My local, Motif Wein, is more than its name suggests, housing – in addition to a funkadelic selection of natural wine – vinyl, concerts, and coffee in one candlelit premises. As well as retailing by the bottle, on any given day you’ll find a rotation of uncorked wines ready for generous tastings that give the Weserstraße space an almost speakeasy slant. A place for music as much as wine (try my favorite orange, the “drier than garlic” Vinyes Singulars 2016 Macabeu), take the opportunity to peruse the LPs for sale in the back room and check in on the weekly program of intimate concerts — listed on Facebook. With each visit to the young location there’s something new – cheese, mezcal or the new daylight collaboration with Evie’s Beans. And for all these efforts, we must credit the man who makes Motif the place of good times that it is – perennially cheerful owner Oscar Bernal, who assures me all this activity is “only the beginning.” I’ll cheers to that.
Motif Wein, Weserstr.189, 12045 Berlin-Neukölln; map
Tue-Thu 13-21h, Fri-Sat 14-22h
Ruby Goss is a foodie writer and editor for publications like Saveur, Gather Journal and Suitcase Magazine. Originally from Melbourne, she’s been based in Berlin since 2014 and conveniently lives in Motif’s neighborhood, Neukölln.
