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Franciois X

 club circles - does it still live up to lore, or has it lost its stature in the 

? Despite the criticisms it draws, French techno DJ Francois X owes his sound to the iconic Berlin club. 

"My early relationship with Berghain resonated with what I had felt before, a dark, physical, hypnotic techno that carried something raw, something connected to the body," he writes. Meanwhile, his home city Paris also impacted his sound, making him evaluate what a club could be for people and how music transformed spaces. "...music became something lived, not thought. Sensation, not abstraction."

is a connection of those worlds, fusing in the influences of Francois' lifelong passion for the Black American club music of Detroit, Chicago, New York. Yet despite however far he travels, Berlin remains a home away from home, with Berghain holding an steadfast space in his heart. Below, he shares his guide to Berlin nightlife.  

Still the best club in the world for me. The space, the crowd, the frequency, it’s unique. I usually go when I’m playing or to support friends, and I always prefer the Sunday late afternoon into the night — it’s when the regulars take over. I don’t drink, so it’s banana juice at the bar for me just pure energy, no filter.

Not a club, but essential. Before going out, especially to Berghain, I always stop by Hard Wax. It’s the place to get grounded in the city’s sonic atmosphere. I go there to dig for records, absorb the energy, and connect with the deeper vibration of Berlin’s underground.

RSO represents a new chapter in Berlin nightlife. Raw and bold. I love playing there and the booth is great, and the energy is different. Sundays can be amazing, but don’t sleep on Saturdays either, just check the lineup. Always a place to discover fresh techno directions and hear new voices.

Before COVID, OHM was one of my go-to spots. Super intimate, very close to the artists, with a refined, almost classy vibe. I haven’t been in a while, but it used to be one of those places where the connection between sound, space, and people just made sense.

The Berlin Atonal at Kraftwerk is a super beautiful festival sitting right at the frontier between experimental music and contemporary art. I go there for the full experience installations, sound pieces, performances, exhibitions. It’s inspiring on every level and really expands the idea of what music culture can be.

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Is Berghain Still Berlin's Best Club? Francois X Thinks So

Nico Adomako

DJ, radio host, consultant, promoter and co-founder of the multi-disciplinary platform Einhundert, Nico Adomako is providing new and experimental club sounds from all around the world.

Nico is passionate about music, breaking the status quo and travel - something he explains as important if you want to “understand the world around you and find out who you really are.” For the best food, nights out plus more scroll down for Nico's guide to Berlin.

One of my favourite clubs in Berlin. A lot of good parties like Trade or Hyperaktivist's night are happening here. Also, I just love dark venues where you can dance with your demons.

I used to do my Nico Adomako & Friends nights here. If you wanna check new Berlin DJs or crews, ACUD is where it's happening. If you find time you should go for a No Shade night.

My favourite Japanese spot, I used to go 3 times a week for one of their Bento boxes. The curry is really good as well.

Probably the only spot where they greet me by my name haha. Doyum is one of them places you come to Berlin for. Turkish food at its best. Go here for the lentil soup to cure your hangover.

Very warm and welcoming Jamaican fusion restaurant. I've had some great birthdays here.

Best burger in town in my opinion. Make sure to go to the OG one at Schlesisches Tor, directly under the tube station.

Sunday funday, a lot of nice pop up food spots but you can also get yourself a massage and stuff like that.

Our version of KFC with an Arab touch. Berlin culture basically.

Nico Adomako's Guide to Berlin

AGY3NA

While Berlin can easily serve in its winter outfits—cave-like raves, snowy park walks,  black faux-fur coats—in the summer, the city truly transcends. Think: terrace-side beers, riverside walks, and the unparalleled freedom of a techno fest under sunny skies. 

 is the ideal event for those looking to experience Berlin's robust music scene in full summer glory. Now in its third edition, the budding festival sprawls across four stages at the RSO, a former 19th century brewery converted into a spot for experimental and underground arts. 

Boasting a line up including Bae Blade, Clara Cuvé, DJ Fuckoff, I Hate Models, Logic1000, Octo Octa, Peggy Gou and Solumun, the festival guarantees sunny dance floor mayhem which won't only leave you wanting more, but may also make you feel... a little a bit hungry?

Thankfully, Home Again artist AGY3NA is on hand with his favourite foodie spots in the city. Originally from Nuremberg, he moved to Berlin where he discovered queer nightlife and pursued DJing. "Berlin has a gravity that pulls people in, not just because of music, but anything associated with artistic freedom and being able to express yourself," he says of the city. 

In his music, AGY3NA absorbs a multiverse of genres and spits them out into flawlessly cohesive mixes, touching on afrofuturism to acid. He cut his teeth in the city's renown musical institutions, with a show at the beloved 

 and Panorama Bar. While he has since moved to nearby Leipzig, he continues to visit Berlin constantly, always hitting up his favourite foodie spots during every visit. 

Below, he shares his favourite spots to fuel up before the club:

Really great brunch / breakfast spot, very cosy. I just love the eggs benedict. Sometimes it can get very packed, so not a spot to go with a lot of friends, but good to go with a partner.

Accessible and vegan with very good food in the heart of of Kreuzberg. It's spacious and does tapas, so to go with a group. There's normal tables and also spaces to sit on pillows on the floor, all very comfy. 

This is the hub of Refuge Worldwide, which is a community radio and a place that’s very close to my heart. When I used to have my show, I’d go to Oona and listen to live radio. It’s very nice, very soft and not stressful, even though there’s a lot happening in the background with the radio. 

This is a West African restaurant that serves the best jollof rice. Very casual, not chic or anything; it's basic but the flavours really speak for themselves.  I definitely think it’s authentic.

I used to live in Schöneberg. This was my go-to when I met with a lot of people. The focus is on the meat dishes, the dumplings are great—I would never go and order one thing, but I will always have Sichuan-style tofu dish that they do. 

Berghain

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