Follow a dark alleyway at Hackescher Markt and weave in and out of hollowed-out S-Bahn arches until you reach the neon pink sign in front of Monbijou Park bearing Berlin nightlife’s latest buzzword: Flamingo.
Who’s inside? The retro-glam kids of the notorious Rio, Scala and Broken Hearts Club, all grown up into cocktail-sipping, smartphone-fumbling, serious Mitte chicsters. At this latest haunt of party bigwigs Conny Opper and Ingrid Junker Subon, skinny jeans will be hard-pressed to contain the beefy wallet needed for pricey drinks like the Big Salary Daiquiri, which goes for € 10.
In lounge areas spread out over three floors, civilised conversations in intimate groups slowly build to a semi-boisterous party atmosphere, as an erratic mix of minimal house and office Christmas party hits fills the front floor.
Golden palm tree lamp fixtures and sculptures, pitch black walls, skyscraper night-lights and even a stripper pole ironically hint at a Miami Vice episode set in a Las Vegas strip club. Those arriving before 11pm dodge the entrance fee and snag a bar stool.
