Berlin created shared experiences through music, laughter, dancing, and art since 1983. We were pleased to be part of Chicago's rich cultural history, proudly serving the LGBTQ community and friends for 4 decades.
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whaT they're saying
Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2021"
Best Gay Bar Best Venue To See Drag Best Dance Music Venue (Runner Up) 
USA Today 10Best
Best Dance Club in Chicago 2019 Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2019"
Best Drag Bar Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2019" Best Drag Bar Runner Up: Best Drag Venue Runner Up: Best Gay Bar Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2017" Best LGBTQ Dance Party: Femme's Room Runner Up: Best Dance Club Runner Up: Best Gay Bar Travel + Leisure 2017 Best Gay Bar/Club for the Alt Scene 3rd Annual Nightlife Awards 2016 Nightclub of the Year Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2014" Best Anything Goes Bar Runner Up: Best Gay Bar Chicago Tribune's "Was the tiny Gold Star Sardine Bar Chicago's greatest nightclub ever?" “...as they ticked off some of the nightclubs that they enjoy these days and nights, lively spots such as the Green Mill, Davenport’s, Andy’s, Jazz Showcase, Berlin … the list is encouragingly, even surprisingly, long." - Rick Kogan [Read More] CBS Chicago "Best Clubs For Pop Music In Chicago" Even if you’re not ripping up the expansive dance floor, Lakeview’s Berlin may be the best space in town for people watching, attracting a range of types from freaks and hetero hipsters to gay men and women (the Chicago stalwart commonly wins awards as both Best Gay Bar and Best Non Gay Bar). Heavy synth 80s, House Music spectacles, disco, New Wave, live acts, fun theme nights, plus reasonably priced, sturdy drinks insure Berlin’s success for decades to come. Chicagoist's "7 Best Nightclubs That Don't Suck" One of our picks for the best gay and lesbian bars in Chicago also makes this list for its eclectic DJ lineup and its welcome, accommodating vibe. Regardless of your sexual orientation, all are welcome on the dance floor, as has been the case for 30 years, and the scene picks up significantly here after midnight, when the 24-hour party people converge to dance until the morning light. —Chuck Sudo Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2013" Best Gay Bar Best LGBT Dance Party: Stardust Best Local Dance Promoter: Alinka (of Twirl!) Best Local DJ: Teen Witch (of Total Therapy) Best Subversive DJ Who Plays Top 40-pop: Teen Witch (Total Therapy) Best Anything Goes Bar: Berlin Runner Up Best Non Gay Bar: Berlin Best Party Promoter: Scott Cramer (of Stardust) Best Poster Gig Designer Runner Up: Matthew Scheer (Flyers) Best Nightlife Blogger: ASL Media (Photos) Time Out Chicago; Critics Pick, June 2013 "10 best dance club events this June" Cosmix: Pride Fest weekend kick-off With nothing more than a healthy bit of sweat-drenched dancing as his goal, DJ Greg Haus steps into the booth every Friday to mix it up with dance tunes of every flavor, giving hipsters, freaks and club kids alike something to get excited about. On Jun 21, Cosmix kicks off Pride weekend and Berlin's 30th anniversary celebrations in a big, bold way with "An Ode to Grace Jones and Keith Haring." Local club icon Jojo Baby will be on hand to put in some hard werk. It's going to be bananas, folks. Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2012" Winner: BEST GAY BAR, BEST NON-GAY BAR, BEST ANYTHING-GOES CLUB, BEST LGBT DANCE PARTY "Stardust" Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2011" Winner: BEST NONGAY GAY BAR First Runner Up: BEST GAY BAR; LGBT DANCE PARTY "Stardust", BEST DANCE CLUB Time Out Chicago, 2010 By no means is Berlin above blasting Madonna, but when it comes to the queer cutting edge, there’s no other bar in town that can top it. DJ Greg Haus, who has helmed Cosmix for more than a decade, leads the charge into 2011 with progressive dance styles and support from local electro lovers DAAN, who perform their synthy ’80s-ish pop live. OUT Magazine, August, 2009 If you want to get off the Boystown strip (which can start to feel inbred). Berlin is another local institution, known for its inclusive, neo-hippie vibe and a no-frills boxy dance floor designed for serious movement. Though the crowd can veer toward mixed on weekends, the thumpin disco music mostly draws Art Institute students and the bohos who love them. Time Out Chicago, 2009 Top 5 House Music Nights: Get Get Down at Berlin As this shindig at the always-adventurous Berlin is a newcomer, it's got a newer generation of house heads behind the decks. DJs Zebo and Popstatic’s goal is to showcase all that's great about house music, new and old. On a given night, you can hear cutting-edge dance-floor nuggets just released on Get Physical side-by-side with tried-and-true classics. Couple that with Berlin's colorful crowd and you've got a lively night on your hands. Time Out Chicago, 2009 Top 10 Clubs: This bi, curious and gay friendly establishment in Wrigleyville, bucks the traditional club culture prevailing these days and stays true to its roots as an eclectic alternative dance hub. It features everything from boompity Wednesday night house music extravaganza’s to drag shows and Industrial nights, offering up a little something for everyone. about.com A friendly dance club along Boystown's busy Belmont Avenue, Berlin has been a gay nightlife mainstay in Chicago for many years, its success due largely to its come-one-come-all vibe... It's a fun place early or late, and you can always count on interesting, dance-worthy music. It's just around the corner from Halsted Street and the many gay bars along there. © Andrew Collins. 10Best.com Top 10 Dance Clubs in Chicago... #2, Berlin "Rolling Stone" magazine named it "Best Dance Club" in Chicago for good reason... Video screens run "out there" reels that are put together by DJs. Music varies from new wave to house, and the third Sunday of the month is disco night. Not for the closed-minded; a mixed crowd prevails. Fodor's 2009 Berlin, a multicultural, pansexual dance club near the Belmont El station, has progressive electronic dance music and fun theme nights. CitySearch Practically anything goes at this flamboyant Lakeview dance club. The Scene: Long known as one of the city's premier gay bars, this hetero-friendly spot still pulls out all the stops, thanks to grinding beats and no-holds-barred dancing. Whether cutely coiffed, shirtless or dressed in all-out drag, guys here (and their female entourages) know how to get down and dirty, making the vivid '60s-meets-'70s decor--wood-paneled walls with bold polka-dot cutouts--a mere backdrop; dark exterior windows keep inside antics under wraps. The Draw: This is raciness at its best, particularly past midnight. Berlin is full of gay, gay-curious and gay-loving individuals... Rotating DJs regularly spin danceables from Fischerspooner, The Streets and Ladytron, but the vibe can vary greatly from night to night. For a dance club, drinks are surprisingly cheap and hefty. by Jennifer Olvera Time Out Chicago This freak-friendly dance destination in Lakeview built its reputation back in the mid-’80s with a mix of German new-wave music, art installations and [shows]... Goths and gays are extra welcome, but the scene here is made up of almost everyone. |