A paradise for natural wine lovers (and the soon to be converted) this cosy bar serves an impeccable “wild” wine list and a selection of delectable bar food with unaffected charm. Chat to staff about your likes and dislikes — they really know what they’re talking about. If you work up an appetite beyond finger food, hop over to Industry Standard (the restaurant owned by the same team) for some stellar dishes.

Located in the basement of a Kreuzberg building complex, the main area of this club is an old swimming pool complete with original tiles. In contrast to Ritter Butzke and Kater Blau, come here for hip hop and house. Besides the various dance floors, the Prince Charles boasts a spacious, light-filled courtyard to cool down with a refreshing drink.

Repurposed locations are Berlin’s speciality and this pharmacy-turned-café is a prime example. Antique wooden counters, cabinets and vials preserve the interior’s former charm while locally sourced ingredients combined in innovative plates have quickly made it a favourite. Ora seems to do everything right, from excellent coffee and breakfast through to dinner and superb cocktails. This place is the bistro equivalent of a siren’s song: a simple cappuccino on a Saturday morning is guaranteed to seduce you, and you’ll be sipping on fine liquor before you know it. Try the signature Penicillin – an homage to the building’s past.

In the heart of Berlin’s gallery district in Mitte, this no-frills bar hasn’t changed in 20 years, remaining one of the most laidback places in the city. It’s the ideal place to go for a beer before or post-dinner drinks.

From laidback corner joints to sophisticated lounges mixing high-end concoctions, Neukölln’s lively Weserstrasse teems with drinking options. Thelonious bar is a firm favourite – dark-wooden surfaces and hues of emerald green with copper touches give shape to a perfect nest for night owls. Classic cocktails come with a modern twist while a rotating seasonal menu is sure to have something that takes your fancy.

Located on a side street near the Volksbühne, this unpretentious bar has a cool vibe and is as laidback as the city itself. A failsafe option if you’re looking for a last-minute drinking den.

There are many hard to find bars in Berlin, but Buck & Breck should definitely be on the map of everyone who values a fine cocktail. Next to the front door of an unremarkable residential building in Mitte, a buzzer that simply reads “bar” is your golden ticket. Inside you’ll find a small, dark room with a bar table, 14 chairs and not much else. Not that anything else is needed; the space’s minimalism leaves plenty of room for the excellent drinks to take centre stage.

Don’t let the locked door intimidate you – just ring the bell and wait to be let inside. Here, one of the bar’s hosts will tell you about the day’s specials or ask what flavours and spirits you like. All this information will go straight to the world-class mixologist Atalay Aktas, who will then prepare something just right. Keep in mind that you might have to wait outside for a bit depending on how crowded it is.

For your mandatory German beer garden experience, head over to Prenzlauer Berg and its Prater Garten. Tucked away behind Kastanienallee with its numerous delis and restaurants, Prater Garten comes with 600 seats under chestnut trees and an extensive selection of locally brewed beers – with sausages to soak it up. Although it’s only open during the summer, the vibe is always relaxed and homely, making it the ideal place to chill out away from ever-crowded areas such as Kreuzberg.

Leave Berghain to the tourist ravers and head to the Spree-side location of Kater Blau. Named after a drunken cat (Germans associate “being blue” with being drunk) this institution on the local techno scene is open non-stop from Saturday through until Monday afternoon.

If you’re after some of the best techno in town and/or an alternative to the picky bouncers at Berghain, look no further than Ritter Butzke. Housed in a former factory in the heart of Kreuzberg, this club is far less touristy and what some of the most popular local DJs call home.