Hipster Berlin

Berlin may as well be a hipster heaven, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite highlights of the most hipster city in Europe (or at least of the few I’ve been to).

First, a quick introduction…

Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood has an interesting history. But while history can be interesting, I’m a bit more fascinated by what’s happening NOW. It’s been said before and by others, but Berlin really feels like the place to be right now. Things are happening here. Art, culture, politics—Berlin feels like a true modern-day melting pot. An international city with big dreams and high hopes for the future. (Kind of like me, I suppose…) 

Kreuzberg has been a part of Berlin’s “alternative” culture for a while now. Long a hotspot for cheap housing, the neighborhood has attracted a generally younger demographic, especially since the fall of the Berlin wall. Hipsters, artists, bohemians, international tourists, immigrants and expats—Kreuzberg just may be the coolest, most hip part of Berlin.

Görlitzer Park is one of a few parks in Kreuzberg, but it’s definitely the one with the most character. Every summer afternoon you can find an assortment of people just hanging out here. (Just not too early, because hipsters like to sleep in late.) In evenings, there are sometimes spontaneous parties—people bring their music, and everyone gets to enjoy it. There’s a bar das edelweiss which has a pretty popular Friday-night jazz jam session. There’s the King of Bottles who happily comes by to take your empty bottles. There’s the guy who goes around selling samosas (€2.50 for 2 – not the greatest deal, but saves you the trouble of going far to find food). There’s a delicious roast-chicken stand just outside the park (Hühnerhaus – check out this guy rapping about it on YouTube) where you can get half a chicken with fries & mayo/ketchup for just €3.50.

A park where there is almost always free music, attractive hipsters, grass, samosa delivery service, cheap food & a bar? It’s got everything I never knew I needed in a park!

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