Partying all the way from the Panorama Bar to the Photoautomat booth, independent imprint somethinksounds host legendary parties and attend only the best events. This is their underground, electronic guide to going hard in and around Berlin.
Skilled in the art of eclecticism, Berlin and London-based record label and collective somethinksounds love all of their artists equally. Specialising in digital media, art, music, design, journalism and moving image, Kazim Kazim Kazim and Andy Lemay are the directors and top dogs managing the factory of ideas. Here the hardcore electronic party emperor and Berlin local, Kazim, gives his uncensored advice on where to go to have a good time, from dusk till dawn in the partying capital of Europe.
I would start my perfect day in Berlin by waking up in The Michelberger Hotel having just spent the night in one of its luxurious rooms. The hotel is amazing, in fact, I live in Berlin and enjoy staying here every now and again. The best thing about this place has to be the breakfast. All you can eat, continental breakfast. The hotel itself is of course a great place to hang out, and a kind of magnet for the transient creative community passing through Berlin. The hotel’s creative team and directors do a great job of making anyone’s time spent at the hotel an unforgettable experience. Shouts to Tom, Nadine, Azar and the whole crew.
After a very long and over-filling breakfast, I would probably embrace the sunshine and take a walk from The Michelberger to Treptower Park Flohmarket. The walk is one of my favourite walks in Berlin. Up towards the Oberbaumbrucker bridge, then up again into Kruezberg’s Skalitzer Strasse and then all the way down past Club De Visionaere and co to the Flohmarkt.
Treptow’s Flohmarkt is quite possibly my favourite flohmarkt in Berlin, which is saying something for a city which has so much to offer in terms of flea markets. Walking in is kind of like stepping in to a time portal; there are items there which I am sure have been there for decades, and it is so disorganised, and over-flowing with junk – it’s amazing.
My next stop would have to be the place where I probably spend too much time, and even more money – Oye Records; my favourite record shop in Berlin. As everyone knows Berlin is full of great record shops, but there is one for me that steals the show. Oye is full of great music, but more importantly the staff are easily the most helpful record sellers around, not to mention great people and friends. This is the kind of record shop where you will 100% be surrounded by your favourite DJ’s and producers.
After Oye Records, I would need some food. Right now it would be a toss up between my favourite Italian Maedchenitaliener, a place so over-subscribed with locals, hipsters and foodies that if you are ten minutes late, the chances are your table will be gone and that’s it. The service can be questionable, but really the food is out of this world, and so well priced. Either that, or Mexican at Maria Bonita, which is just down the road from my house, and probably the place I eat at most. I think I can safely say it is the best Mexican in town, and easily my favourite quick food option.
In the evening, there are only a few places I really like spending time. In terms of bars I would have to choose Odessa Bar as it is my local, or Luzia in Kreuzberg which is run by the same guys who run Voo Store in Kreuzberg, which along with Akeef Store, are the two shops I probably spend most of my money in. After which, I would start getting into trouble at Salon Zur Wilde Renate, my favourite club to go to and party. Run by some great guys who are creating a real slice of magic. Their attention to detail is phenomenal, the sound system is great too, and if you are lucky, you may stumble across one of our label nights there!
Against my better judgement, I would probably end up going to Panorama Bar on the Sunday afternoon. There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about this club, so I won’t bother elaborating further, you must discover this place for yourself. Oh and the after-after-after party would most likely be in a Photoautomat booth. Where it always ends in tears.
Introduction: Milly McMahon
Text: Kazim Kazim Kazim
Images from top: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)/ Underground station/ Photoautomat / Kazim Kazim Kazim / The Michelberger Hotel / Oye Records
