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Eldorado (site)

Historic Venue 1926

Most famous drag cabaret of Weimar Berlin — closed by the Nazis three months before Hitler took power.

Google (1394) 4.5

/ 100

GayOut Score

G4.5

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Address

Motzstraße 15, Schöneberg, 10777 Berlin, Germany

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About this place Eldorado (site)

The Eldorado at Motzstraße 15 was the most famous of the Weimar-era drag and lesbian cabarets, though it was one of several. It opened in early 1926 (an earlier Eldorado had run on Lutherstraße from 1918) and quickly became the address foreign visitors were given when they asked their hotel concierge for "the interesting nightlife". Its posters carried the slogan *"Hier ist's richtig!"* — "This is the place!" The programme was mixed: cross-dressing performers, drag numbers, a lesbian trio called Die Drei Damen, tango exhibitions, and after midnight a general dance floor open to everyone. Marlene Dietrich was a regular; Anita Berber danced here. Christopher Isherwood mentions the Eldorado repeatedly in *Goodbye to Berlin* (though never by name); the composite bar in Bob Fosse's *Cabaret* is largely modelled on it. SA storm troopers began raiding it in 1930. It was formally closed under a Prussian decree in November 1932 — three months before Hitler took power. The premises were requisitioned by the Nazi party in 1933 for an SA office; the drag performers who continued into 1933-4 were among the first Paragraph 175 arrests. Klaus Mann called the Eldorado's destruction "the graveyard of the Republic". The Motzstraße 15 building survived the war. It is now an Edeka supermarket, with no permanent plaque on the façade. A small mural of Eldorado dancers was added to the corner of Motzstraße and Kalckreuthstraße in 2019 by the Schwules Museum's public-art initiative. Come here on the Schöneberg heritage walk between Nollendorfplatz and Bülowstraße; the current building is architecturally continuous with the Weimar-era street elevation, so a slow walk down Motzstraße gives you the streetscape Isherwood knew.

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Google Reviews

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4.5

★★★★★

1,394 reviews

Based on 1,394 Google reviews.

Chantinity Jul 2026

★★★★★

This has become one of my favorite Spanish restaurants, and I keep coming back for a reason. The food is consistently amazing, and I genuinely crave their huevos rotos—they’re an absolute must-order. What makes this place so special, though, is the whole experience. The staff are always incredibly friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is relaxed and full of good energy, and it’s dog-friendly, which I really appreciate. It’s one of those places where you always know you’re going to have a great meal and leave happy. If you’re looking for authentic Spanish food, great service, and a warm, lively vibe, this is it. Highly recommend!

Maks Chorney Jul 2026

★★★★★

Good steak

Александр Липский Jul 2026

★★★★★

Everything was absolutely delicious! The service was impeccable, and the meat was of the highest quality. It's the first restaurant I've ever been to where they really don't skimp on the alcohol in their cocktails. The steaks were incredibly juicy and cooked to perfection. The service was also first-class – the staff were attentive, friendly, and professional. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a wonderful evening and enjoy excellent food. I will definitely be back!

hannes probst Jun 2026

★★★★★

It was nice. Good food, pleasant service. Good value for money.

MATTEO VIGO Jun 2026

★★★★★

I made a reservation through TheFork for 8:30 pm. As is so often the case with online services, the reservation wasn't in the system, and the waiter who greeted us seemed visibly annoyed. When we finally sat down, we had to wait about 20 minutes for our order and another 40 minutes for the food. The food was terrible. The Serrano ham was cheap, low-quality stuff from a discount store. The rib-eye steak was awful and tasted like it had been thawed. The chicken breast tasted like squid – it was probably cooked together with the calamari. €153.00 for four people, ordering three steaks, one chicken breast, two beers, and a water. A complete rip-off! On top of that, there were speeders tearing along Kurfürstendamm at 100 km/h behind us. A chaotic world, reflected in the restaurant industry. Pure culinary frustration.