Cole Point

One of the few places in town where gays, lesbians, heteros, transvestites, tourists and locals socialise together, Bierhimmel (Beer Heaven) on Kreuzberg’s bustling Oranien Strasse is quite unique. The bar has just been given a makeover which has seen the main room painted bright yellow and the legendary Backroom stripped of the fun fur and kitsch that has adorned it for more than a decade. Spacey furniture and luminous colours have been installed but there’s no change to the music, which still takes in everything from Nightmares on Wax to Barry White.