"This is important in Berlin: it has this community and neighbourhood component. While the basic selection of goods tends to remain the same, there are those that differentiate themselves based on the preferences of locals in their kiez, or the neighbourhood in the immediate blocks around them.Ī späti and its kiez work in tandem, each supporting the other – it's no wonder many Berliners have a bit of a soft spot for their local outpost. Their density is so prolific that you wonder how each manages to stay in business selling the same things: colourful bags of Haribo gummies, Ritter Sport's square-shaped chocolate bars, shampoo forgotten during the day's errands.īut look a little closer and each späti, often owned by immigrants to Berlin, has its own personality – one that's a reflection of its owner, clientele and location within the city. According to the city's official website, there are around 1,000 spätis in Berlin's central districts, and like the city's Bäckereien (bakeries), they seem to be found on almost every street. Much like France's boulangeries and wine and cheese shops, which were deemed " indispensable for the continuity of the life of the nation", Berlin's spätis were also considered essential and allowed to stay open during the pandemic's hard lockdown. But during the pandemic, and particularly during the warmer months, they became essential fuelling stations for outdoor gatherings, as shuttered bars and nightclubs turned social life inside out. They supply locals and tourists with cigarettes, snacks and €1 after-work wegbiers ("beers you drink on the go"). Formally known as a Spätkauf, which translates-ish to "late shop," a späti can be found on most blocks in the city and is open late into the night – if not all night. New York City has its bodegas, Paris its tabacs, and Berlin its Spätis.