Schall und Rauch (Closed Permanently)

Somewhat of an institution, gay-owned Schall und Rauch opened in 1994 in East Berlin's then neo-trendy neighbourhood Prenzlauer Berg, accommodating those in need of a bed and/or a drink. Following a 21st-century expansion Schall und Rauch now offers 29 clean and mostly modern budget rooms — half of them non-smoking — and an apartment, not to mention a popular café/restaurant/bar. Equipped with flat-screen TVs and wi-fi. The name of the complex, which translates as 'Sound and Smoke', recalls Berlin's literary cabaret founded in 1901 by Max Reinhardt and others. The location is solidly northeast Berlin and gay-embracing, with higher-definition-gay Schöneberg (and sympathetic Kreuzberg) within easy enough reach, though definitely not within walking or crawling distance. U-Bahn/S-Bahn: Schönhauser Allee. U-Bahn: Eberswalder Straße.