Trying to find decent live music in Berlin is difficult because of the monopoly DJs and electronic music have on the city. One place that does a good job in spite of this is West Germany, run by the guys from Twisted Robot, who also do the booking for Festsaal Kreuzberg. You’re guaranteed smaller, intimate shows with bands who purposefully avoid the mainstream venues, with a lot of US bands stopping here on their European Tours (yeasayer, japanther, deerhunter, ariel pink etc.).

Now that White Trash has become one swarming pigsty of tourists, more tourists and American rockabillies, you have to go a little further afield to find a decent eatery and bar. Casolare by the canal in Kreuzberg is run by the italian punk mafia in Berlin, who also have restaurants in Mitte and Friedrichshain, and is perfect for hearty, authentic pizza and convivial drinking. You can sit outside with up to 20 people at one table, while enjoying live music from passing streetbands on Admiralsbrücke.