Being on Erasmus in Germany and having the chance to go to Berlin, I knew the club scene was an absolute must. Plagued with secrecy and sensuality, Berlin’s club scene is revered for its uniqueness through Europe. Though not as tricky to get into as Berghain, a world-renowned techno club in Berlin notorious for exclusivity, the KitKatClub is in the leagues of many other Berlin clubs that conduct what is essentially a vibe-check to determine if you are suitable to enter.
If you know me, you’ll know I’m extremely Type A. So, inherently, my pre-KitKat prep was extensive. I made a conscious effort to not be caught off guard too much, yet what I will caution is that you genuinely cannot anticipate what the experience is like. I think any effort to do so would be futile, so embrace the chaos and just go for it. That didn’t stop me from trying to be very well prepared, though. Most comments on Reddit suggested that skimpy, yet creative attire was the go-to. Absolutely no streetwear or casual clothing. I opted for a cutout one piece swimsuit and black leather boots – the most scandalous I’d be personally comfortable with.
We had been told to anticipate a fairly long line, particularly as it was a Saturday night, so we arrived slightly before midnight to try and get ahead of the crowd. After queuing for around 20 minutes, we were subject to the judgement of the bouncers to decide if we were ‘suitable’ for entry. The group ahead of us were turned away, laughing and holding canned drinks in line they got a subtle “not tonight,” which put a bit of a pit in my stomach, but nevertheless we approached as a group of 5, my one German speaking friend only uttering “für fünf.” After a few seconds of getting glared down, we were nodded inside.
”In retrospect it’s definitely worth it.”
Then we were onto line number two, into the room where we could wait to pay and get changed. We forked out €20 for admission per person, and while I’m typically pretty stingy about club admission prices, I’d say in retrospect it’s definitely worth it. The most difficult part about actually getting into the club, though, was still to come for the rest of the people I was with. Though the man at the coat check seemed satisfied enough with my outfit, the rest of my group were slightly more restrained, the women wearing skirts and corset tops and the men in open vests and fun trousers. In order to make it through the final hurdle, three of the five of us had to change.
”I don’t think you can properly enjoy it until you feel comfortable.”
About two hours in, I’d thankfully shaken off the shock factor of adjusting to the debauchery of my surroundings, which I was very happy about. I don’t think you can properly enjoy it until you feel comfortable. With that comfort came a real acceptance of the club, and the ability to turn off a voice in my head that would’ve judged some of the things I saw. I’ll leave the vast majority of it to your imagination, but envision various forms of sexual pleasure, taking place all across the labyrinth of rooms, varying from classic club dance rooms, to bars, to special ‘playtime’ dark rooms, to kink experimentation rooms.
”The emphasis on privacy but also by the true commitment to freely express oneself.”
In comparing KitKat to my experience at Dublin nightlife, I can wholeheartedly say that I enjoyed it much more; but for reasons quite independent to the particular charm of KitKat. Though I will say I entered the club eager to explore a more debaucherous side of myself, I left even more enamoured by the incredibly friendly, and open atmosphere inside, fostered both by the emphasis on privacy but also by the true commitment to freely express oneself. Leaving my phone in the cloakroom was jarring, even though I knew it was coming. I’m conditioned to cling to my phone at the club, whether it’s to get consistent location updates from friends, check the time (or my bank account), so I felt a bit exposed without it. But it also contributes to a massive blast-from-the-past effect, and I felt like I got a better insight into what clubbing may have looked like in my parent’s time, totally unplugged.
I felt incredibly confident in my own skin, heaps more than I do wearing three times the clothing. While I’ve been groped, stared at, and followed in clubs in Dublin, something I’d internalised as a reality of being a woman, KitKat heavily emphasised the importance of consent, where most people engaging in activities already knew each other. The lack of people aggressively ‘on the prowl,’ paired with the number of people who were very enthusiastic to participate in offerings made it very easy to stay on the sidelines if sex in public wasn’t your thing.
It felt like a small glimpse into what clubbing should be about – and no, I don’t mean the fisting, pegging, or whipping. I mean the fact that inside the club, you truly are in a self contained world, where you can headbang to a techno music that blends together so well it feels like a continuous song, then go get an espresso and gummy worms at the cafe, then skinny dip in or lounge by the pool, having some of the most interesting conversations of your life to unphased and barely clothed strangers. Nightlife, especially for young people, is a much needed escape, and KitKat satiated that desire entirely.
