Clärchens Ballhaus, Berlin

This long-standing dancehall first opened in 1913 and was the scene of much hedonism during the 1920s before it was forced into hibernation by, first, fascism and then communism. But now it’s very much back in style and a great place to go for traditional dancing. Nights are themed according to the day of the week, with salsa on Mondays; Tango on Tuesdays; swing on Wednesdays; waltz, disco or rumba on Thursdays; while weekends vary. But whatever the night, the crowd couldn’t be more varied in age or style. Arrive early in the early evening for free dance instructions (times on website). The most eye-catching part of the old-fashioned hall is the upstairs mirror room, where concerts are held on Sunday afternoons. Surprisingly, Clärchens also dishes up excellent thin-crust pizzas, so you needn’t go hungry after shaking a leg.

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