Berlin has always been a city that attracts people who want to live and create differently. For DJ Fuckoff, arriving to the German capital at 21 was the start of something much bigger than she expected. “I was really drawn to Berlin by how creative and exciting the city is,” she explains. “You can find a community in every corner, and I finally felt like it was a place where I could express myself freely and grow into a version of me that truly felt authentic.” What was supposed to be a few months with just a small bag turned into seven years and counting.

What’s kept her in Berlin all these years isn’t just the parties or the freedom, but the people she’s found along the way. “The community and my friends whom I can call family,” she says. “My heart has never felt so full!” Berlin has a reputation for being raw and even rough at times, but that edge is exactly what makes connections here feel so real. As she puts it, “that rawness is also where its beauty lives.” Nights that blur into mornings, unexpected encounters that turn into long friendships, are the glue that holds this city together.

The city’s creative energy is another part of the draw, an atmosphere people travel halfway across the world for and still find hard to describe. For Fuckoff, it’s about more than just music or art; it’s about how people come together. “Berlin's creative scene is raw, transformative, boundary-pushing, and deeply communal. It really thrives in the cracks between cultures, disciplines, and languages, drawing people together who might have never met elsewhere,” she says. “I really found my family here and am constantly inspired by how collective it feels with everyone lifting each other up and where creativity isn’t just about expressing yourself but also about connecting.” It’s messy and unpredictable, but it’s exactly why artists keep gravitating here.

Finding your place here doesn’t happen overnight, but the city rewards patience and openness. “Honestly, be yourself and allow yourself to feel fear, and walk into the unknown,” she explains. For her, it started by following labels and events online, showing up to spaces that made her feel good, and slowly building confidence. “It was really tough at times, but the more I went out and did things alone, the more confident I got. Give yourself time and you’ll discover Berlin’s magic in little moments, unexpected places, and through cute people.”

Below, DJ Fuckoff and her community pick their favourite spots in Berlin. You can follow along and check out the full map here. 

DJ FUCKOFF

LOCATION: Ohm, Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin

WHY: One of my favourite spots to dance in the city. It is super intimate with a banging sound system & with the sweetest crew working there.  

MISS BASHFUL 

LOCATION: KADEWE, Tauentzienstraße 21-24, 10789 Berlin

WHY: It’s the sexiest place in Berlin.

DJ AYA

LOCATION: Vabali, Seydlitzstraße 6, 10557 Berlin, 

WHY: Similar to a lot of other people, I am a regular there for obvious reasons. Some great sweat sessions to get all the toxins out from a long weekend of work/dancing. A great spot also to hang out with friends or go on dates. 

HEDDA 

LOCATION: Möbel Olfe, Reichenberger Str. 177, 10999 Berlin, 

WHY: It brings me joy because of the weekly ladies, FLINTA*, lesbian night on Tuesdays. It has a strong queer community, a good selection of DJs and is a meeting point for flirts, all of your ex-partners and ex-dates or lesbian friends. It’s a weekly tradition, and Möbel Olfe has a big part in shaping my queer identity. 

CAMILLA RAE

LOCATION: Ma-makan, Lausitzer Pl. 12, 10997 Berlin

WHY: The best, authentic Malaysian food in Berlin. The vibe and the food are always on point, and the staff and customers are diverse, reflecting what Berlin really is. 

ERICA

LOCATION: Viktoria Park, Katzbachstraße, 10965 Berlin

WHY: It holds beautiful memories for me.

CATILIN

LOCATION: Zur Klappe, Yorckstraße Mittelinsel, der Straße 2, 10963 Berlin

WHY: This is (literally) an underground club in a former cruising toilet. It was one of the first clubs I went to when I moved to Berlin, and now I am lucky enough to be the booker there. It gives me a lot of joy, as it still feels like a last bastion of the Berlin underground. It is a place where I get to meet loads of new people who are young or new on the scene and looking to start their own parties. I think it is a place where everything is run for or by queer people and people who love left-of-field music. 

MAARA

LOCATION: Landwehrkanalufer, 10967 Berlin

WHY: I love going on runs along this canal, passing through this area and seeing all the swans and people enjoying the sun and the green trees. It makes me feel grounded and in nature.

ASHLEY

LOCATION: SOFI, Sophienstraße 21, 10178 Berlin,

WHY: Hands down the best "Käsebrot" in Berlin, many kiwis (I'm a New Zealander, and DJ Fuckoff's sister) have worked there over the years, and I always make sure to go say hi and get my Käsebrot fix when I am in Mitte. 

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The full map can be found here.