#Glühwein in Berlin: Spiced drinks to go for that Christmas glow

Winter in Berlin hasn’t officially begun until you’ve sipped your first steaming mug of Glühwein. This year, sadly, we won’t be gathering at Christmas markets or getting inappropriately tipsy at work Christmas parties — but we will still have Glühwein.

After all, we’re going for more winter walks than ever before — and Glühwein and other boozy hot drinks are the perfect companion. Here are the best places in Berlin for Glühwein to go.

---

Glühwein and more at Geist im Glas

At Geist im Glas you’re always sure to find an exciting take on classic drinks. Right now the bar team is offering warm drinks to go — or to take home in a bottle. Their Glühwein (one of the best in Berlin) in a litre bottle for €20, for example, or, for those who don’t really like Glühwein but still want to imbibe warm alcohol, hot buttered hazelnut rum in a 200ml bottle for €10.

• Geist im Glas Lenaustraße 27, Neukölln // Pick up and delivery, Wed-Sun 6pm-open end, Brunch Sat+Sun 10am-3pm, www.geistimglas.de

---

Hot spiced concoctions from Lamm Bar

Lamm Bar belongs to a new generation of bars with a low-lit, smoky ambience that remains warm and welcoming. But you can still lose several hours here — under normal circumstances. This winter we’re more likely to pick up a ‘Hot Dolly’ to go, which, with bourbon, red wine, apple, roiboos, orange and cinnamon, is a delicious twist on the classic Glühwein.

• Lamm Wisbyer Straße 1, Pankow // Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm, www.lammbar.de

---

Glühwein with a French accent at La Maison

Lovely café La Maison has been the saviour of corona times. Located by the Landwehr Canal in Kreuzkölln, not far from the boules court, half the town strolls past to pick up a pastry. Here you can enjoy a pain au chocolat alongside a glass of homemade Glühwein. Kreuzberg already feels a little more French…

• La Maison Paul-Lincke-Ufer 17, Kreuzberg // Mon-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri-Sun 7am-9pm, www.instagram.com/lamaisonberlin

---

More than Glühwein at Krass Böser Wolf

Krass Böser Wolf in Friedrichshain doesn’t disappoint. Every day they offer Glühwein to take away — to drink while you wander the empty streets of the normally bustling district. And if you don’t like Glühwein, how about a ‘Glühwolf’ made of gin, pumpkin, cinnamon, lime and honey?

• Krass Böser Wolf Markgrafendamm 36, Friedrichshain // Mon-Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat+Sun 2pm-10pm, www.krassboeserwolf.de

---

Glühwein syrup from Zur letzte Instanz

Berlin’s oldest inn can also be quite contemporary. Instead of resorting to sickly-sweet pre-mixed Glühwein from a Tetrapak, we recommend picking up a bottle of this homemade syrup to use at home.

• Zur letzten Instanz Waisenstraße 14-16, Mitte, Tel. 242 55 28 // Mon-Sat 12pm-1am, Sun 12pm-11pm, www.zurletzteninstanz.com

---

Waffles with a shot at Café am Ufer

The nice little canal-side café in Kreuzberg is the perfect starting point for a corona-compliant date — there’s nowhere to sit and everything’s to go. Among other things: spiced, comforting Glühwein and great waffles. Perhaps the best combination this winter!

---

Glowing natural wine at Capperi!

Diagonally opposite Café am Ufer on the other side of the canal, the friendly, Italian-run Capperi! represents Neukölln. Here you should definitely stop for a break on your evening stroll to taste their wonderfully intense — and not too sweet — natural mulled wine. And maybe pick up a portion of pasta to take home while you’re there.

• Capperi! Pannierstr. 32, Neukölln, Tel. 030/62 98 99 11, Thu-Sun 12pm-8pm, www.capperiberlin.com

---

Glühwein with a view at Engels

Engels has the advantage of an unbeatable location — it’s right next to Tempelhofer Feld. Which is particularly cold at the moment, but you can warm up in advance with some Glühwein, ‘Pharisäer’ (sweetened coffee and rum topped with whipped cream) and other typical Christmas drinks from the Engels takeaway window.

• Engels Herrfurthstraße 21, Neukölln // Daily 10am-10pm, www.facebook.com/engelsberlin/

---

It doesn’t always have to be Glühwein: Super Hot Charlotte at Fabelei

It doesn’t always have to be Glühwein. The friendly Fabelei cocktail bar in Schöneberg prefers to offer its ‘Super Hot Charlotte’ with spiced rum, ginger, apple, sour orange and coconut. Fruity, spicy and perfect for a walk through the quaint Schöneberg streets. Oh, and there’s also an alcohol-free version. But if you want something closer to Glühwein, opt for a hot vermouth with blackcurrant, sour orange and homemade Fabelei spiced liqueur!

• Fabelei Kyffhäuserstr. 21, Schöneberg // Fri 5pm-8pm, Sat 4pm-7pm, www.fabelei.com

---

Moabit lifestyle at moa Café and Bar

In Moabit you always end up at the lovely Café moa sooner or later — at least that’s how we feel. How good that they now also sell wonderful homemade Glühwein to go. The red mulled wine is spiced with cassis, orange, anise and cinnamon; the white one with apple, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon. This is a delightful way to begin a short stroll through Kleiner Tiergarten — or a longer walk to the larger Tiergarten.

• moa Café und Bar Kirchstraße 1, Moabit // Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm, www.moabar.com

---

Maroni and Glühwein at Lost my Love to Italy

International travel is not going so well at the moment — but we can dream (and drink) ourselves to Italy with Glühwein and chestnuts at Lost my Love to Italy. And if we take one of their pasta dishes from the daily menu home while we’re there, that would be a pretty good decision. After all, who wants to cook after a few mugs of sweet, spicy booze?

• Lost my Love to Italy Torstraße 165, Mitte // Tue-Sat 10am-10pm, www.instagram.com/cafeloveitaly/

Original article by Aida Baghernejad

---

Christmas in Berlin is usually all about markets — here’s the latest info on what will happen this year. Instead, we’ll mainly be staying in and admiring the Berlin buildings featured in Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. Or reading about the surprising history of Prenzlauer Berg.