Newer doesn’t always mean better, especially in Berlin. From analogue cameras and flip phones to reading actual books on the U-Bahn, Berliners have always embraced the appeal of all things retro, and nowhere is that more evident than in the city’s record shops. After a slight downturn, the city seems to have rediscovered its love for vinyls and finds itself in the middle of a full-blown vinyl revival.
Berlin currently has the highest concentration of record stores in Europe, with over 80 outlets scattered across the city. From legendary music shops like Hard Wax that have shaped Berlin’s club culture to hidden neighbourhood gems, our vinyl shop guide is full of great places in Berlin for crate-diggers, collectors and casual vinyl fans to find more of the music that moves them.
Dodo Beach
Dodo Beach is not just a record store, it’s a vinyl institution. Most of the discs they stock belong to the loosely defined rock genre, although you can records from various other genres as well. They also sell tickets to gigs organised by Trinity Music. The colourful shop, a literal block away from where David Bowie used to live, is decently sized and is decorated with music posters throughout.
- Dodo Beach, Vorbergstr. 8, Schöneberg, details
Holy’s Hit Records
With an incredibly diverse selection and plenty of rarities you can’t find anywhere else, Holy’s Hit Records is the place to go when you’re looking for something unique. Their jazz selection is especially noteworthy, but fans of rock’n’roll and more niche punk also won’t be disappointed!
- Holy’s Hit Records, Solmsstraße 33, Kreuzberg, details
Sound Metaphors
As much a record store as it is a DJ hub, 10-year-old Sound Metaphors is quite a sound place to stock up on vinyl. The store is run by a pair of DJs and party promoters, Castro Moore and Nemo Ripoll, who are experts in curation. They also have their own label and run a party series that visits clubs like Club OST and Berghain. Most of the records in the shop are from electronic artists, featuring genres like techno, house, ambient, tech house and dub alongside some funk and jazz gems. If you’re looking to shop with the pros, this is the place.
- Sound Metaphors, Weichselstraße 22, Neukölln, details
Logo
Fans of old school prog and rock need look no further than Kreuzberg’s Logo, a neighbourhood institution known as much for their curated selection as for the friendly and approachable person working behind the counter. With fair prices and gems you won’t find elsewhere, a trip to Logo can also be accompanied by popping into nearby Holy’s Hit Records, just a stone’s throw away.
- Logo, Nostitzstraße 32, Kreuzberg, details
Hard Wax
One of the OG Berlin record stores, Hard Wax opened the same year that the Wall came down. It became integral in the rise of club music in Berlin in the 90s, and it remains an important space for the city’s vinyl scene. Today, they stock mostly dub and techno records and are frequented by some of the biggest names in the industry.
- Hard Wax, Köpenicker Str. 70, Mitte, details
Galactic Supermarket
A truly galactic choice of records is on offer at this eclectic establishment. Boxes upon boxes and shelves upon shelves of hard-to-find discs stock every corner of the aptly named Galactic Supermarket. Their otherworldly choice makes other record stores look like Spätis by comparison.
- Galactic Supermarket, Petersburger Str. 89, Friedrichshain, details
HHV
Hop over to this hip F-hain shop for a well-curated selection of records in a wide variety of genres, both new and used. Their selection of discs is complemented by the store’s clothing selection. There are also regular live sets in the store, so check out their website to catch the next event.
- HHV, Grünberger Str. 54, Friedrichshain, details
Vinyl-a-GoGo
This cosy little store by Boxi has a small but curated selection of discs. Among their assortment are many rare and hard-to-find tracks that belong to a multitude of genres. Apart from 12″ and 7″ discs, they also have a decent selection of CDs.
- Vinyl-a-GoGo, Krossener Str. 24, Friedrichshain, details
Rough Trade
Rough Trade stocks everything and they even have a bar on site! The large, well-known Neukölln outlet sells both new and used vinyls and have regular events, like record signing and in-store acoustic sets.
- Rough Trade, Karl-Marx-Straße 101, Neukölln, details
POP
With a fabulous selection of new and old records, POP is famous for having some of the best-priced LPs in the city. With bins full of records for 2€ and 5€, this is undeniably the place to go if you want to stock up on records but are short on cash.
- POP, Yorckstraße 52, Schöneberg, details
KIMCHI Records
As if you needed any more reasons to love kimchi, aside from being delicious, it’s also the name of a record shop based in both Quito and Berlin. The shop stocks a wide variety of genres, both electronic and not, and is also the home base for KIMCHI RECORDS label and distribution. Check out their selection of mostly second-hand records and pop on a mix by one of their artists.
- KIMCHI Records, Richardstraße 7-8, Neukölln, details
Japan Records
Unlike KIMCHI Records, this shop is what it sounds like; Japan Records is known for importing vinyls from Tokyo. However, they also carry their fair share of other music – like Depeche Mode. Lots of Depeche Mode. There are limited opening hours, so check online before heading up there.
- Japan Records, Gustav-Adolf-Straße 168, Weissensee, details
Power Park Recordstore
With an incredibly diverse selection and friendly staff, Power Park primarily specialises in indie rock, classic sounds and jazz, but you can honestly find almost anything there. If you don’t exactly know what you’re looking for, the owner will be more than happy to help you pick something out!
- Power Park Record Store, Boxhagener Str. 56, Friedrichshain, details
Lefter Records
This record shop specialises in world music, and especially in Turkish music. The owner is a musician himself and knows plenty about what he stocks. The shop’s associated label is rumi sounds, who have Berlin’s own Saturno 4000 on their roster.
- Lefter records, Köpenicker Str. 168, Kreuzberg, details
Musicland
Musicland is the only record shop in Spandau, so it doesn’t have much competition, but it’s selection is so good that it’s totally worth the trip! If you’re after rare and obscure discs you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, Musicland might just have what you’re looking for.
- Musicland, Klosterstraße 12, Spandau, details
Coretex Records
An absolute staple of Berlin’s punk scene, Coretex at SO36 is the place to stock up on vinyls, clothes and merch related to the city’s world-famous punk subculture.
- Coretex Records, Oranienstraße 3, Kreuzberg, details
Bikini Waxx Records
If you’re looking for underground dance music, Bikini Waxx is where you want to head. Also located in Kreuzberg, this shop’s curated selection of electronic music is one of the best in Berlin – and that’s saying something.
- Bikini Waxx Records, Manteuffelstraße 48, Kreuzberg, details
Moon Dance
This eclectic shop tucked away in Wedding takes us back to the bygone era of poor-but-sexy Berlin. Stocking CDs and videos in addition to their LPs, Wedding’s smoker-friendly Moon Dance seems to be stuck in time in the best way possible. The cult shop stocks vinyls mainly hard rock and heavy metal, but it’s worth a visit even if those aren’t your genres.
- Moon Dance, Müllerstraße 167, Wedding, details
Purple Penny Records
Prenzlauer Berg’s Purple Penny has shelves full of garage rock and punk records. The lovely little neighbourhood shop also has friendly staff who will be glad to show you around their stock if you’re just starting to get your hands dirty.
- Purple Penny Records, Stargarder Str. 29, Prenzlauer Berg, details
Soultrade Records
If you’re looking for some jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, Afro or Brazilian beats, Soultrade in Kreuzkölln is your ticket. The shop owner isn’t necessarily chatty, but he’ll get the record you didn’t know you were looking for into your hands.
- Soultrade Records, Sanderstraße 29, Neukölln, details
OYE Records
OYE is a record shop that focuses on house, disco hip hop and jazz vinyls, but their selection spans other genres as well. There are two locations, one in Prenzlauer Berg and one in Neukölln, and the owner also hosts regular gigs and puts out a regular podcast.
- OYE Records, Oderbergerstr. 4, Prenzlauer Berg
- OYE Records, Friedelstr. 49, Neukölln, details
Spacehall
Featuring a huge selection of records on two floors, Spacehall is a record shop that can only be described as an institution. With a focus on electronic, rock and second-hard records, there’s a find in the shop for everyone. Their opening hours fluctuate, so be sure to check online before heading over.
- Spacehall, Zossener Straße 35, Kreuzberg, details
Pastiche International
Pastiche is a community and events space, hi-fi listening venue, label, café and record shop all rolled into one. They stock a highly curated selection of multiple genres and give weekly recommendations for their records, plus they have a full lineup of events every week. If you’re a music nerd, this is the place to check out!
- Pastiche International, Westerstraße 46, Neukölln, details
