kwia — Restaurant in Berlin

As a middle eastern I was curious about the "shoes off + sit on the floor" concept. i'm trying my best not to say cultural appropriation because it hopefully comes from a genuine place maybe the owner is even from an "eastern" culture. but it's definitely not a safe space for everyone. it's just "vibez", mostly the vibez of the gentrification of queerness and diversity.

this ain't it, hope the owner is not as disrespectful as the person in front of the door.

-referred to me as a man -claimed the public property and didn't let anyone on the bar side of the boardwalk stand(even when no one was really talking) -"honey"d me in a discussion out of nowhere -spoke over us and didn't listen and shut the conversation abruptly off -repeated the line "don't argue with me and just do as i say" -demanded an apology from us through the organizer to let us in (i neither raised my voice nor talked over the person, i didn't act in a passive aggressive way either)

long version:

there was a magazine launch event organized by a friend of mine who is printing them. i had filled out the rsvp form with the plus one for my partner, days before, and went early to the event. but my partner couldn't get ready early enough and when she came i went out of the bar, we went some place to grab coffee. when we came back we wanted to get in and the person on the door allowed me in but didn't allow her in. i went in and told my friend that unfortunately we need to go cause my partner isn't allowed. he said ok let's grab a beer and talk outside a bit. while we were waiting for him, i told the person on the door in a very neutral way "why do i even bother filling out an rsvp form when i can't get in" and first the response was "the form was filled by 100+ people and what if people come late" and then i asked "shouldn't that form have a quota estimating the capacity of the place" and the response was something along the lines of "i don't wanna be cheeky but when people like you come late how can the place be full", pointing at the 10-20(naube even more) people across the street i said "but what about this situation when everyone is just outside." so the response was "that's something you need to ask the organizer". and then they said basically something like "don't stay in front of the bar". then my friend, "the organizer" i guess, came, we talked a bit outside, then he tried to talk to them, was dismissed immediately. we hung out at a späti. came back. my friend went in. while me and my partner were going home my friend texted and told me that the person who is i guess the editor of the magazine will talk. we came back again, she also couldn't convince the gatekeeper but came to us and said "that they felt attacked and if we apologize they would let us in". of course we rejected. i must say i saw it as a classic power move.

yup, that was the story. thanks for baring with me. definitely tastefully designed space though....

A Confusing Evening at kwia: A Not-So-Inclusive Experience

My recent visit to kwia left me with mixed feelings about their representation of inclusivity. The promise of a "chill" experience, as advertised on Resident Advisor (RA), intrigued us enough to check out the venue. However, what unfolded was a confusing and somewhat exclusive encounter.

Upon arrival, we were surprised to find out that tickets were required, a detail that seemed to elude us despite thorough scrutiny of the website and Instagram. Fortunately, the door attendant allowed us to pay in cash, but this exception was not communicated beforehand.

Entering the venue, we were instructed to remove our shoes and maintain a state of quietness in the supposed "listening room." However, the experience inside didn't match the advertised tranquility. The loud volume forced me to resort to earplugs, only to be met with the audible chatter of fellow patrons in the supposedly quiet space.

Seeking clarity, I approached the bar staff to understand the concept better. Unfortunately, my inquiry was met with hostility, as I was labeled as "entitled" for seeking an explanation about the apparent contradiction in the venue's atmosphere. The blame was shifted to the DJ for volume control, and any attempt to discuss our discovery on RA was dismissed with disdain.

To add insult to injury, the door attendant resorted to name-calling, labeling me a "Karen" as I was escorted out. This not-so-pleasant encounter concluded with a sudden change in the explanation of fees, shifting from a ticket to a cover charge allegedly benefiting the artists. The lack of transparency in fee structures was disappointing, especially considering the absence of ticket information on promotional materials.

In hindsight, kwia would benefit from clearer communication about their expectations and policies. Rather than dismissing patrons as "entitled" or resorting to name-calling, a straightforward approach, perhaps as a private club, would better manage expectations. I had hoped to appreciate the unique atmosphere, but unfortunately, the confusing and unwelcoming experience has left me opting to sit...

we ordered fancy cocktails named lavender bee's knees & pink mezcal - with homemade syrup, chili salt coating and a flower in the icecube. ehmmm yum ! our tastebuds are tingling and buzzing just like the circular light installation vibing with the music. there are cushions on the floor and square pillows on the wall, softly providing a gentle embrace. a very healthy monstera is chilling in the corner and white cotton wool decorating the window, a fog machine surrounding us with clouds every now and then - spacyyy !! plenty of carpets on the floor and low tables + beanbags, infused by the staff's japanese roots, they let us know. today is shoes off day and we were offered some very säxy pantoffeln, feeling cozy. the painting in the bathroom is asking us to abandon all hope upon entering the toilet, reminds me of a bayo akomolafe quote about the power of losing hope that i recently came across. this place is called kwia, is it a word play on queer ? we're not sure yet, but will surely come back...