal—comfort and sexiness are encouraged over formality.

We were once turned down there, however, because it was a sports night, and we happened to not have sneakers, so do be aware of the themes and make sure you go prepared.

Music is secondary at Lab. You'll find techno and house playing in the background, but it's not the focus. The soundscape is intentionally ambient to facilitate conversation and connection rather than intense dancing.

However, if having more of an emphasis on music is your thing (without sacrificing the sex), Lab.Dance will be your kind of jam.

This is where Lab truly excels. The atmosphere is unapologetically sexual, liberating, and non-judgmental. From dimly lit darkrooms to themed play areas, the entire venue is designed to encourage exploration and connection. It's intense, raw, and completely unlike traditional nightclubs.

Generally clean and well-maintained with reasonable wait times, especially compared to Berghain. On busier nights and during pride, however, you will be waiting longer.

This is literally the entire point of Lab. Multiple floors, themed rooms, darkrooms, and play spaces are designed specifically for sexual encounters. If you're looking for opportunities to connect with other men, this is the venue.

I give this one four stars as I have not experienced enormously long lines (maximum of 30 minutes), but I highly recommend going during the daytime (on a Saturday or Sunday) rather than nighttime, as sometimes I have come out of the club around midnight or later and the lines have grown exponentially.

The best time to go to Sisyphos Berlin depends on the night and the event. The club is open from Friday night through Monday morning, with different events and DJs each night. On weekends, the club is busiest from midnight to 6am, so it's a good idea to arrive early if you want to avoid long lines.

Getting into Sisyphos Berlin can be difficult, especially on busy nights when the club is at capacity. The club is known for its selective door policy, so it's important to arrive early and dress appropriately.

Sisyphos Berlin has a relaxed dress code, with most party-goers opting for comfortable and casual clothing. However, the club's alternative, underground vibe means that many guests choose to wear edgy or creative outfits. As mentioned, the club is more colorful than some other places, so you don't need to deck yourself out in black here.

That being said, bouncer-wise, it can be a bit scary still. I found the bouncer to be quite forward with the questions here, asking me for instance what my favorite dance floor was, even though I had never been there before (I was honest).

Again, if you go during the daytime and in small groups, it will be much easier to get in.

As someone who likes to DJ on the side, I get a lot of my inspiration from some sets done at Sisy. If you are really looking for a place with a good variety of music, this is it.

Again, my favorite for atmosphere. It is a maze with weirdness around every corner. It may not be as gay as the other choices above, but I feel like I can be myself there without any judgment. Furthermore, it is a great place to also meet people.

Very little waits and usually pretty clean!

I wouldn't go to Sisy for this, but I am sure it is possible. However, since it isn't really a fetish club, you won't see as many sexual acts flying around as you would in other clubs.