Tante Lisbeth — Restaurant in Berlin

I like this bar even more than I used to. Here's why (the text is what I wrote on social media):

Stopped off at our local queer-friendly bar, Tante Lisbeth, more-or-less around the corner, on the way home from quite a long day. I got a glass of wine and sat down at a table, vacant when I came in except for a stray paper bag. The bar was very crowded, with a happy, friendly vibe. About twenty minutes later, some guys and two women come in. The guys, twenty-something, hyper-macho and aggressive, address me in English (they aren't German speakers, I don't think): ‘We were sitting here’. I said: ‘I’ve been sitting here for twenty minutes’. No response: the women look at me like an inconvenient fleck of dirt. I get up and return to the bar, not wanting to provoke the macho boys into a fight I wouldn’t win. The bartender, friendly, very surprised to see me back: ‘But you were sitting there?’ I explained what had happened. He then, maybe thirty seconds later, goes over to the table and tells them something that makes them leave immediately (I assume he threw them out). They hang out by the door for ten minutes (smoking? waiting for me to leave the bar?), and I wait around till I see them leave and a bit longer before circumspectly going home.

Wonderful bartender; thank you. Fabulous that the bar looks out for...

When we entered the pub, the young female bartender ((un)welcomed us with a grim look, we ordered a glass of tap beer which was very stale (as if they did't serve that beer for weeks) but the bartender insisted that it was ok (after few minutes we went to the pub next door, we ordered the same tap beer and it was perfect and delicious) and she made us pay for it even if we didn't drink it. When a friend joined us, he wanted to order but the bartender was talking on the telephone, shoulders to the counter, for a long time until my friend said "Ehm sorry": she turned to us so aggressive and shouting and flying into a rage. Never seen such an arrogant, aggressive and unprofessional way of serving people in a public local. Ok, maybe she had a terrible day, but hej, Chef, change that barrel of rancid beer, man... MyGosh, if you want to keep your good mood and your stomach health, stay away from...

I was here on a frosty December night, so I cannot comment on the outside, but the decor and environment inside is an intimate warm experience with your friends or family at candlelit tables.

I had the pleasure of spending my birthday evening in here, so I definitely cherish my time spent within these walls. Unfortunately I didn’t experience the bowling.

It is slightly out of way from the hustle and bustle of Mitte.

The pub is nicely divided into smoking and non smoking sections.

The drinks were fantastic, the staff were friendly and happy to joke, funnily enough I shared a birthday with one of the bar women so we rejoiced to that.

All in all, I’d recommend a visit to Tante Lisbeth!

PS if you ask nicely they might even dig out the old photo of Tante...