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BIODYNAMIC WINES IN THE SPRENGELKIEZ — BAR ELISABETH

BIODYNAMIC WINES IN THE SPRENGELKIEZ — BAR ELISABETH

I planned to pop into Bar Elisabeth, get a feel for the place, and have a glass of natural wine. Two and a half hours later, I’m still sitting at the bar chatting with Indigo, who works behind the bar. We eat lemon olives, taste our way through the wine selection, and laugh about wine lingo (ever heard of “glou-glou”?). Bar Elisabeth has been open in Sprengelkiez since December 2023. The name is a tribute to the former pizzeria St. Bess, which was located here until 2020 (Bess is Elisabeth’s nickname). Katie, originally from California but living in Berlin for ten years, and her partner Ole took on the “neighborhood bar” project together. As you enter, your gaze falls directly on the petrol-bathed bar counter, complemented by a floral mosaic wall. Stone walls are framed by shelves stacked with wines, while wood paneling and candles bring warmth to the three rooms, which accommodate around 35 people. A staircase leads to the lower, more intimate space: here too petrol dominates the look. There are small wooden tables and a sofa on which people probably sneak a kiss or two. The atmosphere is cozy on a quiet weeknight — Amaarae and Solange from Indigo’s playlist are playing in the background.

If I can’t decide on a wine, I always ask the bar team for their favorites. At Bar Elisabeth, this is not easy to answer, as the range is lovingly curated and hand-picked by Katie. Most of the biodynamic wines come from smaller distributors in and around Berlin. “Blonde by Nature” is just one of the wines I tried: a fruity orange wine from Burgenland that tastes like summer. Katie’s favorites at the moment are from Etienne and Claude Courtois (Les Cailloux du Paradis) — wonderfully complex and mineral at the same time — supplied by FYT from Prenzlauer Berg. If you’d rather drink alcohol-free, try the raspberry rosé Yamilé from Muri in Copenhagen. Even though I didn’t have the opportunity to end the evening outside this time (thanks April weather!), I’m already looking forward to the next time I pop into Sprengelstraße. P.S. The official terrace opening with music, bites and more is on 26.05.2024!

Text: Sophie Doering / Photos: Savannah van der Niet

Bar Elisabeth, Sprengelstr.41, 13353 Berlin–Wedding; map

@bar.elisabeth.berlin

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THE LOTTA DAILY BAR — HOMEMADE SPECIALTIES WITH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR EVERY TIME OF DAY
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THE LOTTA DAILY BAR — HOMEMADE SPECIALTIES WITH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR EVERY TIME OF DAY

Just behind Suarezstraße in Charlottenburg, known as the go-to destination for antique enthusiasts, Lotta Tagesbarreopened in spring 2024. Nestled in the basement of the Carlotta apartment building — a creation by Grüntuch Ernst Architekten, renowned for their transformation of the former women’s prison in Kantstraße into the Hotel Wilmina — the location is no coincidence. Both share a serene inner courtyard, enveloped by the old building’s ivy-clad walls. Within a light-filled, minimalist space, Lotta Tagesbar offers a haven where homemade specialties are crafted from regional ingredients, and guests are invited to linger throughout the day. Mornings commence with specialty coffees and indulgent brunch options: think grilled sourdough layered with pea mash, pickled and fermented vegetable delights, apple bread topped with orange cream, and fresh waffles with berries and crunchy buckwheat. All complemented by freshly squeezed fruit lemonades or their signature chai latte. On my visit, the “Croque Wilmina,” boasting homemade pastrami, Blomeyer’s cheese and kimchi sandwiched between grilled sourdough bread, immediately caught my attention.

Embracing the tradition of Italian day bars, Lotta caters not only to early risers but also to afternoon crowds with enticing aperitivos. Alongside the daily menu, a curated selection of wines, delectable cocktails and evening snacks awaits, featuring homemade vegetable pickles, cream cheese infused with chive oil, goat’s cheese paired with caramelized walnuts, and honey-salted nuts. On balmy summer evenings, Lotta offers a serene escape for early gatherings, tucked away amidst flowing courtyards and verdant foliage, yet centrally located within the city. For those infrequently visiting the West, Lotta Tagesbar beckons with offerings to bring home. Revering the regionality of its offerings, the bar collaborates closely with neighborhood suppliers, showcasing a range of selected products from nearby coffee roasters and Berlin producers, alongside their creations such as jams, granola and pickled vegetables.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Lotta, Pestalozzistr.55A, 10627 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map

@lotta.tagesbar

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GREEN DOOR BAR X BOTUCAL: THE ESPRESSO MARTINI GETS AN UPGRADE AT THE NEW YORK-STYLE BAR
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GREEN DOOR BAR X BOTUCAL: THE ESPRESSO MARTINI GETS AN UPGRADE AT THE NEW YORK-STYLE BAR

If you’re a stickler when it comes to cocktails, then you’ve come to the right place: Behind the green door. Here is where you’ll find people at work who feel the same way. Like Maria, who has been working in the upscale bar scene for ten years now and is currently the bar manager of Schöneberg’s Green Door Bar. As a trained product designer, she is passionate about the design of teapots and the right consistency of an espresso martini. Here, she enriches the bar’s cult classic using Botucal Rum with Nitrogen. You probably know Nitro Coffee, well the process has a similar effect on the Espresso Martini, its velvety texture is profoundly different from what other bars pour from the shaker. The nitrogen ensures the taste is even smoother without being too sweet. But nitrogen isn’t the only ingredient with a wow effect. Botucal Mantuano forms the rum base and Barley Shoshu is added, along with hazelnut spirit, maple syrup and coffee — cold brew, of course. The team at the Green Door Bar never stand still and are constantly experimenting to offer new specials. And it’s not just locals who are a fan — the bar has been around for almost thirty (!) years — international guests are regular visitors. Seasonality also plays a role and capturing the flavors that people are craving in the moment inspires the cocktail specials. At the moment, fruity spring flavors such as cherry and plum blossom are on the menu. So whether you’re looking for heralds of spring in a glass, want to wake up the weekend with an espresso martini, or simply want to talk shop about drinks with like-minded people: Behind the green door, you’re in the middle of Berlin and exactly the right place. 

Text: Maria Mayer / Photos: Savannah van der Niet

Green Door Bar, Winterfeldtstr.50, 10781 Berlin–Schöneberg; map

Please drink responsibly. Botucal is a registered trademark. ©2024 Diplomático Branding, Unipessoal LDA. All rights reserved.

@greendoorbar
@diplomaticorum.official

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NICE PIES, WINES AND VIBES — PIES TO-GO OR AS BAR SNACK AT WINE BAR NICE

NICE PIES, WINES AND VIBES — PIES TO-GO OR AS BAR SNACK AT WINE BAR NICE

Crispy shell, soft core — crust and filling join forces to create something truly special. Nowhere do pies better than Nice Pies. Nice Pies started their journey in May 2023 and I can’t imagine the pop-up scene without them: whether at The Rad, Pfefferberg Markthalle, or, currently, Kioski — since last summer, when I took my first bite of the Aussie Beef Pie, I’ve been hooked, so hooked I even venture from my neighborhood on weekends to get one. They’ve also settled down in permanent locations: You can find them on the menu at Passenger Coffee and Open House — the latter by no coincidence, as John Darcy, owner of Open House, is one of the “nice guys” and co-founder of Sincerely Coffee. You may know the second founder, Luc McGuiness, from the Kiez-Café Luc. He too is involved in the pie business. Nils Bernau, the third founder, handed over his smoothie store “Liquid Garden” to Luc — and with that, the circle is (almost) complete. But not without Jon Cox. Jon is the Head Chef and responsible for the incredibly delicious pie fillings. Whether savory with braised mushroom and truffle ragout, yellow Thai curry (both vegan) or braised minced beef with red wine and herbs, or sweet with marzipan-apple-cinnamon or hot cherry, or transformations like the Sausage Roll with regional sausage from the Sausage Man with crispy Szechuan chili, wrapped in puff pastry: the agony of choice is inevitable. At least one thing’s for sure: there’s no wrong decision. Since January 2024, the whole package has been available at the Nice wine bar on Arkonaplatz. “Nice Pies, Vibes and Wines” provide the basis for an exuberant, unpretentious evening.

With over twenty years of experience as a sommelier, Nils has put together a great wine list with over eighty natural and low-intervention wines, which can be glass-poured at the pure stainless steel bar, or brought over to you at your wooden table. And if you want to be central to the action, take a seat on the mustard-yellow couch in the middle of the room. Meet up for a glass of wine (or a beer) and a pie in a relaxed weeknight atmosphere or pop in on the weekend for a little stand-up party. You’ll have a good time here all week long. From the beginning of May 2024, the garden season will also open at Nice. During the day there will be a variation of pastries and cheese sandwiches and in the evening one or two classics from the cocktail menu will be introduced. The pies will of course be available at all times! Sit in the sun at lunchtime and feel like you’re in your own garden, round off the evening with a wine and pie at the bar or under the fairy lights. We can hardly wait.

Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Claudia Araujo, Marcus Mainz, Nice Pies

Nice, Kremmener Str.8, 10435 Berlin–Mitte; map

@nicepies.berlin
@nicenice.berlin

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WWW OF UPSCALE BAR CULTURE: WAX ON JOINS FORCES WITH WOODFORD RESERVE ON WESERSTRASSE
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WWW OF UPSCALE BAR CULTURE: WAX ON JOINS FORCES WITH WOODFORD RESERVE ON WESERSTRASSE

Bluish light beckons us into the narrow Wax On bar at the top end of Weserstraße. We find ourselves seats at the corner of the wide concrete bar. Here, the focus isn’t on an overwhelming array of drink options, but on a small, carefully-curated selection. The bar team is attentive and welcoming — engaging with us while executing each action with precision, and before we know it, our drinks are placed in front of us. They are our simple yet elegant companions for the evening as we transition from one conversation to the next. We opt for something light, with yuzu, mandarin and basil, a refreshing drink loaded with summer-evening nostalgia. For those yet to enter a summer mindset, there’s the bartender and co-owner Sam Orrock’s signature. “Rusty Nail” features bourbon from the distillery Woodford Reserve, and takes the drinker on a journey from strong grain and wood to sweet aromas, spices and fruity florals. Combined with ginger and honey, this is a classic Old Fashioned bourbon cocktail with an exciting twist. To accentuate the herbal notes, Sam adds a homemade clove infusion. In fact, an array of homemade infusions stored in small pipettes are infused into the cocktails for tantalizing flavor bombs. This creativity is on-brand for Wax On. The team regularly collaborates, experiments with new ingredients, and isn’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone. The result? Drinks you won’t find anywhere else. It’s no wonder Wax On was recently voted in the 50 best bars in the world.

Text: Maria Mayer / Photos: Sophie Doering

Wax On, Weserstr.208, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map

Please Drink Responsibly. Woodford Reserve is a registered trademark. ©2024 Brown-Forman Distillery, Inc. All rights reserved.

@waxonberlin
@woodfordreserve

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