Watergate

Watergate is a riverside club on Falckensteinufer in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, built directly over the Spree with a dancefloor and window wall that looks out onto the water, and its terrace opens onto the river at sunrise. The crowd is a mix of house and techno fans, locals and international visitors, generally in their twenties and thirties, drawn by both the club's music policy and its distinctive water-level setting; there's no strict dress code, though club-appropriate attire fares best at the door. The main room plays house and techno, often with a more melodic, polished house sound than some of Berlin's harder techno venues, with sound and lighting design built around the LED-panelled dancefloor ceiling. The bar offers straightforward drinks -- beer, spirits, and simple cocktails -- with the emphasis on the music and setting over an elaborate drinks menu. The club runs Friday and Saturday nights, opening around midnight and continuing until morning, with the terrace becoming a major draw as dawn breaks over the river; weekend nights are consistently busy, and there is no weeknight programming. There is a cover charge in the €10-15 range, no reservations for general entry, and there's no bottle service in the main areas; the door is selective but generally considered more approachable than Berghain's, and arriving before midnight can improve the chances of a shorter wait.