Fotografiska: A Museum With Cocktails

The first thought on my mind when I checked out Fotografiska Berlin was, Where has this been all my life? This place changed my perspective of standing quietly and staring at paintings until your feet hurt when visiting art museums. I have never thought that I would ever find a place where I could sip a cocktail while admiring the world-class art by some popular as well as emerging artists around the globe.

The museum lives inside the old Tacheles building, which already boasts enough history and rebellious vibes to make you feel like you’re stepping into something cool. Once you’re inside, it hits you: this place doesn’t get boring.

They don’t even have a permanent collection. Instead, you get rotating exhibitions that are edgy, thought-provoking, and occasionally the kind of stuff that makes you whisper “what the heck am I looking at?” to your friend—but in the best way possible.

During my visit, the themes ranged from identity to climate change, and yeah, some of it punched me right in the feelings. It’s less “museum you stroll through politely” and more “experience that stays in your head for days.”

And then there’s the vibe. Forget stiff security guards glaring at you if you stand too close—here, you can literally grab a drink and walk through the galleries with it. Beer in one hand, art in the other. Berlin nailed it. Oh, and they stay open late (until 11 pm), so you can swap out your usual Friday night bar crawl for an art crawl.

Now, I can’t not mention the rooftop bar and restaurant. After wandering through intense photography exhibits, I headed up there for a cocktail, and wow. The views are unreal. There’s something about sipping a drink, overlooking Berlin’s skyline, and realizing, “Yep, this is way cooler than sitting at home scrolling Instagram.”

Tips for Max Out Your Fotografiska Experience

Always prefer booking your tickets online

As the museum is a preferred destination for both locals as well thousands of travellers pouring into Berlin, Advance bookings will be a wise idea. I remember seeing large queues at the counters outside the museum. Booking your museum entry tickets online will help you avoid these queues and ensure entry even during the busiest hours. I will also recommend using the Fotografiska promo codes to get extra discounts, as they are readily available with some major coupon code aggregators like Savings24x7.

Visit in the Evening for the Vibe

One of the best parts of planning to visit this Museum is that it remains open till 11 pm. So, you can blend your experience into a cultural night rather than a mere daytime activity. Apart from it, rooftop dinner and cocktails will give you memorable experiences that you rarely get at any other museum around the globe.

Don’t Miss the Rooftop Bar and Restaurant

Though the art was my main draw to this place, I could not stop myself from praising the rooftop bar and restaurant here. In addition to cocktails and a delicious dinner, this place offers stunning views of Berlin city. It’s no doubt an amazing place to relax after exhibitions, and adds a memorable finish to your visit to Fotografiska.

Take Your Time With the Exhibitions

The museum does not have a permanent collection and offers something fresh on every visit. The exhibitions often have wider themes like climate, human rights and more. These exhibitions deserve your time, so I would recommend spending at least two hours exploring and enjoying these exhibitions. Different exhibitions with varied themes are one of the major reasons for its popularity, even among the local population.

Enjoy a Drink While Exploring

Well, this one is the most impressive part of this place. Here you can take your drinks into the galleries to enjoy artwork while sipping the finest liquor. Wandering in the galleries while sipping drinks make your experiences more relaxed and social. Though this might seem to be a small detail, trust me this will change the whole mood during your visit.

Explore the Building’s History

The museum is situated in the legendary Tacheles building, which was once home to Berlin’s most famous art squats. After its transformation into a photography museum, this place has added more layers of cultural storytelling. The Tacheles building, in fact, is a living piece of Berlin’s rich history and will mesmerise you with graffiti-style mural paintings and modern art sculptures. I bet that it is hard for anyone visiting this place to leave without admiring the stunning artwork and design of the Tacheles building.

Final Words

These were my experiences and tips that I wanted to share with the community. If you have plans to visit Berlin, Fotografiska is a place that should not miss your to-do list. Being a Museum person, I have visited hundreds of Museums in Europe and the United States but have never experienced anything like this before.

The meaningful exhibitions and space to relax, socialise and have fun will change your perspectives toward museum visits even if you don’t think of yourself as a “museum person”. The portals like Savings24x7 add additional joy to your experience by ensuring handsome discounts on your tickets to Fotografiska museum, so don’t forget to give them a try.