I never write reviews but visiting was such an experience I want to put my thoughts down. Firstly it’s important to say me and my girlfriend came here on a January Sunday, from mid-day until the evening, and only to the Panorama Bar so not the full Berghain experience.. There was no queue getting in for the whole day, the club was busy though so not sure if they were turning people away. The doormen were dry, humourless but behind their stony-faces I didn’t get any threatening vibes. They seemed like good people although each of them revelling in their own monumental power trip. Staring you down with a testing glare, making you wait for a minute here and a minute there seemingly for no reason. They maintained their reputation perfectly. They had the same character as that common type of self absorbed policeman, egotistical, callous and bored. Inside, a thorough search and the eye watering €23 entry. A sign also stating €5 re-entry, rich seeing as the ATM was just outside (I wasn’t charged the fiver later in the evening though). Upstairs the energy was high, genuinely electrifying. Good sound. The dance floor was full of half naked sweaty people, lots of smiles. The feeling of being somewhere special, that energy diffused through the whole venue. Then to the bar where you are reminded this isn’t an underground shangri-la but a polished well oiled business. €14 for an espresso martini, literally twice as much as other bars in Berlin, although I must say cocktails were very good. As with the bouncers and cloakroom staff, the barmen were polite but devoid of any enthusiasm or graciousness. Whilst sat at the bar I came to realise this was one of the best people-watching spots I had ever been to, but also that other people felt the same. Away from the dance floor everyone seemed hyper aware, preoccupied with who was around them, what they were wearing, outwardly looking. Not helped by the small group sizes. I’m used to underground alternative scenes and this place felt different. A sense that acceptance was only earned through wearing the uniform. Inside those walls was a hierarchy and to be anyone you had to be local and look the part. Foreigners were an irritation. I’ve heard racism is an issue here, I wouldn’t have thought this was the case, more that there are few black people who identify with the very select techno-loving subsection who frequent Berghain. But that’s just my guess. So my reflections are- there is an odd, sort of masochistic dynamic between the club and its patrons. A sense of entitlement to treat outsiders with disrespect. The complete opposite of the ‘customer comes first’ mantra. It works though, what a genius USP. It might be due to the time we turned up but the place felt worn out, like management stumbled across a golden cow and for decades have been milking it for all it has. They must be making an obscene fortune, rinse and repeat. That weekend was one of the best of my life and Berghain was a part of that, but mostly down to who I was with and the company I made. I’ve seen it now, know what it’s about and wouldn’t return unless I was with a group of mates, the judgmental atmosphere was just too distracting. But go and see it, you’ve got to.