Review: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia and its bars and clubs are a showcase of the Berlin feeling

Review by Julien Rommelaere

Just a few blocks away from the S-Bahn station Warschauerstraße, a few visionaries had the crazy idea to transform a huge workshop, originally intended for the repair of trains, into a magical and unusual place. Imagine 4,000 square meters of workshops, courtyards and disused warehouses converted into bars, concert halls, clubs, outdoor cinemas, snack bars, climbing walls, nooks and crannies. This gives Cassiopeia a great atmosphere that is both buzzing and relaxing, and it quickly becomes mesmerizing.

My experience

There is no other place you will leave with so many happy memories, although some of the memories may be a little vague. You can make your stay at Cassiopeia as intense and exhausting as you want, and I hope you want to go see that for yourself. In Cassiopeia, one can experience better music festival that in many cities of France, an afternoon of climbing, a set of Drum & Bass, a film in the open air cinema, and much more. The activities vary, but they are always extreme and an extremely lot of fun.

The place is basically a concentration of the Berlin way of living and everything that makes this city so unique. No need to say more, you imagine it already: any hot afternoon that you spend at Cassiopeia is sweet and makes you lose track of time easily. More surprising though is the strength that emerges in winter time. It is like you hear the walls breath while you get overwhelmed by the exciting magnetic energy that seems to dominate the spacious courtyards.

The place is most magical when it gets darker. Creativity is the keyword when music fills the night with an incomparable energy. There is something for everybody’s taste. There are dance hall evenings, intoxicating mix nights with crazy drum & bass, hard rock concerts, world music, and much more. Cassiopeia is something to enjoy until the early morning… and after that you go back to Generator Hostel Berlin for a well-earned breakfast.

Directions

You will already experience the first surprise of the night when you arrive at S-Bahn station Warschauer Straße, the starting point for a wild night. Once you get off the S-Bahn train and go up the station’s stairs, you will find a breathtaking view of the city, and you will notice lights and sounds playing with your senses. The neighborhood is filled with revellers from all sub-cultures, and you are right in the middle! Anyway, once you climbed up the stairs you go right on Warschauer Straße, and after that you take the first street to the right named Revaler Straße. On the left we pass the Simon-Dach-Straße, a street filled with bars (you can try one or two if you want, but stay focused on Objective Cassiopeia!) You will find Cassiopeia on your right hand in the Revaler Strasse. For your journey back to the Generator you take the same route in reverse. I advise you to go on weekends, because the convenient S-Bahn system runs non-stop from Friday morning until Sunday night.

Hot tip

Cassiopeia is the perfect place for amateur photographers. The are plenty interesting perspectives and interesting light effects to be found. Take lively colour pictures, or try your artistic skills by experimenting in black and white.

More info

Visit www.cassiopeia-berlin.de for pictures, background info, and most importantly, for the programme.

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