As a city with so many different possibilities, Berlin offers a huge range of locations and activities for your annual holiday party. If you're looking for inspiration or new ideas to make your company holiday party an unforgettable event, keep reading! In this article, we've put together various activities and locations in Berlin suited to larger or smaller companies and teams. Indoors, outdoors, with a focus on cuisine, or as a team building event, whatever your idea of a successful holiday party looks like, you'll find examples and suggestions here. Get inspired!

Hosting a company holiday party in Berlin - 8 ideas for large and small groups

Every company and team is different, and there's no single perfect holiday party. A successful celebration is one where everyone has fun, exchange within or between teams is encouraged, and the goals of the celebration are met.

In general, the company holiday party is a festive send-off to the year, where everyone spends time together, and employees are rewarded for their work through a nice meal, a shared activity, or small gifts. Should the mood be especially festive and holiday-focused, are you more drawn to adventurous activities, or should the cultural aspect take center stage? Our ideas should give you a sense of the possibilities.

Classic: holiday market at Gendarmenmarkt

Berlin has many lovely holiday markets to offer. Highlights include the holiday market in Spandau's old town, the market in front of Charlottenburg Palace, and the holiday market at Gendarmenmarkt. Against an impressive historic backdrop, you can stroll and indulge to festive music. A great option for smaller teams to soak in Berlin's holiday atmosphere and enjoy a holiday menu together in one of the tents.

Mobile holiday market in your company courtyard

A holiday market in your own space, or at your company grounds, has many advantages: costs can be lower since you skip renting a venue, you have more flexibility, and control over more factors. A special highlight is your own mobile holiday market with a mulled wine stand, holiday food, and festive decorations in your company courtyard. Where can you rent a mobile holiday market? Our event experts have already organized such markets for clients and can help you find the right providers and put together a program. Just reach out to us!

Murder mystery dinner - solving mysteries and dining

Especially for festive occasions, combining dining and culture is hugely popular. If you want to solve mysteries together and dive straight into a criminal case, book a murder mystery dinner for your holiday party, these are also available with holiday-themed cases. A classic, unusual, or plant-based holiday menu (whatever your preference) paired with the pleasant chills of a mystery makes for a celebration that'll be remembered for a long time.

Escape room as a holiday team event

Want more activity for your holiday party, and should the event double as a team building measure? Escape rooms are popular as a team event for good reason, since solving puzzles together strengthens a sense of community and creates an exciting evening or afternoon. Luckily, escape rooms come in many different themes, so you're sure to find a fitting setting, maybe even a holiday-themed story.

By the way: if part of your team is remote and should be included, an online escape game is a great alternative that includes everyone, solving puzzles and secrets together virtually. Here you'll find some popular virtual escape rooms you can book directly!

(Holiday) karaoke

Many of us remember it from childhood, or keep the tradition alive in our families: singing together at the holidays. A little less traditional, but still full of fun and community spirit, is a visit to a karaoke bar or an online karaoke game, where everyone can show off their talent and passion for singing. Tip: check beforehand whether everyone will genuinely enjoy this, and which music genre is most popular, so everyone can enjoy the evening and sing along! (Not everyone likes singing, or knows current chart-topping pop songs. Younger people, on the other hand, might not connect as much with oldies.)

Theater or variety show in Berlin

Combining your holiday party with an evening full of culture is also a popular activity. Berlin has plenty to offer here, for example the Wintergarten in Berlin Schöneberg, but smaller stages often have lovely holiday shows in their program too. If the theater doesn't offer a dinner option, the evening can start with a meal at a festive restaurant.

Culinary city tour

What are typical Berlin dishes and drinks? Which holiday dishes from German cuisine, or international cuisines, are popular? A culinary city tour puts the focus on delicious treats and takes you (depending on the tour's theme) through top restaurants or cozy neighborhood spots, breweries, shops, bars, or other locations where you can taste select specialties. Along the way, you'll get to know a specific neighborhood and its highlights.

Celebrating Lucia as a company holiday party

Berlin also offers various opportunities to experience international holiday traditions. Popular examples include the Lucia holiday market at Kulturbrauerei and the Lucia celebration at Berlin Cathedral, where you can experience traditional Swedish customs. Alternatives include the Japan market, the English holiday market, or the Finnish or Danish holiday market.

9 popular Berlin locations and insider tips for your holiday party

Berlin is known for offering something for every cultural interest and taste. The various national cuisines of the world, from popular to lesser-known ones, Berlin's regional cuisine, or food trends, there's little Berlin's offering doesn't cover. If your holiday party is set at a restaurant, you'll find nearly unlimited options, as long as you book early, since popular locations get booked up quickly. Alternatives to restaurants, from various large and small Berlin stages to clubs to different attractions, are also available and suited for a holiday party. Our 9 locations give you a small glimpse into the possibilities.

de maufel - Luxembourgish lifestyle in the heart of Berlin

One cuisine many of you probably haven't tried yet is Luxembourgish cuisine. At de maufel in Berlin-Charlottenburg, that's exactly what you'll find: Luxembourgish cooking inspired by the neighboring cuisines of Lorraine, Alsace, and the Palatinate, along with Luxembourg wines and Crémants. By the way, the restaurant also offers catering, so you can have Luxembourgish cuisine delivered to your office too, if you're holding your holiday party in your own space.

MADI - comedy, dance, and acrobatics

A dinner show with 1001 Nights atmosphere awaits at MADI in Berlin-Tegel. Up to 200 people fit in the cozy, atmospheric tent, and alongside your 3-course menu, you'll be entertained by a musical program with comedy, dance, and acrobatics. Beyond the dinner show, individual attractions can be arranged on request, such as fortune telling.

Christmas Garden - a holiday light spectacle in a botanical setting

Fascinating light installations in the spectacular Botanical Garden Berlin, paired with mysterious music and a magical atmosphere amid the trees, shrubs, and plants. This illuminated holiday world creates a truly festive atmosphere even without snow, thanks to its sparkling, glittering light artworks. Along the fairytale walking route, food stands offer hot drinks and sweet and savory snacks.

Meyan Berlin - delicious Turkish cuisine

Enjoy Turkish food in a venue with brick warehouse flair at Meyan in Berlin-Schöneberg. If you're looking for a relaxed, cozy atmosphere for your holiday party instead of a formal setting, this restaurant with a catering offering is a great choice. The venue can be rented for celebrations, but also delivers food to your event location or office. Vegetarian and vegan options are of course included too.

Hüttenzauber - holiday party on a ship

A cozy holiday cabin atmosphere isn't only found in the mountains, but also on the water in Berlin. At Hüttenzauber, you choose between rustic or modern ambiance, on or in the water, optionally with your own small holiday market. A romantic fireplace, festive music, and a wintery buffet create the right holiday mood. Depending on the location you choose, 15 to 100 people can celebrate together cozily.

Große Orangerie - celebrate against a fairytale Berlin castle backdrop

Celebrate the holidays in a fairytale atmosphere, with a visit to the historic holiday market in front of Charlottenburg Palace. Große Orangerie offers several rooms for 100 to 600 people, rentable for celebrations. On request, a gala dinner is available, and musical accompaniment can be booked from members of the Berlin Residence Orchestra.

Bolle Meierei - historic industrial ambiance

Bolle Meierei is the right choice if you're looking for a rustic location with industrial charm. 200 to 750 guests fit across various rooms, and your holiday meal can be booked as a menu or buffet on top. Are guests from outside Berlin attending your holiday party? Bolle Meierei includes a hotel where rooms can be booked.

BergWerk Berlin - action and coziness for your holiday party

Interested in a sporty activity for your holiday party that doubles as an incentive and team building measure? How about climbing together? Afterward, catering is available, for example pizza or a holiday buffet. BergWerk Berlin's various holiday packages are designed for groups of different sizes and different climbing challenges and catering options.

Clärchens Ballhaus - a holiday party with a '20s theme

Clärchens Ballhaus in Berlin Mitte has been around since 1913, and for many years, this historic venue has been one of Berlin's most popular event locations. Celebrate in the historic 1920s ambiance of its largely unchanged Spiegelsaal (mirror hall). Michelin-quality cuisine with a vegan option ensures culinary wellbeing. Definitely a location that leaves an impression.

Holiday party at the Olympic Stadium

Did you know you can book Berlin's famous Olympic Stadium for events? Various rooms are available, from the team lounge to the stadium chapel. In a VIP box, for example, you can celebrate with up to 30 people, while larger spaces like the foyer offer room for up to 1,700 people. A holiday highlight: optionally, you can book a spectacular light show with musical accompaniment.

Plan an unforgettable holiday party in Berlin with heycater!

Since heycater! is headquartered in Berlin, and many of us have lived in this city for years, we know the German capital especially well when it comes to caterers, locations, and event programs for corporate parties. We've already brought unique holiday parties in Berlin to life for many different companies. If you'd like support with planning and execution, since especially large holiday parties for many guests can mean significant work, we're happy to support you at every step of the organization. Feel free to reach out!