Down the street from a neon-signed, two-story sex shop in Schöneberg—a neighbourhood known for its queer community and nightlife since the 1920s—is Victoria Bar. This grown-up drinking spot is as sophisticated as it gets around here, serving champagne cocktails from its luminous, glass-stacked, wood-panelled bar until 4am some nights. The drinks list is long, but we gravitate toward the French75, served with a glacé cherry, naturally, and mint grown in the owner’s garden. Thriving since 2001, Victoria Bar offers a timeless noughties glamour that makes us feel like we’ve made it. The black-tie, black-rimmed glasses wearing servers aren’t as intimidating as they look, so pluck up the courage and do as the silver-framed handwritten sign behind the bar says: “Come on, just a sip for a daddy.”