Paul Sullivan & Laura Harker profile some of the best spots in Berlin to score a superior mixed drink…

Becketts Kopf

It’s unmarked save for an eerily glowing photograph of Samuel Beckett in the window, so you’ll need to ring a doorbell to gain access to this Prenzlauer Berg bar. Inside are two elegant, dimly lit rooms (one reserved for smokers) with low tables and chesterfield sofas. The comprehensive drinks list is divided into sections such as fresh and funky, and herbal and floral, and always features seasonal specials. The ice is hand-cut, and staff are happy to tailor-make drinks for the undecided. Absinthe fans may wish to sample the bar’s take on the classic Monkey’s Gland, made with English marmalade.

• Pappelallee 64, Prenzlauer Berg, 0162 237 9418, becketts-kopf.de 

Bryk Bar

Bryk Bar’s mission is simple: to bring back aperitifs. To do this they’ve created an menu of wine and vermouth based drinks which can be paired with interesting nibbles, like their popcorn with dill. The leather armchairs and vintage wooden furniture create a sophisticated ambiance, and the staff can knock up a mean cocktail too. While there are a couple of well-known classics on their cocktail menu, most of the drinks – and their memorable titles – are the bar’s own creative inventions; try the Oily Bondage For Beginners and you’ll realise that whisky and Guinness syrup were made for each other.

• Ryke Strasse 18, Prenzlau…