CHARLOTTENBURG ­ WILMERSDORF. Dark, smoky, swanky, and jiving ­ A-Trane is the quintessential Berlin jazz venue, a joint that provides the perfect end to a busy day of meetings or sightseeing. Performers are known the world over, from Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis to Nina Hill and Alice Coltrane, and the hip, knowledgable crowd keeps a cacophony going over the intimate den. If you're searching for "cool" in Berlin, this is the place to find it. S-BAHN: Savignyplatz

MITTE. This dark and cozy jazz bar serves up mostly local and regional musicians. Very popular on weekends.

TEMPELHOF ­ SCHÖNEBERG. Big names like Nine Inch Nails and Blondie have made this stop. Located beside the ColumbiaClub, this branch of the complex is one of Berlin's largest indoor rock venues. U-BAHN: Platz der Luftbrücke

CHARLOTTENBURG ­ WILMERSDORF. A high-impact crowd grooves to the disco sounds of the past 30 years. The huge dance floor, packed with 20-something artists and students, comes alive after midnight. U-BAHN: Adernauerplatz

FRIEDRICHSHAIN. This progressive music venue is housed in an old US military movie house. Musical figures like Ani DiFranco and Iggy Pop have made appearances. These days the club presents edgy independent acts such as Tegan and Sarah or Hot Chip. Saturday nights are host to the FritzClubDisco, featuring an eclectic mix of Indie Rock, Soul and Electro.