some weird homespun remedies Germans really use.
i shit you not – they actually work

1) snuffles: inhalation of salt and chamomile
bring 2 liters water to boil, mix with chamomile ( you can use teabags) and 3 spoons of salt – inhale. helps fighting runny noses
2) sore throat: cold pack
put a wet cloth around your throat, then wrap it with a scarf over night. your body will pump as much blood as possible to the cold region, i.e. your throat. satisfaction guaranteed
3) sore throat: gargling
depends on whether you like it salty or not. I usually gargle a salt solution. alternatively you can bring 500 ml to boil , add  2 spoons of sage and let it simmer for 15 minutes. this tincture tastes better than salt and helps too.
4) cough: onion syrup
cut up an onion in half, sprinkle with sugar and leave covered for 1h. „enjoy“ the juices that appear on the surface. they will not only soothe your cough but are rich in vitamin C.
5) all purpose: beer cure
my fav – it either helps or not, but you  tried at least. beer cure is common on bavaria, but so are marian apparitions….
6) chicken broth
boy, these chicken need to run quickly during flu season. a chicken broth is ubiquitous in winter. it is literally the WD-40 of flu remedies

enough voodoo.
there is also a pharmacy just round the corner from the hostel. ask for aspirin complex if you want to be fit within minutes.

also a way to use the U-bahn

there is much confusion about how to use our public transport. let me try to explain

tickets:
tickets are valid for 2 hours and must be validated (small box usually located next to the ticket machine). you can only go in one direction. for going back you need a new ticket, even if you still are within the 2 hours.
AB tickets cover all of the city. an ABC ticket is only needed if you want to leave town, i.e. if you want to go to schönefeld airport of potsdam
sort trip tickets are good for 3 stops on U & S and 6 on busses and trams
reduced tickets are for elderly, children or unemployed only.
best value is the day ticket – stamp it ONCE only. if you are staying longer than 5 days buy a week ticket – stamp that one also once only.

means of transportation:
no, there is no difference between U-bahn, S-bahn, busses or trams. tickets are valid for all of them. to companies run the network, the yellow one ( the good ) and the red one (the bad)
S&U usually rum at lest every 5 minutes, from 4am till midnight. N-busses run along underground lines when the underground has stopped.
M-lines: introduced a couple of years ago, confuse still most of the berliners. either trams or busses which operate 24/7 every 10 minutes. quite handy to get home.

what to do at night:
take the following lines to get home:
tram M10 – runs between friedrichshain and prenzlauer berg every 10 minutes. get off at eberswalderstrasse
bus N2 – night bus, operates almost the same route as the U2 every 30 minutes
tram M1 – runs from friedrichstrasse and mitte. get off at kastanienallee
bus N8 takes you from neukölln to hackescher markt, take the N2 from there

this journey planner is also pretty handy 

that’s all folks – if you have any further questions we are more than happy to help. come down to the reception

all rights reserved by Paramount pictures

before techno there was….singing. I KNOW!!!

in chronological order, some musical gems

1899 berliner luft
a well known paean of praise for the berlin air which makes everything splendid. obviously written before traffic jams. berliner luft is also the name for a refreshing mint liqueur.

1929 roter wedding
translates to red wedding – no connection with GOT! wedding was a communist district and so is the song. written in a time in which street fight between fascist and “reds”  were on a daily bases. watch the vid for some awesome pics of that time

no list is  finished without marlene dietrich

1954 Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
she is the original star of the golden 20ies. said fuck you to the nazis and their wish for some more propaganda. stayed true, made an international career  and died in paris. this song is about her never ending love for her home town. the title means ” i still have a suitcase in berlin. big up marlene!

1972 Rauch-Haus-Song
THE song about the vast squatting history in berlin. half of kreuzberg and schöneberg was squatted at that time. jolly times. there are better versions of this song, but the

1973 berlin
i don’t exactly know what lou reed was doing at that time here, but i assume the same david bowie was doing -….i was all so nice, it was paradise…
well, enjoy boys

1980 berlin
 boy, so many great songs emerged in the 80ies. this is my fav. nice NDW touch

no listing for the 90ies.  i have no idea what happened then i think i went to a party or sth.

2001 dickes b
translates as fat ( or rather phat) b, noting dubious here. a big berlin tune and an anthem for years.

2013 where are we now?
david. we still need to figure it out

enjoy my little list – see you at the reception

One of the most exciting exhibitions I’ve seen the past months is “Ryan Trecartin – Site Visit”,  the first solo show in Germany by the video artist Ryan Trecartin, in the “Kunst-Werke for contemporary art” in Berlin-Mitte.  Trecartin, born 1981 and based in Los Angeles, creates videos and installations, which alienate us on the first glance, but seem familar at the same time. He draws his contents, narratives and aesthetics from elements of Pop culture with protagonists, we think we know, but cuts, edits and shows us his images in such a fast, frenetic pace, that I felt uncomfortable, excited, amused and totally confused while watching. Video art is an art form, which might be hard to enjoy at the beginning, it is not as easy to receive as a good old Warhol painting or concrete art in general, but it invites the spectator to question their own perception towards a still relatively new art form and their expectations of what art is and can be. Ryan Trecartin’s video installation in the Kunst-Werke (the room is spectacular by the way!) absorbs you and leaves that feeling of wanting to explore much more of it.

© Ryan Trecartin, Andrea Rosen Gallery New York; Regen Projects Los Angeles; and Sprüth Magers Berlin London.

I have great sympathy for art which I don’t understand right away, which confuses me and makes me curious and let me think about it for weeks. If you are interested in that and in an artist, who the MoMa PS1 and “The New Yorker” celebrated as “the most consequential artist to have emerged since the 1980s”,  you found one of your activities for your Berlin visit.

For more information go to the website of the KW: http://www.kw-berlin.de/en/exhibitions/site_visit_432

open air cinema Berlin (c) Hansken

Yes, it is summertime, and therefore the perfect time to watch a movie outdoors!

Berlin knows a lot of nice and cool open air cinemas. We would like to introduce to you 5 of our favorite ones.
A top 5 of open air cinema´s in Berlin:

1. Freiluftkino kreuzberg

This open air cinema is known for it´s international flair, because most of the movies are being shown in their original language with English subtitles. It has 600 seats and the tickets cost 6,50€.
As an extra in case it gets cold they provide blankets.
Where? Mariannenplatz 2, U-Bahn stop Kottbusser Tor.

2. Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

this open air cinema is located in a really nice park, and is even within walking distance from your hostel in Berlin, the Volkspark am Friedrichshain. Surrounded by big trees you will find yourself enjoying some of the greatest films from last year, and you almost forget that you are in the big city of Berlin. For more information and to see which films are being shown klick here: freiluftkino friedrichshain

3.Freliluftkino Mitte

this is a very small open air cinema, which will show all time favorites in original language with subtitles. Tickets  cost 5€. There are 75 seats, and you can buy drinks and snacks. Also you can bring your own food and drinks.

4. Freiluftkino Hasenheide
Located in the park Hasenheide, far away from the busy city! Tickets cost 6,50 €. check the program to look for films with OmU, original language with subtitles. It is a little bit further away from the hostel, but definately worthwhile the journey through the city. The park has a lot more to offer beside the cinema. bring your pick nick box and make a day trip out of it.

5.Sommerkino Kulurforum Potsdamer Platz
go here to experience the big city feel, watch a movie and while your at it you can enjoy the view over the Potsdamer Platz.
Tickets cost 7€ and there is space for 1000 visitors. Check their program here:

If you need help to check whether the open air cinema shows movies in English or with English subtitles, don´t hesitate and come ask us at the reception for advice.
We wish you a great summer in Berlin!

Restaurants in Berlin

If you are in Berlin for the first time you surely want to try the typical German food. We have made you a list of places where you can go to to try some of the nice German dishes. For advice you can always come see us at the reception!

1. Schneeweisschen und Rosenrot

located really close to the EastSeven hostel you can just walk here after a day of sight seeing and fill your belly with high quality food!
They serve modern German food. What to expect? A fairytale-like atmosphere and the best service in town!
And: Eastseven guests can get a 10% discount, ask for  a coupon at the reception!

2. Chez Gino
One of my personal favorite in Kreuzberg, the cozy Chez Gino restaurant in the Wranglerstrasse. Kind of kitschy modern deco, nice ambient and really friendly service. Located in the vivid WranglerKiez which is really worth a visit if you are in Kreuzberg! there is a good night life here as well, so after dining go dancing!

They serve really nice Swabian food like Flammkuchen! Also as a big fan of Spätzle, I could really recommend their Käse-Spätzle (spätzle with cheese).

3. Weihenstephaner Berlin

this restaurant is located in the oldest building in Berlins central neighbourhood Mitte. The house was built in 1749! The place is famous for its authentic historical atmosphere, they serve Bavarian food and the service team is really friendly.
The restaurant is located at the hackescher markt, so easy to reach from our Hostel:  Neue Promenade 5, Am Hackeschen Markt. The Hackescher Markt is a popular tourist attraction, it is famous for the Hackesche Höfe ( Höfe means courtyards). These courtyards are accessible through Rosenthalerstrass 40

4. Cafe Restaurant Louis

Go here if you want to taste real traditional German-austrian food! They probably serve the biggest SCHNITZEL in town! So make sure you are really hungry when you go there!
Location: Richardplatz 5 (Berlin-Neukölln). Come ask us at the recpetion for directions and a map of public transport!

5. Schneeweiss
the interior is as white as snow!

Good service in general, high quality, honest food and very reasonably priced. It is a bit trendy, but that´s cool!

located in the Simplonstrasse in Berlin Friedrichshain, surrounded by nice bars and clubs, the perfect place to start into a long night.

6. Hofbrauhaus Berlin
The Hofbräu  is quite new in Berlin. They opened their doors in November 2011. You should go here if you are looking for true Bavarian spirit!
The staff is wearing the traditional Bavarian clothing, the girls wear DIRNDLS and the guys LEDERHOSEN. You should try the original Hofbräu Beers and their Bavarian specialties.
There is live music too, and located at Alexanderplatz, it is easy to reach from the EastSeven Hostel! It might get really crowded here, so make sure to reserve a table.
7. SpätzleExpress

if you like Spätzle, a type of egg noodle with a soft texture, this is  the place for you!  Big servings for little money!
Also a great option for vegetarian people, just take the käse spätzle, spätzle with cheese.

8. Gugelhof
Kind of chic but not too expensive! This restaurant located on the famous Kollwitzplatz, in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, is a culinary oasis for food from  between the rivers Rhine, Moselle and Saar flourishes because the Alsatians like to eat well and due to external influences they are able to improve and to maintain their culinary level. Especially in summer the big terrace in front of the restaurant is nice to sit, but make sure to reserve in advance.

After eating here go to the Käthe Kollwitz Park for a walk (it is right next to the restaurant), and have a look at the statue of Käthe Kollwitz, the famous left wing anti-war artist.

9. Blutwurstmanufaktur
This is a traditional butcher, if you like meat and sausages go here to experience the true nature of the German meat  culture…. They do lunch too, traditional food, meat! For small prices! This place is famous for its traditional black pudding.

10. Zum SchusterJunge

Last but not least, our all time favorite German restaurant, located within walking distance from the EastSeven Berlin Hostel. Traditional German food in a nice environment!
This is the place to grab a quick bite, try the typical traditional German food, you will like it!

Enjoy your stay in Berlin!

Bikes for rent

I personally think that the best way to explore the city is by bike, especially during the summer!

Biking in Berlin is very common among locals and visitors. Car drivers are normally used to bikers, but you should always be careful and watch out!

On bigger roads there are bike lanes, if there is no bike lane just stay on the right part of the street. Sometimes biking in Berlin looks like pure anarchy, please obey the rules to avoid becoming a newspaper headline.

Here we have listed a top 3 of organized bike tours after that we have written down some personal recommendation from the hostel owner Jörg. You can rent bikes from the hostel!

The Top 3:

1. Berlin On Bike

very easy to reach from the EastSeven Hostel, located at the courtyard of an old brewery Kulturbrauerei, you´ll find the Berlin on Bike company.

They offer 6 different tours and therefore you will always find one tour that suits your interests. For instance you could try the Berlin Wall tour and learn more about Berlin´s recent past. Also they offer a Nightseeing tour, to experience the truly magical atmosphere Berlin offers at night!

Costs 14€ plus 5€ for the bike. tours last for about 3,5 hours.

2. Fat Tire Bike Tour

tours leave daily at 11am from Alexanderplatz. meeting point is in fornt of the main entrance of the TV tower.

Costs are 22€ including the bike.

You can choose from different kinds of tours, depending on what you want to see and learn about Berlin. Beside the main sights you can also take a bike tour through Potsdam and the Sanssouci castle. Or take a tour that will take you to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.

They also have e-bikes for rent.

3.  Berlin Bike Tours

tours leave daily at 10am and 3pm. Meeting point is Bornholmer Str. 75. Make sure to be there 20 minutes in advance so that the tour can leave on time.

they offer 3 differend tours. The Wall Tour, Berlin Mitte Tour and Berlin Potpourri. A lot of hostiroy and unique sights are involved! You won´t be disappointed! Prices vary from 21€ to 24€.

To get help on how to get there just come ask us at the reception!

Sachsenhausen Memorial

Some insider tips and recommendations from Jörg, the hostel owner and also  a passionate cyclist!

Wherever you want to go you can try to get an idea on bbbike.de
To bike along the former wall MauerRadWeg
A daytrip (40 km) can be this tour to the Sachsenhausen KZ Museum Sachsenhausen Memorial one way by bike Berlin-Copenhagen on bike  and one way with S-Bahn
Or you go all the way to Potsdam to see the Sanssouci Castle
Also in Summertime we recommend to go swimming in a lake like Weissensee or Krumme Lanke or Plötzensee or further out to Liepnitzsee.

Coming to Berlin and still looking for a place to stay, you are more than welcome to book a room at our Hostel in Berlin,  EastSeven Berlin Hostel!

Berlin outdoors

Berlin doesn´t need to be expensive, you can save money and still enjoy sight seeing and hanging out. So why spend money on a fancy club or bar when you can just buy yourself a beer at any SPÄTI in Berlin and choose a spot from the list below to drink your beer and enjoy the real Berlin life!

1.    Freakshow at  Mauerpark

walk down the Schwedter Straße and then you will get there quite easily and fast. Here you can find yourself a nice spot on top of the hill. Watch the young, and older, crowd, from punks to yuppies, it is a peoples park. On the hill there are also a couple of nice swings you should try.

On sundays there is a fleamarket going on and it gets really crowded in the park!

2.    Watch naked people at Tiergarten park

Tiergarten is with his 520 acres Berlins biggest inner-city park. Located very central it is easy to reach by public transport or by bike. I would even recommend to go there on your bikes, because it is so big, it is almost like a forest! At the southwest of the park you can find the Berlin ZOO, which is also worth a visit!

Enjoy strolling around the park but watch out for the naked people, mostly men, sunbathing on one of the many loans. They are not dangerous, but they might scare you anyways! Find a spot underneath one of the many big trees the park has, lean back and relax!
3. Watch sporty people at Volkspark Friedrichshain
Drink your cold beer and watch other people sport at the sport-park Friedrichshain. Here there are many possibilities for recreation. There is a pit with sand where you can play beach volleyball, there is a selection of rocks you can climb on, and of course you can do any typical park sport from jogging to playing soccer.

4. Hasenheide park in Neukölln

Drug dealers and other scum are walking through the park day and night.  have a seat and watch what is going on! Better than watching TV!

Beside that, the park is really fine….there is an open air cinema, there are a couple of playgrounds, there is a vivarium and you can pick-nick there.

Easy to reach by public transport, just ask us at the reception if you need help with getting there!

5. Admiralsbrücke
On this bridge people get together in summer, during the evening to hang out, chat and drink a beer!

It is located in Berlins lively neighborhood kreuzberg, close by the U-bahnstop Kottbuser Tor.

As with all public space, please respect the neigbours and don´t make to much noise and equally important: clean up after yourselves!

Take care and have a blast exploring Berlin on a budget! If you are still looking for a bed in Berlin, just contact us!

Badeschiff Berlin

We have listed some of the coolest places in Berlin to go for a swim! here is our personal top 5!

summer is definitely here in Berlin, and it is really quite hot and sunny at the moment. You could of course go for sightseeing and visit some of the museums in Berlin, but you could also go for a swim! Don´t know where to go, just read our blog or come ask us at the reception

1. Krumme Lanke
Located at Berlin Grünewald, this nice and clean swimming water and the perfect green surroundings almost makes you forget that you are in the exciting metrople Berlin. To get here you just take the u2 to wittenberg platz and catch the u3 from here. All in all it will take you about an hour to get there. But it is definitely worth it! don´t hesitate and just come ask us at the reception if you should need any help with how to get there!
2. Flugahfen See
This lake is located really close to the Tegel Airport, that is still an active airport although they will close it down somehwere in the future.

So at the moment, while swimming you can see the airplanes take off…really nice city feeling, and still the water is pure, you can even see the fishes swimming…
no fee!

3. Schwimmingpool Pankow
this fully equipped pool with 2 big slides, beach-sports area, diving platform and a comfy sunbathing area is the perfect choice to go to with kids. they won´t be bored, and there are loads of other kids to play with. While your kids play you can relax!
4€ entrance fee

4. Wannsee Beach complex
Together, the Wannsee Lake and the surrounding Grunewald and Düppel forests form one of the most popular recreational destinations in the southwest of Berlin. The Wannsee, which is actually a large bulge of the Havel River, offers a really wide variety of excursions and leisure trips to the Brandenburg countryside. The Berlin Stern- and Kreisschifffahrt boat tour service is located directly in front of the Wannsee S-Bahn station.

There is an 4€ entrance fee!

5. Das Badeschiff
This is the most extraordinary swimming pool in Berlin and one of the coolest meeting points in town. It is floating on the river spree! Further more it has a cool open air bar and a beach-like sunbathing area. Here it is all about looking and being looked at so make sure to be in shape and wear your nicest bikini/shorts!
Easy to reach from the hostel by public transport! have a look at the directions
5€ entrance Fee.

Enjoy the summer in Berlin! And stay tuned for more recommendations on what to see and do in our BLOG!

We love Berlin

Come to Berlin and enjoy the great Gay Nightlife!

In Berlin there are lots and lots of cool  and kinky gay bars, also many Berlin clubs are more gay than straight. To give you a small overview we made you a slection of some of the hottest places in town, to party and relax! Further information is also to be found on www.berlin-life.com. If you´re visiting Berlin you are more than welcome to stay in our cozy hostel in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg.

1.Berghain Club
You might have heard from this one already, it is known as the best club worldwide. This famous place is nothing for weak at hearts! In this former gigantic thermal power station you’ll find the hardest of Berlin’s hardcore, pushing squares ’till way past breakfast time.  On Saturdays the club is mainly visited by gays, not only because of the big number of darkrooms that are present in this huge building.

2. Monster Ronson´s Ichiban Karaoke Bar
You enjoy singing and you just loooooooove karaoke? Then go to the Monster Ronsons Karaoke bar. A cool thing here is that you can rent small booths, go there with your friends and sing your heart out! If you are a dare you can also use the big stage and feel like a star!
Warschauer Straße 34
Open Daily from 7pm

3. Tom´s Bar
this is the place if you are looking for successful cruising, that´s  exactly what Tom´s bar is famous for! The international crowd that visits Tom´s bar is constant in search of human contact, either in the bar upstairs or in the famous darkroom that is located in the basement. I just say go there and enjoy getting in touch with nice the mix of tourists and local gay party people that visit Tom´s bar!
Motzstrasse 19
daily from 7am
4. SO36: Cafe Fatal
Ballroom dancing in the famous club SO36, every Sunday! The people who come here is a mix of gay punks, Kreuzberger Lesbians and heterosexuals, there is an extremely nice atmosphere here.
There are also dancing lessons, so if you go here make sure to put on your dancing shoes.
Where? At Oranienstrasse 190 in Kreuzberg
5.Hafen
Hafen is a trendy and plushy bar and it is probably the most established gay club in the whole of Berlin. Located in the gay-triangle in Schöneberg it is always crowded here! It is a great place to start your night out in Berlin!

Motzstrasse 19

6. Bangaluu Dinner Club

a bed restaurant where you can dine like the ancient Greeks already did, while laying and relaxing!

divas, male dancers and strippers are regularly seen here! you will be entertained!

for more tips on gay bars & clubs in Berlin just ask us at the reception!