Wendel L.
Yelp
On a recent trip to Berlin, I visited a bar on a recommendation from a friend. Honestly having no idea what to expect --except for, maybe, steins of beer, I was pleasantly surprised to find this glimmer of greatness quietly nestled in the middle of a nicely trimmed residential street in the Schöneberg area. My friend and I randomly dropped by early on a Sunday evening, but it wasn't exactly open just yet. We had to ring the doorbell, again - at the recommendation of our friend, and the bartender greeted us. We told him that we were sent by our other friends, and he immediately recalled. He quickly set-up shop, and we were having drinks in no time.
The place is uber-American in many respects, but especially in that "old time saloon" kind of style. Dark wood that screams "speakeasy" is a constant within the space, and the dim lighting is accented by lighted candles spread out around the rooms. There are a mixture of high-top tables, sofas, and even a back room that screams "poker." The look and feel surely takes you back to a different time and place, adding to the overall charm.
The selling point of this place, of course, would be the drinks. Crafty and made-up of all the important things known to mixologysts the world over, the drinks tell a story... and are made with so much care that sometimes you wonder if you should save the artfully made concoctions and place them on a mantle for all to see. But the drinks at Stagger Lee are made to be enjoyed... sipped... savored...
Our bartender, Robin, made the experience all the more worthwhile. Aside from knowing his stuff behind the bar, he engaged us in conversations that encompassed everything from what's to know about Berlin (and Germany in general), to tattoo art, music, travel, and even childhood experiences. He definitely adds to whole aura of the bar, carefully tending to his customers while crafting together drink after drink. Robin's "Perfect Manhattan" is like no other; and the real deal potency of that drink (and the other ones that I tried) are a testament to his mad-skills with the shaker, bottles and bottles of liquor, and all the other ingredients on-hand to make the most perfect drinks.
When in Berlin, be sure to hit up the Stagger Lee... and make it your bar away from home.