Imagine a hole in the wall that is as clean cut as a laser printer.--a small joint that is quaint and cozy, yet makes you want to sit with your head held high. Rum Traders is a bar for real Germans--real Berliners--and the staff wants you to know it. I felt tested for worth upon ringing the bell to the in-set black door, locked from the outside, with nothing but a small plaque revealing the name and emblem of the Charlottenburg Rum bar. I guess I was lucky to have washed my hair and thrown on a sophisticated, but casual dress, because, the waiters are dressed prim and proper, with pin stripes, vests, and bow ties, hair slicked back and glasses that make you question your own sight. The drinks? Yes, there's a menu, but No. I was not offered one... Somehow a friend and I scored the prime corner booth seat that was clearly the most comfortable and well positioned. The drinks, specializing of course in Rum cocktails, are impressively tasty and scream "classy evening hideaway in the times of the Prohibition." No more expensive than a normal cocktail, ranging between 10 and 11 Euro, the drinks come in small goblets, fancy Martini and rounded cocktail glasses with fine detail. Nothing is overdone, especially not the volume of the Music. We had a funny, young and welcoming Berliner couple at the table with us, who were kind enough to share their German slang with us. Though the man who seemed to own the place was less than comforting to our company, we managed to ignore his snafus and rude insinuations. The other waiter was much kinder and much more pleasant. There isn't much space, so if you can snag a seat you are definitely a winning visitor of this local favorite. I enjoyed the walk to the U-bahn station, too, since Charlottenburg is a very nicely renovated part of the West. (Enough travel book talk- I was slightly offended by the comments of the staff, but the quality of drinks and the old time, fancy lounge atmosphere made up for any faux pas). Definitely a lovely night with a dear friend and the perfect atmosphere to talk and rant and make ridiculous jokes without having to speak over a loud crowd. Ranging from 1 to 10, I'd do it again.
kaledo-art
stormborns
blakekathryn
prguitarman
