A Berlin club with its own island, Insel is one of the more unique spaces in Berlin. Admittedly a way out of town, it’s a pleasant bike ride on a summer’s night. The castle-like building (based on a painting of a Scottish convent), dating back to the 1880s, has undergone various incarnations as a restaurant and communist youth centre before evolving into a club spread over three floors with a fantastic roof terrace overlooking the Spree. In the week, the building is used as a rehearsal space for young bands and various poetry readings, film showings and comedy events also take place. Live bands and DJs play on Friday and Saturday nights and the ‘Lazy Sunday’ afternoon party (ska, reggae, downbeat) perfectly rounds off the weekend. During the summer, bands take to an outdoor stage, while a young, artistic crowd lounges on hammocks above the manmade beach. Parties often extend well into the next day.