Victoria's Berlin: The Ultimate Lesbian Guide
Victoria Rúe has lived in Berlin for more than seven years. This is her Berlin translated into “an all you can eat buffet”. She is bringing you the lesbian Bible on where and when to go out in perhaps the best queer city in the world.
WEEKLY BAR NIGHTS FOR LESBIANS
1. The legendary Tuesday night at Möbel Olfe
Every Tuesday at Möbel Olfe (outside area open until 10PM)
It cannot get better than this. Be prepared - you aren't gonna go home early, unless you need to walk your dog; in proper lesbian fashion. Berlin and its queer bars have this tendency to make FLINTA (the ‘L’ stands for ‘Lesbian’) nights once a week, in the week, rarely on the weekend. And yet, we can’t get enough. If you thought to go to the sauna that day- skip it. Möbel Olfe will get you covered. It’s sweaty, moody, the music is groovy, and most importantly - it’s PACKED with lesbians. ALL kinds of lesbians. I’ve had my fare share of long nights at Olfe. I used to never skip a Tuesday, religiously. I even got to have a Christmas hookup that lasted for three days. Lately I’ve been enjoying going rather with and for friends, as our weekly catch up. However, the reality is…I can almost never not blink an eye at someone I find attractive. I am still secretly waiting for the day I meet my wife there.
Victoria Rúe and her friend Lara at Silver Future.
2. Thursday or Saturday at Stück & their Pop-UP
Every Thursday at Stück (outside area open until flexible)
Every Saturday at Stück II Pop-Up at Pannierstraße 57 (outside area open until flexible)
When Tuesdays wouldn't be quite enough, I would go to Stück on Thursdays, an ‘all FLINTA Team’ cocktail bar in Kreuzberg. Or at their pop-up location on Saturdays. They have good quality cocktails and a more relaxed, sensual atmosphere. I would pick this spot for a first date. You might even meet some of Berlin’s lesbian Instagram stars there, you never know.
3. The new Lesbian Pop-Up Bar Les Biens
Every Friday Les Biens Bar at Stuttgarter Platz 7
Special mention for the Lipstick-Lesbians. And a plus if you’re into trendy music, femmes, and fashion. It’s worth to mention they also organise special club nights.
Interior from OXI Club.
QUEER BARS FOR ‘EVEY DAY DYKES’
Where you can go for (almost) any day of the week. Unfortunately, yet not surprisingly, Berlin doesn't have a single bar that is by definition a ‘Lesbian Bar’. It almost seems to be “controversial”. Out of starvation for safe(r) spaces, here are the following bars that I’ve found to have a large lesbian audience.
1. Silver Future
This queer bar has its own aura that just cannot be replicated. With a predominately dykey team, monthly flirt and themed nights, drag & talent shows, this is a place for every day. I’ve met incredible people here, discovered new talents, and even dated one of the bartenders. The ambience is colourful, glittery, sweet, and the lesbians love this place.I would recommend following their instagram & calendar. You cannot miss their ‘FLINTA Flirt Night’ with flying flirt notes around the bar.
Victoria Rue and her friend Lara at Möbel Olfe.
2. Begine
The one and only women’s only pub still standing in Berlin, founded in 1986 by female squatters, Begine is a cultural centre, a bar, and many times a place for panel talks and political discussions as well. If you’re the active & activist type, you cannot miss Begine - Frauenkneipe und Kultur. Follow their website for regular events and cultural, political activities.
3. K Fetisch
For a casual coffee or cake, to queer and monthly FLINTA, sometimes specifically dating or flirting events. K-Fetisch is another ‘all FLINTA Team’ place to be. A cafe by day and a cultural pub by night, with affordable prices and a local living room, you cannot miss the lesbian crowd that this place attracts.
4. OYA Kollektiv CaféKneipe
For good music, a sweet courtyard and friendly bartenders - OYA defines themselves as a queer-feminist bar/pub. They stand for political causes, women’s & queer rights, and have a great lesbian crowd.
Victoria Rúe.
5. Curly Bar
‘Everything but straight’, by their own definition, is a bit further away if you are in the Wedding neighbourhood. Curly is perfect for nice drinks, sweet weekly events, karaoke, dating, and etc. Rather relaxed & cozy, I would hang out here whenever I am around.
6. KWIA
A “queer-ish ambient listening bar” - is my last memory of being there. KWIA offers high quality cocktails and a unique, dreamy atmosphere. You have to take off your shoes as you enter, it has carpets and pillows everywhere and no chairs. I used to take one of my exes here for dates for their ‘Fuzzy’ evenings - “a semi-regular lesbian ambient night”.
7. B-Lage Pub
A leftist, rather political pub, with queer feminist monthly events. B-Lage had lesbian bartenders most of the times I’ve been there, and a casual, relaxed crowd. It is neighbourhood oriented and the drinks are affordable.
8. Cafe Luzia
Stylish queer cocktail bar & cafe. For a date, a relaxed and sophisticated meet up with friends Cafe Luzia has a queer team and a queer crowd. Always met some stylish lesbians there.
CLUBS & COLLECTIVES
1. OXI Club
This one gets personal. One of my best friends has been working here for some time, and since then, their team has been only getting more and more queer, if not fully queer. They showcase regular and almost weekly FLINTA Parties, which of many very lesbian friendly. If you keep an eye on their calendar, you might be surprised at what they have to offer. You wouldn’t think it at first, but OXI might be your go-to for a Club. They have a cocktail bar as well and a beautiful garden floor. And cherry on top, they have a dark room which is open on sex positive/centered parties. If it’s a FLINTA event, you can be sure it will be safe for lesbians to experiment and enjoy the dark room experience.
2. Queer Girls* Night @Wendel
A lesbian events collective. They organise very wholesome bar evenings and parties at Cafe Wendel, showcasing queer & female live acts and djs. It is a big space and attracts a rather young crowd. Sometimes Queer Girls* Night also gathers for picnics, open airs and other cute activities.
Interior from Girls Town.
3. Girls Town
This one was my very first lesbian party, where I stumbled upon my first ex who I lost contact with for three years. It is indeed, VERY lesbian. I was just starting to live openly with my sexuality and saw my ex, who was my first girl-kiss, dancing on stage. We made out the whole evening and are good friends since then. Girls Town is a lesbiancollctive, with a mostly ‘Pop Hits’ line-up, “cheesy” music and A LOT of queer women. It attracts a diverse and mixed crowd of all ages. They are based mainly in Berlin and frequently tour around Europe.
4. Puticlub
The best 'Queer LatinX Party' in Berlin, where you can fiercely shake your booty to tastefully mixed reggaeton, wear your mini skirt with no fear and experience a very warm and open crowd. It attracts a queer crowd of all genders, and overall a big lesbian audience, speaking from personal experience.
5. Schwuz
This club is definitely not as lesbian as many other places I’ve recommend, but it is worth keeping in your radar for their ‘Dykes* Gone Wild’ event. A monthly lesbian bar night, which starts with their Pepsi Boston Bar and offers free entry until 10 PM. Occasionally it is followed by a queer party which you can stay at for free, and on the 4th of October they are celebrating their 3 Years Anniversary’ with and own lesbian party.
*OTHER LESBIAN CENTERED COLLECTIVES & PARTIES TO KEEP AN EYE ON*
6. Lipservice
7. Maricas
8. MESS
9. Dykonic
10. Garage Girls
11. Radar
12. Fuzzy
Text and photos by Victoria Rúe. In real life, she has a different last name. If you would like to be my next guest blogger, please send me an email and pitch me your ideas.