Slumberland — Restaurant in Berlin

BE AWARE... The three of us were in the time-honored Slumberland on Sunday (14.01.2023) around 10 p.m. - for what felt like 40 years always very gladly again - and were, among other things, simply not served... When I tried to order at the bar, I was served after a short wait (the bottle already in my hand to hand over to me) but when my wife and daughter joined me, the barmaid suddenly said unfriendly, where are you sitting... We had chosen the seat, but had gone back to the bar, me to order, and my companion on the way to the toilet. I told them that we hadn't taken our seats yet ... This was enough to tell us that it was too full, we had to be seated now, otherwise we wouldn't be served, - when I asked = "no drinks without a seat", 'it was too full, we'd have to leave'. Only: the place was half empty, but there were also seats (albeit [only] partly covered with jackets), and especially standing room (partly with drinks trays), but there were 'hundreds' of them. When I cautiously tried to find out what was behind this procedure, I was told in a very harsh and unfriendly manner what I didn't understand about the announcement that it was too full, as it had been formulated quite clearly... I was perplexed, and can only say that when I tried to tell the little (purely physical - I don't know her name) lady how unworthy and disparaging this behavior was, I was left with the feeling that I was being treated in a very rude way and the barmaid became even louder, almost hysterical, and a barman rushed to her, probably perceived as necessary, and gruffly asked me to stop (with what?), also to stop talking to the barmaid (I didn't speak at all, but was now being aggressively verbally attacked by two employees) and to leave. However, he hadn't heard anything about the incident, but obviously stood up for his colleague (basically very honorable), but also used a lot of bad language. I can only say that anyone who treats their guests in this way has nothing to lose. I have worked in the catering trade myself for years, ‘Golgotha’ (famous beergarden/ pub/club) sends its regards, but this experience in Slumberland was new. It would have been interesting to find out why this was/is done (?). Then you could have shown understanding, or even given the barmaid a friendly smile to cheer her up, against whatever kind of anger, but this was a very special kind of experience. After 40 years - GOOD BYE AND FARE WELL SLUMBERLAND. Good staff are hard to come by... Or is there at least a forgivable explanation for this confrontational, unfriendly treatment?

So: NEVER AGAIN...

Slumberland was recommended to us by a friend who lives locally, apparently David Bowie used to drink there so we thought we'd give it a go.When we arrived the bartender was quite unfriendly and insisted our UK proof of covid vaccination wasn't valid in Germany even though it was. We eventually managed to get her to successfully scan our proof of vax and when she realized we were staying she became less frosty. The bar itself is tired and needs redecorating, it has a lot of half dead plants dotted around and quite strangely had sand on the floor - we worked out after a while that it's a Brazilian themed bar so guessing that was the reason for the sand. The selection of drinks is nothing special, the seating is uncomfortable and the music wasn't very good. Others have reviewed this bar and described it as 'trendy' and 'cool' but it's neither of these things in my opinion. I can't think of anything positive to say about this place so I can't recommend it and won't...

We entered this place to have a beer and found a place on 4 stools in front of the counter, next to the owner who tells us to leave the corridor free so as not to get in the way. We then moved to a free spot between two tables, and asked for a drink. At this point the barmaid told us that the place was too full and we couldn't even stand on the stools. It was clear that we weren't welcome, no one knows why. I have never been treated like this...