As a California transplant, John Muir is a wonderfully welcome piece of home in my kiez. The inside feels like a San Francisco bar-the decor and atmosphere are cozy and hip. The owner is an Irishman who dresses the John Muir part and is friendly and knowledgable. I am not much of a cocktail person, but the drinks here are good. Admittedly, I would like my €7 cocktail to be a bit stronger, but the flavours are still unique. The beer selection is small but the focus is on quality and not quantity, so expect some good German brews on tap, as well as Anchor Steam. LOVE! They also have vegan root beer floats, although the vegan ice cream was out when I was there last. But I will be back. Pro tip: Show up early to secure a good spot, especially on weekends. The place can get pretty packed by about 10 p.m. read more

Best new bar in Kreuzberg. I love this place! It's so well appointed and the drinks are LEGIT! Definitely try the Honey Rye. Try 7 of them. AND they serve Anchor Steam, quite a treat for this San Franciscan... San Franciscite? San Franciscoanese? A lot of love and care was put into making this place look and feel special, not just some couches and the same ol' pilsener you see everywhere else. PROPER! read more

Terribly slow service and tiny portioned cocktails. The guy was taking his time mixing the cocktails, while his assistant was standing around, doing nothing...until i suggested she could as well serve some beer...."oh yeah, right...I work here too"....that is how i managed to get my beer after 10 minutes of waiting. The 2 points are given for the english speaking staff, the great company of friend-yelpers and the good location, right in the middle of the cool area of Kreuzberg. read more

I'm going to echo Mike A's sentiments about the rude bar staff. Even by Berlin standards, this place is bad. If you're on a date or looking for a relaxing drink in a nice atmosphere, go somewhere else. I'd read some good reviews, heard some good things, and was looking forward to visiting. My boyfriend took me along on my 29th birthday. It was a Friday evening, but the bar was fairly quiet; maybe 3-4 tables of people all drinking craft beer. My boyfriend headed to the bar and ordered two cocktails (at €8-10), the bartender told him it would be a few minutes. We know proper cocktails take ages to mix so he popped back to the table so I wouldn't be sitting like a norma no-mates playing with my phone. About five-ten minutes later the bartender showed up with our drinks, and said to us in a scolding manner "we don't do table service. You pay at the bar." My other half apologised, and explained he'd already paid. She totally ignored him, handed us our drinks, pointed to the bar and said "ummmm...?" at which point I snapped at her "we've already paid." She slunk off then a couple of minutes later turned up with a bowl of pretzels for every table. I don't understand why she couldn't have said to us "your drinks are at the bar" when she brought the snacks, and I don't know why she couldn't have confirmed with the other girl that we'd paid before coming over and talking to us like we're dirt. I'd already been thinking about which €9 drinks to order next, but after being spoken down to we decided to leave. If we hadn't already paid I'd have walked out as soon as she came over and stunk up the atmosphere. We were looking to spend a lot of money that evening, and I'd rather spend it somewhere that I can relax without worrying about getting spoken to like a child. I was so offended I even *gasp* deleted the photos I was going to share on Instagram and Twitter. Basically there are loads of awesome bars in Kreuzkolln, you do not need to put up with abuse to get a good cocktail. read more

Lovely cosy atmosphere, warmly lit with candles and soft jazz. Perfect for a date or drinks with friends. Top notch classic cocktails (best Negronis and Old Fashioneds in town) as well as a delicious and inspired cocktail menu which changes every season using their homemade syrups, juices and cordials, not to mention top-shelf liquers, spirits and bitters. A well selected beer menu of local and international ales, pilsners, stouts, bocks and IPAs. The staff are super friendly and more than happy to make something to order if you don't find something on the menu (but you most likely will.) The owner is highly knowledgeable, charming and accommodating. Making sure each customer feels right at home. Highly recommended!! read more

John Muir - Aperol Spritz on the sunny patio of John Muir - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

Best cocktail bar to my knowledge in Berlin. Cocktail bars in Berlin are not something I can generally rave about, but the care and interest in cocktail making going on here is really something special. The bar isn't big, and they turn up the outdoor tables pretty early to keep the noise inside, so I can't say when is best to go. We were there one night pretty late during the week, and four of us easily got a table and 2 rounds of drinks. I had a plum fizz and a basil mojito. YUM. The other hit was the Campfire which is made before your very eyes with real fire and smoke and brown booze. read more

The drinks here are delicious and the bartenders know their stuff! I ordered one of their specialty cocktails that was smoky and rich and came with a bruleed pineapple, as in they literally coated a slice of pineapple in sugar and took a torch to it. This complimented the mescal in the drink perfectly. My friend ordered an aviator, which was not listed on the menu, yet executed perfectly. My boyfriend was very pleased with the craft beer selection! So far I have been here twice in the summer, and I am really really hoping that this bar has a separate smoking area and still has breathable air in winter so I can continue to visit this place! Please don't let your bar fill up with smoke in the colder months!! read more

I like this place - it is a mix of everything American and German and is a good place to spend some time. The low roof and brick feel warm and intimate, and makes it feel like having a drink in someone's basement (in a good way). However, there is disco lighting in the men's room which was ... different. If you can hold onto your wallet (literally and figuratively - there were at least 4 "watch out for pickpockets" signs that I could see from my seat, and the cocktails are a little expensive for Berlin) this is a good place to sit and have a good long talk with a friend while drinking the best of American and German cocktails. read more

I remember the first time that I saw this place my friend and I were walking to an art show last summer and then these bright lights illuminated "JOHN MUIR". I was sold and we tried to come in but it was closed for a special event... Fast forward a year and few months I am back in Kreuzberg and John Muir is on the list of things to do! If you were to know me then you would know that I love John Muir.... So much so that I visited his home in Martinez, Ca. in the Spring. He's life and views of nature is amazing. But, you don't need to care about history, the Sierra's or Yosemite to come to the John Muir bar. Come, because they make EXCELLENT COCKTAILS and they have a good beer selection as well. Dan, the bartender can make a good Whiskey Sour and can make you laugh as well (he's a comedian) The ambiance is great, they give you pretzel sticks and peanuts to snack on which nowadays seems rare but greatly appreciated! The patrons of John Muir seemed to be a mix group of expats and tourist all of which were very friendly. Drinks are fair in price as well. They will not put a dent in your wallet. Smoking is allowed so if you are not a fan I suggest arriving early (as I did to avoid the stench) However it is not so bad as other places. When you walk in there is not a lingering smell that hits you like some places. In short Good drinks,... Especially if you like craft cocktails. Good vibe.. Good neighborhood... Inexpensive. AND for crying out loud it's named after an amazing naturalist, John Muir - the man! read more

We came here on a Monday night and were absolutely blown away by how amazing the cocktails were. The restaurant itself was cozy and the barstaff were super friendly and were more than happy to engage in conversation. They played old jazz and everything was lit by candle light. I had gotten a Monkey Shoulder on the rocks, while my friend had the Campfire, which literally tasted like a smokey campfire and topped with a toasted marshmallow. read more

John Muir - Monkey Shoulder on the rocks. - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

Glassware worthy of serving bourbon. Brickwork is a sweet backdrop to the Jazz standard tunes and swirling cigarette smoke curling around bearded hipsters. read more

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Super cozy, great atmosphere and - most important - some of the most amazing and tasteful artisan cocktails. Creative, unusual but laid-back and unpretentious, on top of the best music I've heard in a bar in Berlin. Bar staff is friendly and quick and good crowd of locals, expats and scene. read more

John Muir - Great selection of top shelf bourbon and rye whiskey! And great music selection as well (Velvet Underground at the moment). - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

The bar's atmosphere has a lot going for it. Its dark lite setting with smooth tunes in the background make this easily a speak easy type of meet up spot. The selection of drinks ranges from their own cocktail list, to whatever you want them to make, to a list of great whiskeys and of course they have a decent beer selection. The owner, Kate, has done a great job with this place and one would be remiss if they didn't visit this bar on their trip to Berlin. read more

I may still be in the honeymoon phase, but I keep coming up against places like this all over Berlin, over and over again. Great atmosphere, great decor, easy on the wallet, a refreshingly diverse clientele and more often than not, fantastic music wafting through the air. I'm in love with this city and I'm in love with this place. Hesitant to use the oft overused term "hipster", which to be fair is certainly a ubiquitous characteristic of many a place in Berlin, I don't think John Muir is trying to be anything but what it simply is: a fine place for "liquid libations" and excellent beatz. I first took accidental notice of the place not too long ago while walking down Skalitzer with a dear friend, the namesake of a beloved California hometown hero grabbing my curiosity in spades, drawing me into the warm glowing light from those glorious incandescent light bulbs. We didn't have the opportunity to go in, so I made a mental note... Fortune and circumstance now brings me back to these parts, and this time, with a colleague and plenty of relaxed minutes to kill, I had the chance to settle in. Cocktails are not my thing, and I am a disappointing lightweight when it comes to the drink. But wow, I was most appreciating the mixes on the menu. Places such as these can very easily toe the line with other similarly pretentious, trendy efforts. But I never got that feeling here. John Muir has a very relaxed atmosphere, inviting, caring, warm, enveloping you in the light and sound and feel of its decor. And I swear, all of this was before I had anything! I don't mean to wax poetic about this place, but... poetry. That's one word that does come to mind when I think of our night here. I left feeling light and airy and happy. I was made something off the menu with spicy ginger beer, cinnamon, and whisky. So warming. Oh, and the prices? Considering double the cost for the usual sickly sweet concoctions offered in most other small towns like Paris, London, Hong Kong, even the village of Frankfurt... You simply cannot go wrong. Even for those who absolutely staunchly refuse to try any of their cocktails, they have a small but wonderfully solid selection of beers and the usual softer drinks at hand. The place is small but cozy. I can imagine it getting absolutely stuffed to the gills at peak hours, but the weekday nights are more than manageable and relaxed. Not yet a year old... Oh I want this place to do so well. Live long and hearty, John Muir. I'll be seeing you around xo (aaaaaaaaand...they have karaoke nights!!! woooo hoooo!!!) read more

Excellent cocktails! Really interesting cocktail menu, plus the staff are great at recommending you something based on what you normally go for. Great ambience, super cosy! Lovely place to spend a few hours. read more

I visit Berlin quite often its like my second home and so is John Muir. The bar tenders are super cool and nice. Cocktails are great & fresh, and the beer selection is good too! You can find some American beers as well as local German craft brews. read more

Nice atmosphere, but the prices are totally out of control. The cheapest gin and tonic was quoted as €10, others were €11 or more. You can get the same gins for 3€ less in bars more classy than this. Prices like this insult my intelligence. read more

I leave this place and find myself thinking about what I am going to try on the menu the next time I am there. The cocktail menu changes monthly with a daily special so, if you become regular, there is always something new to sip on. This is the place to go if you are looking for a friendly bar to go in Kreuzberg. read more