All About Watergate Berlin

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Berlin, Germany

Club / Indoor & Outdoor / XS – 200-500

City

Electronic

$$

Casual, International

Casual

Looking for an epic night out with a breathtaking view? Look no further than Watergate, the perfect destination to experience Berlin’s vibrant nightlife.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Berlin’s Spree River, Watergate nightclub stands in place of an old office building, between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. With its massive windows that provide a view to behold and a terrace for guests to bask in the beauty of their surroundings, it is no wonder why this establishment has been enthralling night owls since its opening back in 2002.

As the clock strikes midnight, the party is just beginning – carry on until morning as you witness a stunning sight of light reflecting over the Spree River.

Here is everything you need to know about Watergate Berlin.

Watergate’s venue is an office building

Steffan Hack, Ulrich Wombacher, Niklas Eichstädt, and Johannes Braun founded the nightclub in an office building on the banks of the Spree River.

The trio had been involved in the WMF club culture, which was taking over Berlin’s techno scene in the roaring 90s. 

The club used to mix reggae, hip-hop, and techno

When it first opened its doors, Watergate’s dominant beats were far from being what they are today.

Instead of bullet-hard techno, the clubbing mecca’s speakers were blasting a diverse music repertoire. 

Since the founders were involved in Hard:Edged – which fell in the DnB music spectrum – they decided to incorporate heavy bass and fast breakbeats into their new venue while also throwing some cutting-edge sounds into the mix.

Watergate primarily plays techno and house music

Over the years, the nightclub has established itself as one of Berlin’s go-to clubbing meccas for everything techno and house-infused. The rest is history – Watergate’s eclectic electronic sounds became synonymous with the club’s long and unapologetically wild nights.

Its selection of resident DJs pushed the club’s sound forward into becoming one of the most trendy hubs for house and techno beats. Some of the names that took over Watergate’s audio decks include relatively new faces like Jimi Jules, as well as formidable artists like ANNA, Sven Vath and Boo Williams.

Watergate isn’t as exclusive as Berghain – but you might not get in

While the nightclub’s door policy is nowhere near as fussy as other Berlin clubs – such as the infamous Berghain – organizers aren’t shy to show off their harshness when it comes to curating the size, vibe and look of Watergate’s crowd.

As stated in an interview, organizers want Watergate clubbers to feel comfortable around each other, regardless of where they’re from or what they look like.

In other words, their seemingly arbitrary door policy is not about looks – it’s all about echoing the Watergate vibe. That’s one thing clubbers can’t fake – usually decided at the door, before they’re let in or asked to step aside. 

During uber-crowded nights, a guaranteed shoo-in is something that belongs to a utopian universe. Spoiler – you’re likely to get turned away, although you spent half of your life (yes, all three hours of it) queuing up. 

The nightclub has a small capacity for a venue of its hype

Watergate has a rather modest capacity – especially compared to other clubs of its popularity and fame.

The club’s capacity sits at around 700 clubbers, which is quite a small number when Berghain can hold up 1,500 techno devotees and London’s Fabric features a capacity of 1,600. 

The clubbing destination spans across two floors. The first is the ground floor – also dubbed as the Waterfloor – which provides access to the jaw-dropping balcony.

Featuring a jaw-dropping LED installation flooding the tunnel-like dancefloor, the Mainfloor area is where your party animal gets unleashed in delicious techno beats. Thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, your Watergate clubbing session will make you feel like you’re walking on water – literally. 

Watergate stays open until noon the following day

You can see the sunrise from Watergate’s balcony

One of the many perks of the club’s location is that it boasts panoramic views of the impressive Spree River.

And with the nightclub’s extended opening hours, guests who are the lucky possessors of high party stamina can witness a jaw-dropping sunrise view.

Entry tickets are on the pricey side

Watergate’s soaring popularity and Kreuzberg’s blue-blooded techno hub status call for one thing – pricey clubbing tickets. 

Prices for entry tickets start at around €20 at the door. Think you might get them for cheaper online? Think again.

Watergate doesn’t seem to be a fan of pre-sale tickets and guest lists. The club’s mantra is first come, first served. 

When the weather gets warm, Watergate takes over beaches

Resident DJs, as well as masterfully-curated artist lists, take over the audio mixer on the sandy bankside, giving revelers a fresh setting to dance their heart out. 

During the summeresque clubbing period, the club hosts Watergate Fridays parties at the Sage beach, located on the banks of the Spree River.

Watergate launched its own record label

The famous Berlin nightclub has also launched a record label – Watergate Records. 

The label releases original mixes from a selection of DJs and musicians. Their compilations feature artists who are affiliated with the Watergate institute, like their Watergate 27 mix by HYENAH. 

Album releases include a recent LP by Belgian DJ and producer Biesmans, who worked on a dozen tracks during lockdown. The mixes on Trains, Planes and Automobiles are accompanied by videos of 80s pop culture moments, proving to be a massive audio-visual project. 

Now that you’re more familiar with Watergate, it’s time to experience Berlin’s iconic house and techno hub the right way – up close and personal.