CHARLOTTENBURG ­ WILMERSDORF. Dark, smoky, swanky, and jiving ­ A-Trane is the quintessential Berlin jazz venue, a joint that provides the perfect end to a busy day of meetings or sightseeing. Performers are known the world over, from Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis to Nina Hill and Alice Coltrane, and the hip, knowledgable crowd keeps a cacophony going over the intimate den. If you're searching for "cool" in Berlin, this is the place to find it. S-BAHN: Savignyplatz

MITTE. This dark and cozy jazz bar serves up mostly local and regional musicians. Very popular on weekends.

MITTE. Bassy attracts an eclectic crowd, and it's not only for cowboys. The soundtrack is mostly music from the '50s and '60s, and the dress code is similar. Find yourself dancing wildly to jangling surf-rock, stomping country or old fashioned rock 'n' roll ­ indeed the way it was meant to be. Most weekends feature live bands as well. Hats, tattoos and beards are encouraged (even for the ladies).

TEMPELHOF ­ SCHÖNEBERG. Big names like Nine Inch Nails and Blondie have made this stop. Located beside the ColumbiaClub, this branch of the complex is one of Berlin's largest indoor rock venues. U-BAHN: Platz der Luftbrücke

CHARLOTTENBURG ­ WILMERSDORF. A high-impact crowd grooves to the disco sounds of the past 30 years. The huge dance floor, packed with 20-something artists and students, comes alive after midnight. U-BAHN: Adernauerplatz