'''Neukolln''' is a borough of Berlin. It consists of four areas (Britz, Buckow, Rudow and Neukolln). Historically, Neukolln was a working-class district with a large number of migrants. Neukolln offers big contrasts between the poorer northern part and the more village looking south parts. Southern neighborhoods Britz, Buckow and Rudow became part of Berlin in the 1930s and kept its structure.

Get in

The U-Bahn line U7 is the backbone of Neukolln. All stations from Hermannplatz to Grenzallee are northern Neukolln. Between Parchimer Allee and the last station Rudow you will see smaller houses, apartment blocks and gardens.

See

Neukolln is known for its high immigrant population. To see their influence on Neukolln culture, get out at U-Bahnstation Hermannplatz and walk down Karl Marx Strasse south toward the next station, Rathaus Neukolln (town hall). On Sonnenallee, Karl Marx Strasse and Hermannstrasse you will find a lot of telephone shops at discount rates. Most windows of these shops reflect the nationality of the storekeepers.

Do

  • ''' Neukollner Oper''', [http://www.neukoellneroper.de]. Visit a play and be amazed by the creativity
  • ''' Britzer Garten''', [http://www.gruen-berlin.de/britz/index.php]. A 90 hectare garden and former national garden show place (1984); it's pedestrian only with big playgrounds for kids, very famous with children and seniors to watch the beautiful flora on weekends.
  • '''Stadtbad Neukolln''' Built from 1912-14 in Art Noveau style and carefully renovated in 1984 this swimming bath (actually two in one building) with Mosaics and domes everywhere is one of Berlin's most beautiful swimming pools. For architecture fans, it is a must.
  • '''Sonnenallee''' got famous through the [http://www.sonnenallee.de/ film] named after this street. During the cold war, the street was split in an Eastern and Western part. Today mainly migrants live here and changed the face of the street.
  • Ballhaus Rixdorf. ango Dancing. 0967 . 30/ 691 63 70. nfo@ballhaus-rixdorf.de. 30/ 692 38 21. ttp://www.ballhaus-rixdorf.de/. a 9:30PM to close. Tango dancing starts at 9:30PM on Saturdays. This place features an amazing atmosphere, impressive dancers, and full-out Tanguero and Tanguera dress.

    Buy

    The Gropiusstadt Passagen (U7 station Johannistaler Chaussee) is the biggest mall in Berlin and offers all kind of shops.

    There are additional malls in the whole district, such as the "Neukolln Arkaden" at the U7-Station "Rathaus Neukolln". They offer different shops, and a cinema known as "Karli", where also lots of turkish movies are played.

    Note that there are very many different kinds of especially food shops (such as asian, indish, african etc.), which you should glance through because they sell a wide variety of food for good prices.

    Furthermore to notice is, that Berlin itself is famous for its' so called "Spatis", describing kiosks who are open until about 2 or 3 pm (or the whole night) and offer everything from cigarettes over drinks and sweets, but also standard food, as milk, sugar, noodles or salt. So if you happen to notice you ran out of whatever a "Spati" is your address to get it ( they are more expensive than a regular shop, but still way cheaper than a gas station).

    Eat

  • Cafe Rix, Karl-Marx-Strase 141, 12043 Berlin, T: 030-686 90 20. Next to the Neukolln Opera house with international cuisine.
  • ''' Britzer Muhle''', Buckower Damm 130, 12349 Berlin, T: 030-604 10 05, [http://www.britzer-muehle.com/]. Classical German cuisine in an old wind mill.
  • Casa Montella - Best Italian restaurant in Rudow, Krokusstrase 80, 12357 Berlin, T:030-662 03 95.
  • '''Louis''', Richardplatz 5, 12055 Berlin - Austrian food, giant schnitzels and quality beer on tap
  • '''Gotterspeise''', Karl-Marx-Strase 131, 12043 Berlin
  • '''Tabibito''', Karl-Marx-Str. 56 , 12043 Berlin. Japanese restaurant, family-run, very friendly (sometimes you get a snack for free), since it's little, can be very crowded in the evenings.
  • '''Cafe Jacques''', Maybachufer 8, 12047 Berlin. Great French cuisine (especially the fish and the self-made noodles), nice service, very crowded though.
  • '''Kantina von Hugo''', Friedelstr 31 Tel 030 22432825. Small cozy Mediterranean mama-style home cooking situated near the Landwehrkanal. The menu is small but changes everyday. Friendly and not too expensive, very nice vines. Fresh pasta is a must.
  • Tang. arl-Marx-Str. 215. mins from S-Neukolln. 49-30-684 33 36. 1-23. udget. Authentic Hunan Chinese Food at rock bottom prices (under 7 ? for a very filling main course). Ignore the menu, ask for the specials. The sticky, spicy & heartwarming pork & aubergine dish is a must, sometimes rarities such as chicken feet are on offer.
  • Focacceria la Tarantella. 2047. annierstrasse 57. ear U7 / U8 Hermannplatz. Pizzeria serving fresh homemade Pizza and Pasta, starting a 4 ?, also offer changing 3-course menu.

    </eat>

    Drink

    Especially in the northern part of Neukolln (east of Kottbusser Damm, next to the Kreuzberg-border), a bar scene gets more and more established. However, in the rest of Neukolln are a few student-friendly bars. One is the punky "syndikat" on 56 Weisestrasse. Nearby Kreuzberg offers more variety.

  • '''Freies Neukoelln''', Pannierstr. 54 [http://www.freies-neukoelln.de/] The best beer in town and a very good kitchen. Open daily from 7 p.m.
  • '''Cafe Xenzi''', (Selchower Str. 31, [http://www.xenzi.de/]. A gay-friendly cafe known for its young crowd and great cakes.
  • '''Kulturverein Kinski''', Friedelstr. 28. Famous for late nights and cultural activities. Frequented by Neukolln film enthusiasts, and occasionally rare films are screened. A nice feature: if you want to organize an artistic event or plan to DJ, just go there and sign up in the list at the bar.
  • Sleep

    Because Neukolln is not really in the city center, most hotels are for coach tours or bigger groups. They are busiest on weekends. If you come with a group (at least 10 people) negotiate a discount.

  • ''' Estrel''', [http://www.estrel.de]. Self proclaimed biggest hotel and entertainment complex in Europe. 1,125 rooms, a convention center and Michael Jackson's father stayed here.
  • ''' Mercure Hotel Tempelhofe airport''', [http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/1894/fiche_hotel.shtml]. According to many people who stay here, one of the best conference hotels in Berlin.