21 Best Bars in Germany

The elegant Victoria Bar is a stylish homage to the jet-setters of the 1960s and '70s, and the cocktails are mixed with care. It typically attracts a middle-age, affluent, and artsy crowd.

Located 168 meters (551 feet) above the city in the Rheinturm, Düsseldorf’s needle-shaped telecommunications tower, this snazzy bar offers excellent cocktails along with stunning panoramic views.

Around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus, Bar Centrale is a friendly Italian café by day, but come evening, it morphs into a dimly lit lounge, with cocktails (many with an Italian bent) served at cozy tables in the retro-looking interior. There's also a small, ever-changing menu of international dishes and a nice selection of Italian wines by the glass.

Choose from a long list of creative craft cocktails at this dimly lit late-night haunt which also features live jazz.

The only indication anything exists behind this bar's curtained facade is a glowing photograph of the head of Samuel Beckett in the window. Press the buzzer and if there’s space, you’ll be ushered into the dimly lit, gentlemen’s club-like surroundings. Settle into a leather armchair and choose from sophisticated cocktails like the Lusitanian or the Widow’s Kiss, all crafted with artisanal spirits. Or, try a classic martini—one of the best in town. Reservations are recommended.

Discreetly positioned on a quiet corner an easy meander down from the Reeperbahn is one of St Pauli's coziest cocktail bars. Inside, red leather stools flank an enormously well-stocked bar staffed by knowledgeable and friendly bartenders.

The nondescript exterior of this extraordinary bar in St. Pauli leaves much to the imagination, but its perpetually closed curtains hide a bar with a unique concept. Drip is famous for its speakeasy vibe and unique spirits, which are infused using cold brew drippers (hence the name). Easily one of Hamburg's best cocktail bars, it is popular with both locals and tourists. As a bonus, its location offers a great view of the harbor.

Everything glows golden at this aptly named bar and café within the Haus der Kunst. Among gilded wall paintings dating from 1937 and beneath a mod 1920s chandelier, hip locals sit on vintage furniture sipping classic cocktails with a modern twist.

Cushy leather seating, brick walls, and flickering candles lend a warm, clubby vibe to this trendy bar near the Pinakotheken (art museums) and the university. There's a long list of classic and signature cocktails.

Tucked inside the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, this sophisticated spot, outfitted with plush carpeting, leather seating, and an open fireplace, serves a wide range of sparkling wines, whiskeys, and cocktails. 

A Munich fixture since 1974, the nautical-style Pusser's Bar pours great cocktails and Irish-German black-and-tans (Guinness and strong German beer). Try the rum-based "Painkiller," a specialty of the house. Enjoy live piano music Wednesday to Saturday evenings in the downstairs piano bar. 

This bar is open from 9 pm Friday and Saturday. Roof access gives you the chance to sit under the stars in the highest bar of the region and watch ship lights twinkle on the sea.

On a popular corner of Weserstrasse, the TiER cocktail bar's lively crowd often spills out into the street. It's often crowded and large groups aren't admitted to keep a more intimate atmosphere inside, but if you do get past the door, you'll find a cozy inside with top-quality cocktails. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto the street.

Exotic cocktails are the specialty at the Polynesian-themed Trader Vic's, a smart cellar bar in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. Dating back to 1971, it is as popular among out-of-town visitors as it is with locals.

With its combination of exposed brickwork, soft lighting, and soothing, curvy shapes—not to mention a drinks menu that runs to more than 250 different drinks, shots, and cocktails—it's little wonder that this popular cocktail bar draws fashionable people of all ages.

At this sleek bar, fresh produce, herbs, and spices elevate cocktails to an art form.