Spätify — Späti in Kreuzberg, Berlin

Spätify sits on Wiener Straße in Kreuzberg, a short walk from Prinzenstraße station, and it is the kind of späti that rewards a proper look rather than a quick grab. The first thing you notice is how much is packed in: the selection runs wider than the usual crisps-and-beer lineup, and it stays open from 6:30 in the morning until 3 am, stretching to 4 am on Friday and Saturday.

For a drink, expect to pay somewhere between €2 and €4, which is the ordinary range for a späti in this part of Berlin. Cards are accepted, so you are not stuck hunting for cash on a late night out. The location on Wiener Straße puts it squarely on a route between Kreuzberg's bars and the U-Bahn at Prinzenstraße, which is exactly when a shop like this earns its keep.

How it works is simple: you walk in, the shelves are laid out for browsing rather than a rushed counter transaction, and the staff are quick and easy to deal with. It is a small shop, so do not expect aisles to linger in, but the range is broad enough that you can put together a proper late-night basket rather than settling for one item.

This is a späti that does the job well, and the long hours mean it is there when most other shops in the neighbourhood have long since closed.

It suits anyone staying in Kreuzberg who wants a drink or a snack after midnight without trekking to a supermarket, and it works just as well for an early-morning errand before the day properly starts.