Forget Barcelona and the riviera, you can get your beach time smack bang in central Berlin at these summertime hotspots.
Die Deutsche capital is known for many things – most notably its walls, its wurst, and its wunder bars. Sun and sand don’t feature highly on the list… But that doesn’t mean Berlin-based heat seekers need jet off abroad for a beach break.
In the sultry summer months the banks of the river Spree sprout with a host of man-made shores, pools and sehr cool pop-up sip spots, the best of which we’ve netted just for you. So grab your Pucci cossie and your floppy hat, schatz, it’s about to get sizzle.
Badeschiff
Fill an old cargo container with water, toss it in the river in an ex-industrial ‘burb, et voila – you’ve got a floating swimming pool slash beach bar that’s a bonafide fave of savvy locals and visitors alike. The 32m ‘bathing ship’ has been making waves since 2004 and continues to offer ace views of the Oberbaumbrücke. All-day Escobar is on hand for grilled goodies and craft drafts, then as the day ends, the party starts at beat buster Club Arena. And she’s fab in winter too, transforming into a cosy enclosed sauna n’ swimmer.
Badeschiff, ARENA Berlin Betriebs GmbH, Eichenstraße 4, Treptow, Berlin. +49 30 533 203 0, arena.berlin
Strandbar Mitte
One of the city’s oldest beach bars is still one of the best with a svelte stretch of pebbles, deck chairs and front-row views of Museumsinsel. The atmos is more prim than party with sunning and snacking by day, top drops and chilled tunes by night. Culture vultures can also check out the open air amphitheatre which hosts Shakespearean plays and classical concerts.
Strandbar Mitte, Monbijoustr 3, Mitte, Berlin, Tickethotline +49 30 2 888 66 999 strandbar-mitte.de
YAAM Beach
For kick-back Caribbean cool, look no further than Friedrichshain’s YAAM (Young and African Arts Market). Step through the graffiti’d garage door and settle into one of the shaded Spree-side seats for Jamaican brews and street-style staples like jerk chicken and black bean wraps. There’s a fab line up of activities from weekend flea markets, dance classes and poetry slams to late night DJ sets and hip hop concerts. Good for everyone from Prenzlauerberg parents to the Neukölln hip set. Yeah mon.
YAAM Beach, An de Schillingbrücke 3, Friedrichshain, Berlin. +49 30 615 1354, yaam.de
Deck5
How do you make sun and sand even better? Add sights! Perched atop Schönhauser Allee Arcaden (take the lifts to the top floor of the Parkhaus), this view-tiful aerie complete with palm trees and bamboo wrapped cocktail counter pairs cushy white day beds with passionfruit caipirinhas, wood-fire pizzas and perf panoramas. Oh-so deck-adent, indeed.
Deck5, 5/F, Schönhauser Allee 80, Prenzlauerberg, Berlin. +49 30 4172 8905, noon-midnight daily, freiluftrebellen.de
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