We’re certainly not the only Berlin fans out there, that much is clear. And we’re definitely not the only newsletter celebrating it either. New platforms keep appearing, each dedicated to a city that doesn’t always get everything right, but still manages quite a lot remarkably well. One such newsletter is Späti Stories. Taking its name from one of Berlin’s unofficial cultural institutions, the newsletter celebrates and perceives the city through its voices. The concept introduces Berliners from a wide range of backgrounds, collecting a polyphonic, democratic snapshot of the city along the way. Launched in October 2024 as a monthly newsletter featuring two portraits per issue, it now lands in inboxes twice a month, sometimes accompanied by a neighbourhood guide or essay. Each edition centres on one person and the moments, decisions, or detours that have shaped them. Previous guests include artists such as Charlie Casanova, DJs, cultural players from places like the Yorck Kinogruppe cinemas, and local legends such as Wolfgang Jäger, who has spent years volunteering to help immigrants navigate the Sisyphean task of German bureaucracy, and who also hosts karaoke nights. Another highlight: the conversation with filmmaker Karim Aïnouz. The guides are written by people who live and love their neighbourhoods, creating personal maps of a city in constant transformation. Starting in 2026, the project plans to include more editorial essays exploring questions of belonging, loneliness, and community, rooted in Berlin, but resonating far beyond it. Späti Stories was founded by Isabelle Bedê from Brazil and Luana Corujeira from Spain, who have long made Berlin their home. Both come from the world of digital storytelling — Isabelle with a background in journalism; Luana with experience in audio and photography. What connects them is the belief that real closeness only emerges when people truly listen to one another. See you at the Späti.
Text: Inga Krumme / Photos: Späti Stories
Späti Stories
@spaetistories
