Berlin’s 7 most intriguing cinemas

Berlin is a city of cinephiles. From the smallest cinema in Berlin to the movie house that helped reunification efforts, here are seven of the most intriguing cinemas.

International mingling at the Hackesche Höfe Kino

Ever since the fall of the Berlin wall, the Hackesche Höfe complex has become a meeting point for art and culture lovers. Restaurants, galleries and boutiques surround the art-nouveau-style courtyard and the Hackesche Höfe Kino arthouse cinema hosts four screenings a day.

The programme includes films from all over the world, and a wonderful mixture of languages is spoken in the spartan yet intimate seating areas. Stay nearby, in the heart of Berlin’s Mitte district, at the stylish Frederics Berlin City Hackescher Markt.

Learn about the GDR at Kino International

As the Berlin International Film Festival headquarters, the Kino International is already a must-visit for cinephiles. Throw in the fact that before the fall of the Berlin Wall it used to host the German Democratic Republic film premiers and you’ve got a fascinating part of Berlin’s history.

Today the cinema continues to host local filmmakers and arthouse offerings. Spend a few days living like a local by checking into the nearby Apartments Am Friedrichshain.

Check out the street art at Kino Intimes

Kino Intimes is a the definition of a passion project. Passion for cinema and passion for the city inspired the founder of Berlin’s smallest cinema to turn a shop front into a picturehouse in 1909.

Today the iconic, graffiti-covered exterior disguises a powerhouse of Berlin cinema and a programme featuring blockbusters, silver screen classics and independent films from around the world.

As one of the most popular brunch spots in the Friedrichshain district, Intimes is always busy and it’s worth booking ahead. Or stay a short walk away at the Berlin Base Apartments and pop in to buy your tickets in person.

Art and arthouse at the ACUD Kino

The tiny ACUD Kino is part of the much bigger ACUD Kunsthaus arts venue and is found in the central Mitte district. This prime location and commitment to showcasing underrepresented filmmakers has seen the ACUD become a vital part of the Berlin arts scene.

It’s easy to spend an entire day in the Kunsthaus complex, thanks to the inhouse gallery, cantina, and an engaging programme of arthouse films and documentaries. Stay nearby at the Gorki Apartments, just a short stroll through the Der Volkspark am Weinberg from the ACUD Kino.

A slice of Berlin’s history at The Moviemento

The Moviemento is one of Germany’s oldest cinemas. Founded by a restaurant owner in 1907, this small art house cinema has risen from humble beginnings to become an indispensable resource for Berlin’s filmmakers.

Moviemento is often used to premier the latest Berlin-based talent, and it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting independent cinema. For an alternative side to Berlin’s history check into Minimal Hostel, only a few minutes walk from The Moviemento.

Enjoy an eclectic programme at fsk Kino

This Kreuzberg-based cinema takes its name from the airplane seats that used to make up most of the seating – ‘Flugzeug Sessel Kino’ translates to ‘Airplane Seat Cinema’.

The agenda reflects the location with a mix of local filmmakers, documentaries and international arthouse films. The austere steel-frame construction of the building is slightly softened by the hand-painted posters. Make sure to check out the rest of what the area has to offer and check into the nearby Vilhelm 7.

Treat yourself at Astor Film Lounge

A chic cinema with a focus on comfort, the Astor Film Lounge was designed to give cinema-goers a luxurious experience.

Thoughtful touches include adjustable seats, finger food, an impeccably stocked bar and a roster of films eclectic enough to cater to every taste. All this, and there are regular live screenings of ballet from London and Paris.

For an equally luxurious hotel check out the dramatic architecture and spacious suites at the nearby Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm.