The Vinyl Countdown: Berlin’s Best Record Shops
A honeypot for artists, techno travellers and night owls of all stripes, Berlin is the ultimate capital of cool – and has the record shops to prove it. These are the ones to make tracks for.
11 April, 2022
Truth
be told, we’re tired of hearing young creatives shout
about vinyl being back. When did it ever leave? But, as record
sales across the world hit heights not seen since the early
Nineties, sourcing top-quality secondhand discs has become
increasingly difficult. If you, too, have worked your way through
every local fair within a 50km radius of home, perhaps it’s time to
take your musical curiosity a little further afield – starting with
the cultural powerhouse that is Berlin.
Home to a cutting-edge club scene and with a streetscape rich in
galleries, design-led boutiques and flamboyant flea markets, the
city has long captured the hearts of energetic,
free-spirited travellers. Ready to get lost in music? Here are five
Berlin record shops we recommend you put on your hit list.
On the record: the five best places to buy vinyl in Berlin
shopping
Bikini Waxx Records
Kreuzberg
Although Bikini Waxx Records has been open since 2013, it’s
still one of Berlin’s best-kept secrets. Initially an
appointment-only service, run out of founder Gerd Tammist’s living
room, the business has since moved into a bricks-and-mortar HQ in a
discreet courtyard, just a stone’s throw from Kreuzberg’s Skalitzer
Strasse. Look for the canary-yellow door, ring the doorbell, and
you’ll be ushered into a studio-sized room. With abstract posters
dotted across whitewashed walls and extra-large plants framing
wooden units, a visit here feels more like browsing someone’s
personal collection than rummaging through a revered collection of
dance music gems.
shopping
OYE Records
Prenzlauer Berg
Brought to us by fun-loving disco heads Delfonic and Tinko, OYE
Records has two bright and airy outposts in Berlin. The original –
our favourite – is located in Prenzlauer Berg. With a Moulin
Rouge-red facade, the shop is easy to spot, and pretty much
impossible to wander past without being drawn in. Step inside and
you’ll find a small staircase leading to a basement jam-packed with
the classics. While there’s an impressive range of genres to
browse, it’s OYE’s house selection that has made it one of the
city’s best-loved hunting spots. Based south of the river? Check
out its Kreuzköln branch.
shopping
33rpm
Kreuzberg
Proof that the best things do, in fact, come in small packages,
33rpm’s tiny set-up makes the hunt for authentic vinyl feel all the
more intimate and, ultimately, satisfying. Located in the stylish
Kreuzberg district, the store is housed in the cosy Mukkefukk
café, and stocks a diverse range of records taking in
everything from old Turkish melodies to punk. More than just a
place to come and satisfy your musical desires, the space is also
home to an in-house bookshop – perfect for those who want to ramp
up their reading list, too.
shopping
Hard Wax
Kreuzberg
A mecca for music-lovers since 1989, Hard Wax is what you’d
expect a proper record shop to look like – all exposed concrete
floors, walls jam-packed with album covers and a grey-brick
exterior. Despite its gritty aesthetic, the store has a serene
vibe, often being described as “the warmest, most inclusive record
shop on Earth”. With an ever-changing stock spanning everything
from old-school classics to contemporary chart-toppers, the shop is
loved among collectors from near and far.
shopping
HHV Store
Friedrichshain
Delivering the goods since 2002, HHV Store is home to some 80,00
titles. Covering everything from electronica to reggae and rock,
you’ll want to bring a tote bag or three with you. Sneaker head?
Even better. You’ll love the impressive selection of one-off kicks,
retro runs and sought-after design collaborations. Can’t get to
Berlin anytime soon? No problem. The small but mighty team has made
it their mission to ship worldwide.
