Just down the street from the Markthalle in Kreuzberg, Schwarze Traube (Black Grape) is the perfect retreat for those who can’t stand rifling through mile-long lists of mediocre drinks. Owner Atalay Aktas is a Berlin legend and one of Germany’s best mixologists; drinks are close to his heart and it shows. Upon entering “knock and smile” is the mantra, but be warned: if it’s too busy (or you’re remotely rude), you’ll be turned away.

There’s no need for menus here. Bartenders know their stuff and make a real effort to whip up whatever you’re in the mood for. You can either choose your base spirit, or just throw some adjectives in their face - they’ll take care of the rest. Slightly pretentious? Maybe. But who cares when the drinks are this epic and the service this good. Big up the Mango Sour if you’ve got a sweet tooth, or go for a Negroni or a Gimlet if you wanna keep it classic.
The decor is best described as baroque meets brick - trash-glam at its finest. Black wallpaper and golden picture frames all add to the 'connoisseur vibe' of the place. We strongly recommend taking a date to this dusky little cave of a bar, they’ll be impressed.