My wife and I had a mediocre dinner nearby, and decided to find a bar to see if we could improve the evening a little. Yelp said that Drip Bar was just around the corner, but when we looked for it, all we saw was a dingy apartment building and no signage whatsoever.
From the sidewalk in front of the supposed address, I saw a sliver of light coming through the curtains, and a somewhat conspicuous doorbell, so I girded myself and gave it a ring. A few seconds later, a casually bearded young man opened the door and invited us in to a dimly lit but well appointed bar and lounge. A few tables had been reserved, but there were still a few open, and four seats at the bar were also available.
We opted for seats on the banquette, and a waiter came to pour us each a glass of water. (This is the first time I've been offered water so quickly and freely in the Federal Republic of Germany; a triumph in and of itself.) Another waiter came by shortly thereafter to explain the bar's concept and offer us each a book of fairy tales into which had been pasted the drink menu.
It's named "Drip Bar" because many (all?) of the spirits used in the cocktails are made by drip infusion. For example, I had a basil gin and tonic, where gin had been dripped through basil, and then poured over tonic and ice cubes. The gin doesn't end up muddy or cloudy; it just takes the flavor of the mix-in. In my wife's case, she had a Salty Peanut Old Fashioned, with rum-infused peanuts, maple syrup, and bitters. She loved it. The aforementioned water glasses are kept filled, and drinks are served with a mug of popcorn as a snack. They also have an alternative menu of alcohol-free drinks.
Between the secretive intrigue of the locked door, the swanky interior, the delicious drinks, and the excellent service, I give this bar five stars. The drinks are pretty expensive (10 Euro and up), but worth the money. read more