Inside Lab.oratory, Berlin's Most Notorious Gay Club

Berlin's nightlife is legendary for pushing boundaries, but few venues have cultivated a reputation as intense as Lab.oratory. Located in the same building complex as the world-famous Berghain in Friedrichshain, this men-only space has established itself as Berlin's most uninhibited gay club.

We’d go one step further: Lab.oratory is the most celebrated gay sex club on the planet. No other venue comes close.

The Industrial Setting

Lab.oratory (often simply called "Lab") embraces its name with an industrial aesthetic that feels both clinical and subversive. Housed in a former power plant, the space retains its utilitarian character with concrete floors, exposed piping, and minimal decoration. This stark environment is intentional – it creates a backdrop where conventional social norms dissolve, allowing for a uniquely Berlin experience. It’s location in former East Berlin gives it an air of Cold War desolation which, for some reason, makes it more kinky.

The venue's layout includes multiple rooms connected by hallways and dark corners, creating a labyrinthine quality that adds to its mystique. First-time visitors often describe feeling as though they've entered another world entirely, one with its own codes and customs far removed from everyday life.

How wild is Lab.oratory?

Oh babe, it’s very wild. This is not your standard gay bar experience. Unless you’re feeling quite comfortable in you’re sexuality, it’s likely to be too much. You should break the ice first at some less hedonistic places and work your way up to Lab.oratory.

Many guys queuing at the bar will be naked. Sometimes two guys will get chatting at the bar, and before you know it one of them is leaning over the bar seemingly looking for something. Until you realise that he’s getting to know the person behind him.

Berlin's Culture of Hedonism

To understand Lab.oratory's significance requires understanding Berlin's unique historical relationship with sexual liberation. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, abandoned spaces throughout the city became hubs for experimental nightlife. The emerging techno scene and LGBTQ+ communities found common ground in these spaces.

Lab.oratory emerged within this context, establishing itself as a venue that rejected conventional boundaries between nightlife and sexuality. While many cities worldwide have venues with similar themes, few embrace this concept with Berlin's unselfconscious directness. The essence of Berlin hedonism can be traced back further to the Weimar era.

Themed Events

Some nights focus on specific dress codes (often featuring leather, sports gear, or military themes), while others are organized around particular activities or fetishes. Some of the themes are on the extreme end of the kind spectrum, so make sure to check their website and chose a theme you’re comfortable with.

Beyond the hedonistic elements, regulars speak of finding genuine community within Lab's walls. For many transplants to Berlin, these themed nights provide entry points into social circles that might otherwise be difficult to access. Social barriers fall as quickly as your trousers, and new aquaintances are made.

The Berghain Connection

Lab.oratory's location in the same complex as Berghain creates a symbiotic relationship between the venues. While distinct in focus and operation, both share a philosophy of personal freedom and expression that defines Berlin's club culture.

Many visitors make pilgrimages to the complex to experience both venues during a weekend in Berlin, with each space offering a different facet of the city's nightlife. The infamous Berghain door policy contrasts with Lab's more straightforward entry requirements (primarily focused on gender rather than the nebulous "vibe" assessment Berghain is known for).

This connection adds to Lab's mythos, placing it within the constellation of venues that have defined Berlin's cultural renaissance since reunification.

Further reading: How to get into the Berghain

Rules and Etiquette

Despite its anything-goes reputation, Lab.oratory operates with clear community standards. Photography is strictly prohibited – a rule enforced more seriously than perhaps anywhere else in Berlin's club scene. This camera ban protects privacy and contributes to an atmosphere where people can express themselves without fear of documentation.

The venue also maintains clear consent protocols. Despite the uninhibited atmosphere, boundaries are taken seriously, with staff intervention available if needed.

Cultural Impact Beyond Berlin

Lab.oratory's influence extends well beyond its physical location. It has become a reference point in discussions about urban sexual freedom and alternative nightlife, appearing in academic papers on queer spaces and urban studies. Cultural commentators often cite it when discussing Berlin's unique position in global nightlife culture.

For many gay travelers to Berlin, visiting Lab has become something of a rite of passage – an experience that encapsulates a particular aspect of the city's appeal. This tourism aspect has created an interesting dynamic where the venue simultaneously maintains its local character while adapting to its international reputation. Some gay men travel to Berlin because they want to experience Lab and Berghain.

The Practical Experience for Visitors

For those curious about experiencing Lab.oratory firsthand, several practical considerations shape the visit:

The venue typically opens late and continues until morning hours or beyond, embracing Berlin's notorious timeline where nights out often start after midnight and continue well into the following day. The entrance procedure is straightforward by Berlin standards – ID checks and a cover charge, but without the anxiety-inducing door selection associated with Berghain.

Inside, the venue provides secure lockers for storing belongings, as many events have specific dress codes or encourage minimal clothing. The bar serves drinks at prices reasonable by clubbing standards, though significantly less emphasis is placed on alcohol than in conventional nightclubs.

Smartphone use is discouraged for privacy reasons, creating a rare contemporary environment where people are fully present rather than documenting their experience – a refreshing change for many visitors used to more social media-conscious venues. You will not be posting on your Instagram stories so you can pretend you’re having fun. You’ll likely have actual fun and memories that may not seem real. Did I really do all those things with all those guys?