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DJ Mag Top100 Clubs
8
Berghain
2

Location: Berlin, Germany
Capacity: 1,500

berghain.de

Within the world of house and techno, very few clubs come with as much reverence as Berghain and Panorama Bar. Located between the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain in Berlin and open since 2004, the legend of Ostgut (Berghain’s predecessor) began in 1998 with a club derived from the male-only fetish party Snax, that still takes place twice a year in Berghain and the notorious Lab.Oratory located in the same building.

Berghain itself has become famed for line-ups exhibiting the most exciting emerging and established artists in techno; recent bookings include the likes of Rødhåd, DVS1, Dr. Rubinstein and Dasha Rush. Panorama Bar offers more house-centric bookings, for example Eris Drew b2b Octo Octa, Massimiliano Pagliara or Gerd Janson for a Sunday afternoon fix. Säule, the newest floor, opens on Thursdays and is dedicated to more experimental acts and an open-minded music policy.

It’s an institution that has inspired many other scenes, clubs and movements all around the world; residents such as Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann, Ryan Elliot, Nick Höppner, Steffi and Tama Sumo have become globally established artists in their own right.

The in-house record label Ostgut Ton, established in 2005, has not only defined the club’s sound, but outwardly that of Berlin for over a decade, releasing music by artists heavily associated with the club as well as being home to a well-respected mix series.

Another highly applauded aspect of Berghain is the extended set times; on average artists play between three-to-eight hours, with occasional happenings like a Ben Klock 12-hour marathon. It’s no wonder most DJs that have had the honour of playing there have a story or two to share.