Destined to polarize opinions, this chic bar was seen by some as the arbiter of doom for Neukölln, while others heralded its arrival as a much-needed alternative for the local scene. Pigalle represents a marked departure for Reuterkiez nightlife—one that may be either lauded or scorned by those who have been around long enough to witness the evolution of the neighborhood.

With blackened windows and an imposing metal doorway flanked by two doormen that leads into an empty anteroom, it can be difficult to tell just what lies within this corner space. But proceed through the first chamber and past the second door (you must first be buzzed in) and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped through a portal into another city: Paris or New York, perhaps. Of course the bar’s name pays homage to the Quartier and Place Pigalle in Paris, famous for its main drag of sex shops and the many famous impressionist artists who took inspiration from the night people that made their home there, but the smoky interior of Bar Pigalle is all long, low banquets, lighting that is pure perfection, and a crowd so fashionable you’ll scarcely believe you’re in Berlin, let alone Neukölln.

Not only is this bar chic, but in a city full of establishments that constantly seem to violate the laws of physics with how many people they manage to pack in, it is also well-planned and well-designed. Confining the decks and the dance floor to the back, for example, makes it possible to find your comfort zone without pushing through hundreds of movers and shakers. And although it might seem out of place in the formerly run-down neighborhood, the “bouncers” and entrance chamber give the bar an air of exclusivity sorely lacking in the Berlin nightlife scene.