Café Cinema — Restaurant in Berlin

This bar is what I will keep in mind from my trip to Berlin. Just the very best experience I had. I had come to this city after a long time dreaming about its wild techno clubs and smokey cafés with oddly cool people. But when I arrived, I realized it is the city with the most tourists in the world. Nobody actually speaks german. NOBODY. After useless hours trying to catch conversations with any real Berliner, I went to a club in the night, but they told me dancing was forbidden. I travel to Berlin the first time in my life, and DANCING IS FORBIDDEN. Oh boy. Finally, I headed to this bar that several friends had recommanded me. It was the luckiest thing I could do. They have that smoking area, besides the normal one, where people sit on cozy couches or small wooden tables with funky scratches. Every drink I ordered was perfectly done. And I ordered A LOT. Amazing Gin Tonic, heavenly Cuba Libre, and delicious mixed snacks, locally known as Knaberein. Then I had this wonderful talk with that waitress, Leah. She told me about Marx, I am a communist now. If I wouldn't leave tomorrow, this would become MY BAR. So happy to have...

I have to say this is a place ran by racist or the so called New Nazi group. I used to stay in Germany and study, I never ran into situation that German people are hateful of Asian or so called "people with a camera." Fifteen minutes ago I bought a cup of beer and tried to sit along the isle, a woman sit next to me asked me to move since "she doesnt like someone with a camera." I moved but told her its public area and I bought my own drink. Later on I mentioned this to the bar guy who sold me the beer, but he seemed ignorant. After finishing my drink, i'm taking a photo of the interior and at the moment I raised my camera, I heard the bar guy yielded at me and asked me to stop. Hey what is going on? Germany has been reunited and there are plenty weirdos in Berlin. Then you cannot bear someone with a camera? It is totally RIDICULOUS and RUDE. SHAME ON YOU, CAFE CINEMA! Especially when you display plenty old time cameras in the window and in such a good...

We came on a Sunday afternoon. The place is visually appealing with a very “Berlin” aesthetic, which we initially found charming. However, the service and overall experience were quite disappointing.

We ordered Aperol Spritz, and they were barely half full—not what you’d expect considering the price. On top of that, they only accept cash. While I understand this is still common in Berlin, it feels outdated and inconvenient.

The worst part was trying to use the restroom. A rather unpleasant man demanded money to let me in. Honestly, I find it unacceptable that a place charging premium prices for drinks would also ask you to pay every time you need to use the toilet.

Overall, it’s a shame. There are much better bars in the area with friendlier service and more up-to-date...