Ok back from our trip, and I thought I'd follow up here in case anyone browses this in the future and it helps...
The clubs visited on the trip :
Tuesday - Stargayte Open for All, Leipzig
This is basically a gay sauna that throws their doors open for anyone on a Tuesday. It was a cracking venue, really clean and with superb play areas. The steamroom was a labrynth as well which was fantastic. As is the case with many nights marketed at 'bi' people, the reality is that most of the focus is on the woman, and this meant that we had a number of single guys following us around all evening, and one in particular was annoyingly persistent and didn't take no for an answer. There were quite a few other couples there but didn't really see them outside the bar area. As with all German venues, it seems provision is made for smokers - in this case it is still allowed in the lounge area.
Weds - Insomnia Berlin, Fetish Night
Held in the large basement, this was probably our favourite night, Had the chance to wear some of the kinkier stuff we'd bought ahead of the trip - F was in her corset, the atmosphere was sexy and relaxed. The various bits of play happening were treated respectfully from everyone and it was the chance to try stuff you never normally would....my bum was a little sorer than usual at the end! As the night wore on it became more social, and I don't know how it happened but we ended up back at the hotel with a charming girl who we spent the rest of the night with.
Thurs - Avarus Berlin, Relaxation night.
A couples only night on the 5th floor of a building housing a billiards and fitness club. The venue was super clean and quite upmarket with large open play areas. The music here was more soft jazz, fitting with the theme and in the social areas we made some new friends. Exactly what we needed after the more action packed previous night. Recommended.
Fri - EGO24 Berlin, Bi-Day
This is a huge modern sex shop in the suburbs, with a large two-story play area behind it with a variety of themed rooms and cinemas. We somehow managed to get a look around before paying, and whilst the place was nice, there were hardly any couples (maybe just one) and all the single guys were cruising around in street-clothes so decided to abort our visit without paying, which they were fine with. Perhaps the problem is that we went late afternoon, and maybe things became more spicy in the evening, but we just didn't feel it had the required ambience for our taste.
Fri - Swingeroase Zwiespalt Berlin, Naked with Candlelight Night
This is a 24hr swinger club who have nightly themes (like everywhere). The naked thing spooked us at first but it soon felt natural. The place is pretty small but has a nice bar area, jacuzzi and a few play rooms.
It soon became apparent that F's boobs were the main attraction, and we hadn't made it out of the bar area before being chatted to and propositioned several times. We did end up playing with a couple, but found some of the single guys a bit too aggressively persistent and one in particular seemed intent on ruining anyone elses play (at one point in the jacuzzi he forced his way in between a couple and started complaining loudly asking 'whats the problem?' when the female partner objected!
The other thing is we both had a few bites on our legs after playing in the playroom, which is a bit of a concern.
Probably the only venue on our trip we wouldn't consider visiting again.
Sat - Club Culture Houze Berlin, Wild Weekend
I wanted to visit this place as it is open most days to all genders and sexualities and has a bit of a hardcore vibe to it. The place itself was great, seedy but clean and an amazingly welcoming girl host who appeared at the door wearing a strap-on! Unfortunately, it was very quiet - something it has been for a few weeks apparently and the host said she thought it was due to. the holidays and the hot weather. There were a few couples, quite a few single males and unusually for any club - an obvious lesbian couple.
Aside from some guy having all manner of stuff done to him by a dominatrix in the play area, there wasn't really any action although we had some great conversations at the bar with some of the guys who all seemed to be polite and intelligent. It seemed to have a generally respectful atmosphere which was nice, although the lack of action led us to move on to...
Sat - Insomnia Berlin, Circus Bizarre
We always planned to finish here. It was in the main area of the club we visited Weds, and is one of the big club nights in Berlin. Everyone dressed down in some sort of fetish clothing (or at least all black), all shapes, sizes and ages in attendance, lots of pumping techno music with large dancefloor, play areas just off this along with a Jacuzzi (I think you need to bring your own towel though), and on the other side a large couples-only balcony with a number of large play beds and a view over to the main club. No real swinging in here, as it seemed most were playing with their partner but it did resemble the round-room at Chams at times up there!
Certainly would consider going to Insomnia again.
Just a few more observations...
If you go to Germany, make sure you join 'joy club.de'. It is the German version of Fab, and has listings for all events on each night. Thats quite important as most venues have completely different themes each day. If you use the Chrome browser, you can set auto translate on so it reads fine for English speakers.
Most club nights cost quite a lot to get in, but have all drinks and food included. It was nice not having to worry about carrying money or working out how much we have spent.
All venues have some sort of facility for changing within them, so you don't have to walk down the street in clothes that telegraph where you are going.
For fetish nights, it's basically dress as outlandish as you like. I (male) wore some kinky black shorts, and a leather waistcoat, but some go really extreme with latex stuff, others go shirtless with black trousers. The more effort you make the better it is, and everyone is dressed in a similar way so you don't feel unusual (you stand out more if you don't make an effort)
For swinger nights, either regular or fetish underwear is acceptable, although dress codes change with theme so be sure to check it first.
At the insomnia club night - probably the most 'mainstream' of the nights, the couple in front of us at the door were being quizzed by the guy because of the way the male partner was dressed, and he asked to 'see his underwear' before being let in. We were about to be waved through as I was wearing black t-shirt and black jeans, but when he saw my trainers he asked what footwear I had in the bag - I showed him some black pumps and he was happy. So basically, again, the more effort you put in the easier these things are, but at a bare minimum try to dress all in black.
Most clubs don't tend to do 'wet areas' as well as Chams.
Overall we found attending clubs in Berlin to be very easy and welcoming, and if anything the people attending were more outgoing and chatty than those in UK clubs.
Anyway, hope this helps someone at some time or other! |
