Some places require you to sit, others ask you to move. Crazylegz does both. Neukölln-based Crazylegz is part skate café and part concept store. Opened in September 2025 by Mab and sisters Dana and Jida, the space moves between high-energy nostalgia and laidback neighborhood warmth. The idea grew from personal desire. For years, the founders felt Berlin was missing a space dedicated to roller skating culture. But rather than simply opening a shop, they wanted to build something more — a place where the community could gather, hang out, feel safe, and find inspiration through music, workshops, conversation, and people. The three founders bring different backgrounds to the project. Mab Cardoso, born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, comes from dance and choreography, and later brought roller skating into her artistic practice. Sisters Dana and Jida Haddad grew up in Amman, with Dana moving to Berlin to study architecture and Jida arriving to help open Crazylegz, combining her passion for baking with the world of skating. Together, Crazylegz became a combination of everything they love: roller skating, music, dance, friends, cakes, and coffee. Tones of blue dominate the space, creating a relaxed atmosphere. This room, which the team calls the Loop Room, carries traces of its past life as the former Loophole venue, including the original ceiling. It invites you to sit, relax, and maybe have a bite or two.
We took the chance and had a bite. The tiramisu is light and creamy, not overly sweet. The lemon cake is bright and soft. But it doesn’t stop there. Savory dishes sit comfortably alongside sweet, from fresh tabouleh to cheesy toasties. The menu shifts between influences, blending Arabic, Brazilian, and other culinary traditions. It’s the kind of food that tastes like home, with a few stories folded in. Then step into the back room. Hot pink walls, rollerskates everywhere, new models stacked next to carefully sourced vintage pairs. Wheels, accessories, roller tools, beautiful retro apparel pieces from mayo!. There’s so much to look at that it’s impossible to get bored. The layout allows people to move freely through the rooms, whether on foot or on wheels, supported by modular furniture, a custom-built ramp, and floors designed for skating. A DJ booth anchors the room at the back, reinforcing that this isn’t just retail. It’s movement, music, and events. Mab often roller skates through the space, making the store feel fluid and experimental. But it’s also a place to try. Roller skating can feel intimidating at first. Walking in, holding a pair of skates in your hands, trying them on, asking questions — that already lowers the barrier. It makes the idea of rolling through the city feel possible. Crazylegz is a refuge for the community and a meeting point that regularly opens for events — from DJ sets to skate gatherings — giving roller skating culture in the city a physical home. What makes it so special is the contrast. Blue calm versus pink energy. Stillness and speed. You can come for a slice of lemon cake and leave thinking about roller skating through Berlin at sunset. It’s a space that invites you to slow down, look around, and then move differently when you step back outside.
Text: Stefania Basano / Photos: Ruby Watt
Crazylegz, Boddinstr.60, 12053 Berlin–Neukölln; map
@crazylegzberlin
