Fantastic Speak Easy in Berlin

[MK]

I am in Berlin on business and through a conversation with the bartender in my hotel, I learned of a very special bar in Berlin called The Rum Trader. The proprietor's name is Gregor Scholl. Although he is most likely in his 30's, Gregor is very old school in many ways. The Rum Trader is VERY challenging to find. My cab driver was unable to locate it with an address. Only after calling were we able to find it. The door was looked, but after ringing the buzzer I was met at the door by Gregor....who decided to let me in een though I am a foreigner. This bar is SMALL. One can see very quickly that quality is supreme and quantity is not a consideration.

Gregor plays 40's German music and mixes golden era cocktails while wearing a three piece suit with a pocket watch. You really feel like this place is a secret. It is special.

I could go on....but let's just say if you find yourself in Berlin you should visit this joint:

Rum Trader
Fasanenstrasse 40
10719 Berlin SW 15
030-881-1428

He had never heard of The Fedora Lounge. We should fix that.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Any pix?

 

[scotrace]

I hope you fixed that!

Hoping for pictures also...

 

[MK]

.

No photos. I was already a foreigner pushing my luck. But I found these online:

 

[Matt Deckard]

Darn foreigners.

Now if you can hang out with Max Raabe you've really made it into the scene out there.

Have fun, and do steel some pics.

 

[Woland]

The missus & myself came back from Berlin last night.
Having pillaged The Lounge for what & where, The Rum Trader was on top of our list.

We lived at the Kempinski and as it turned out; The Rum Trader was a mere 10 minutes walk from our hotel.
Went there Friday night around 21:00, but alas; the joint was closed due to a private function.
As we in our desperate disappointment tried to plan our next move the door opened and a friendly Gentleman stepped outside.
He begged our pardon and asked us to return the next evening. As consolation he steered us towards another bar just down the street; "Freddys".
He described it as the one and only "Hotel Bar without a Hotel" ;-).
Very nice & friendly place indeed.

After a couple of units we moved towards another possible hangout, Reingold.
Fantastic layout, design & decorations, but the crowd were mainly attirely challenged youngsters so we felt a bit off.
We had expected 20-30s jazz, but was thundered down with early funk (late 60s) by a competent enough DJ.
Not really our cup of gin...

Went back to The Rum Trader the next evening.
Fantastic place & atmosphere!
The Gent from last night was behind the bar and was genuinly pleased to see us.
Wondered if Freddys was to our liking etc...

MK had pointed out that the place was small; and it was indeed.
Tiny might be a more appropiate description, 1 small bar + 1 small table.
The toilets (fresh & clean with royal insignia and a free offering of "eau de toilette") probably stood for 1/3 of the total floor-space.

We went with recommendated drinks; Elephant Hunter for the Missus and a rum-based Old Fashioned for myself.
Deliscious beverages indeed.

I tend to be somewhat careful with hard liquor, so I asked for a beer... Faux Pa!
The barman took me aside and (discretely) informed me that beer or wine was not served at the premises.
However; in special circumstances they offered possibility of purchasing a glass of "The House Wine"; Champagne!

Loved the place! Will indeed go back!

 

[listenone]

To enjoy drinking in Berlin is a great idea