Ades Zabel's Best Tips for Kreuzberg 61
Actor and drag performer, Ades Zabel, is a staunch Kreuzberger. He particularly likes the western part of the district, called ‘Kreuzberg 61’ after the former postcode. In the district between Mehringdamm and Bergmannstraße, not only are there relaxed cafés and first-class restaurants side by side, but it is also home to many gay bars, gay saunas, and some queer cultural centres. Here he reveals which places you really should check out during your visit!
Maselli
The Maselli is a great little restaurant with southern Italian and in particular, Apulian cuisine. The modest menu offers a small selection of dishes, for example, a wonderfully prepared octopus. Like most of the other dishes, it is interpreted in an unusual but authentic way. In addition, there is friendly service, competent wine advice - and all this at a price you can afford.
Maselli
Nostitzstraße 49, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U Gneisenaustraße
Website of Maselli
BKA-Theater
The BKA Theatre is a bit like my home venue. I have been performing there since 1992. But when I'm not on stage, I also like to see what other people have come up with in terms of programming. The Golden Gmilfs, for example, are not to be missed! The drag queens, Jurassica Parka and Jade Pearl Baker, organise their own cabaret evenings here. Every now and then Ralf König drops by for a reading. In a nutshell: after 33 years, the BKA is one of the most important cabaret and theatre venues in the city, with a programme that is becoming increasingly queer.
BKA-Theater
Mehringdamm 34, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U Mehringdamm
Website of BKA Theater
Boiler Berlin
Sometimes when I perform at the BKA, I'm pleased to see the long queue of guests - only to realise that people are actually queuing for the Boiler. The Boiler is Berlin's most popular gay sauna, and it shares a passage with the BKA Theatre. It's not surprising that it's so popular. This is because the Boiler is quite simply a good gay sauna, it’s very well-maintained, and it has nice staff.
Boiler Berlin
Mehringdamm 34, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U Mehringdamm
Website of Boiler Berlin
Rauschgold
For the sake of simplicity, I would describe Rauschgold as a unique experience. You never know what to expect here. Sometimes it's very quiet, but then suddenly the mood soars and people dance on stage. Sally Morell, the most famous Rauschgold drag queen, likes to perform right on the counter. I remember one evening when she performed spectacularly well with burning rum and did push-ups between the bar shelf and the counter on the side. My God, you can experience really crazy things at Rauschgold!
Rauschgold
Mehringdamm 62, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U Mehringdamm
Website of Rauschgold
BarbieBar
The BarbieBar is more or less the quieter and cosier version of the Rauschgold. It's a good place to go with friends to have a pleasant evening. The music is not quite as loud and the atmosphere is more relaxed. Like Rauschgold, however, BarbieBar is a queer place visited by all kinds of people from the community.
BarbieBar
Mehringdamm 77, 10965 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U Mehringdamm oder U Platz der Luftbrücke
Website of BarbieBar
Further information
In addition, Ades Zabel also shows you his Kreuzberg 61 in a video. Take a look!
Kreuzberg is super diverse. DJ Ipek shows you a completely different corner, the one around Kottbusser Tor, in this video!
And this is how you get there: The Queer City Pass gives you a ticket for public transport - and on top of that a great discount with lots of partner companies!
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The Place2be.Berlin city map shows you interesting queer locations all over Berlin.
You can find a complete overview of all events for every single da on the event pages of SIEGESSÄULE, Berlin's famous queer city magazine.
