MULTISEX — A NEW CHAPTER
After multiple years at Watergate, one of Berlin’s most hyped parties is switching venues. Can they keep the spirit alive?
It’s been three months since Watergate closed its doors forever. The finality still feels surreal. While I had a deep connection to this iconic venue, let’s be honest: post-pandemic, most events there were shit! However, one party series stood out – Multisex.
This event breathed new life into the beautiful riverside location. Their formula for success combined several key elements: a dedicated following from their previous OHM residency, impeccable music curation, selective door policy, and subtle yet effective modifications to the space that transformed the venue while preserving its familiar essence.
Multisex managed to recapture what made Watergate special, creating an atmosphere that honored the club’s legacy while bringing something fresh and exciting. For those in Berlin’s underground scene, Multisex became the must-attend event that rekindled our love for a legendary space.
Forced Change
However, I’m not here to dwell in nostalgia or bore you with the past. What matters is that following Watergate’s closure announcement, the Multisex organizers needed a new home. Continuing their pattern of revitalizing somewhat “forgotten” venues—at least among regular Berlin party guests—they made their announcement. For 2025, their location of choice will be Globus, the upper floor of the legendary Tresor Club.
Like Watergate, Tresor represents Berlin nightlife heritage—a true OG. Yet fame brings its challenges. Despite delivering excellent lineups, Tresor has become notorious as a tourist destination. With some of the worst crowd there is. The venue often fills with visitors who’ve heard about the “incredible Berlin techno scene” but have never experienced a proper set or familiarized themselves with appropriate club etiquette. It’s typically not a destination locals would choose when seeking a great night out.
What is it about?
To understand if Multisex is still a good place to go and if the legacy can continue, it’s important to quickly understand what kind of party it is. The name is confusing and some people think it is a sex-party. But far from it. It is a sexy party! Panormabar on steroids. The first time I visited the party, a random guy told me:
It is sex for the eyes!
It’s a place to be stylish, to dress up (in Berlin-chic fashion), to feel sexy, and confident about yourself. Rarely have I seen such a beautiful crowd as at Multisex. And people know they’re hot. They wear it with pride.
That’s why the atmosphere might also feel arrogant or snobby to some. Less inclusive and heavily based on social cliques. During my first visits, I was overwhelmed by this dynamic. And I wasn’t alone in this feeling—just check out what others have written on Reddit about their experiences. Yet, despite this initial intimidation, Multisex always felt special. Out of the ordinary. This unique atmosphere, combined with consistently excellent music, drew me back again and again.
Expectations
Of course I visited the last Multisex at Watergate in December 24. How could I have missed it? And let me tell you, it was incredible!
The lighting was spectacular and the music consistently banging. For 24 hours the place was absolutely boiling. At night, it was “just” a great party. But in the morning, when the sun came up… oh boy. The motivated people stayed, and the tired ones got replaced by a swarm of sexy, freshly styled and energized new guests. And this is when it truly got messy. Bottles constantly dropping on the floor. Glass shattering. Scenes unfolding everywhere. Those incredibly good-looking people around you behaving like animals. Yes, messy is truly the best word to describe it!
It was the perfect way to say goodbye to Watergate. But don’t get me wrong—while my expectations were high, I didn’t go to Tresor to find a replacement for what used to be. I knew it would be different. I was ready for a change.
How it began
It was clear from the beginning that it would be fundamentally different. Globus has no outside daylight connection. No windows. It is far bigger capacity-wise. Those were the two main thoughts I had.
But to counter this, the times were adjusted. The party went from 14:00 until 8:00 or 10:00 on Monday morning (I didn’t stay till the end). So the prime time was set to be in the dark anyway.
When I arrived at 16:00, there was barely a queue. And until 20:00, the dance floor was basically empty. The vibe was still nice. People were mingling and getting adjusted to the place. It was good, but unusual. Within Watergate, it was possible to close the upper floor, and thus the club felt full very quickly. Here, however, due to logistics, the whole place needed to open all at once, and those long lines and overcrowded situations were lost.
Honestly, it was refreshing. I haven’t been to Globus in years, and it allowed me to look around and start calmly. But Berliners have a weird obsession with standing in Line, so at the same time it was strange to experience the opposite. Throughout the night, I didn’t hear from anyone waiting for longer than 30 minutes. There was a constant influx of people, but it was well distributed.
As a result, you could feel the place filling up, but until the moment I left (3:00 AM), it never felt overcrowded. Something that was definitely not the case at Watergate. There, at times it was so packed that it took you an hour to get from one end of the dance floor to the other. Sadly, I am not exaggerating. But hate me for it, this also somehow played into the vibe
Technicalities
It’s difficult for me to compare the setup as I haven’t been to Tresor in ages, but lighting-wise it was once again done very stylishly. A laser above the DJ booth served as the centerpiece, complemented by light bars around the floor and thoughtful programming that enhanced the overall vibe.
This attention to detail extended to the chill spaces, which were close to the dance floor. Yet away quiet enough to have a good conversation in a dimly lit, comfortable niche. I missed a bit of character, though. While the lighting was warm, the space still felt somewhat sterile. Some plants would have been an incredible addition to soften the industrial atmosphere.
One surprisingly disappointing aspect was the Tresor staff. Both wardrobe and bar service were frustratingly slow. It wasn’t even overcrowded, but they were so inefficient and overwhelmed (by what, I don’t know) that everything took ages. For a club that has existed for such a long time, this caught me by surprise. The toilet situation, on the other hand, was far better than at Watergate and usually resulted in waiting times of less than 15 minutes.
Another aspect that moved in the right direction was the pricing. Entry was set at 28 Euro and included wardrobe service and re-entry. Given the high popularity and long guest list, I understand why the price is relatively high. But I hope that in the future they won’t charge separately for wardrobe and re-entry, as otherwise it would quickly fall into the category of overpriced events.
Iconic Sound
While this also falls under the topic of technicalities, it deserves its own paragraph. My expectations were really high. Over the years, I’ve known Multisex as a staple of consistently excellent music. At all previous parties I’ve attended, I always had the feeling that no matter when I went on the dancefloor, it was great. The same goes for the upstairs area of Watergate, which functioned partly as a second floor. It was primarily a chill space with ambient music that occasionally ramped up. Still, always a pleasure.
This time it was basically one floor only. Technically, Aurora Bar served as a second dancefloor, but it closed around midnight. I barely spent time there. Whenever I peeked inside, it was rather empty, generic, and not inviting enough to stay longer. Aurora Bar felt out of place, and in my opinion, they should seriously consider whether it’s worth keeping open, and if so, how to redecorate it.
This time it was basically one floor only. Technically, Aurora Bar served as a second dancefloor, but it closed around midnight. I barely spent time there. Whenever I peeked inside, it was rather empty, generic, and not inviting enough to stay longer. Aurora Bar felt out of place, and in my opinion, they should seriously consider whether it’s worth keeping open, and if so, how to redecorate it.
Additionally, the sound was really off. The sound system sounded thin and lifeless, which was strange. I wrote a review about Globus some years ago with its Lambda Labs System and rated it excellent. I attribute this poor experience solely to the DJ for probably playing badly mastered tracks or rips. Unfortunately, I didn’t check exactly who was playing, and looking back, I could only guess. As I don’t want to publicly shame the wrong person, I’ll just leave it at that.
However, after around 1:00 AM, it improved dramatically. Finally, classic Multisex powerhouse was playing again. The sound system sounded rich and crisp, and the energy on the dancefloor doubled. I stayed until 3:00 AM and enjoyed it thoroughly. At the same time, I was disappointed that I had to leave just as it finally got good. I hope this was a one-time issue and that the bookers will do a better job with the opening slots in the future, returning to Multisex’s roots of consistently excellent music.
The Elephant in the Room
Despite all the technicalities, especially at a Multisex event, it all boils down to the crowd. Moving to a new space with bigger capacity brings its challenges. But overall it was a good thing, as Multisex had simply outgrown Watergate. I can make all the jokes about Berliners’ love for queuing, as well as their love for perceived exclusivity. But I remember the summer when dozens of people with guest list queued outside for hours, while it was completely overcrowded inside. Pure insanity.
However, let me tell you that the change was noticeable. I met quite a lot of people who were visiting the party for their very first time. But it was still an excellent selection. Everyone I encountered was cute, friendly, and respectful. Also, it was noticeably more gay. Previously, I perceived Multisex as quite straight with some queer tendencies. Not a bad thing at all since those who joined dressed up and caught the vibe well. Stylish and queer goes hard together. No leather daddies or bears, which, given the surroundings, would have been somewhat out of place.
The often criticized pretentious attitude is something that noticeably decreased compared to the last iterations. Whether the reason lies in me becoming more comfortable with the crowd and mingling with the regulars, or a general shift, is difficult to say. What I can say, however, is that the selection made was excellent, and it was more important to maintain quality over quantity.
An Outlook
Let’s sum it up. The first iteration of Multisex at Globus was a very good party. The spirit changed, without a doubt. But the bar is still very high, and I can confidently say that Multi was among the best parties during that Sunday.
It seems strange that while objectively becoming a better party (shorter waiting times, not overcrowded), it lost some of its charm along the way. However, I don’t think this is irreversible damage. The selection of people at the party was still excellent, and as long as that balance of first timers and regulars holds, I see a bright future ahead. What will be in detail, I don’t know. Probably no one does. The only serious concern I have is music-wise, and I hope the party returns to their standard of consistently good music.
Be it different lights, decorations, plants, quicker staff… everything else would be great to see. Gradual improvements, witnessing the transformation in Globus that Multisex brought to Watergate. Additionally, I would love to see some artists who I personally strongly associate with Multi, like Ryan Elliott, Ogazon, and Fafi Abdel Nour. Them heating up Globus would be one for the books!
I myself will continue to regularly swing by on the upcoming dates (if I am in town) and enjoy this special party, which it undoubtedly still is.
Storytime
I want to finish this review off with a short story from a particularly memorable Multisex a long time ago. This night during which Octo Octa heated up Watergate lives rent free in my head!
The humidity in this shitty club toilet is insane. Skin on skin, C and S cling to each other. Their mutual kisses and touches drive them. Instinctively, S begins to bite and kiss C’s neck. She, in turn, presses her ass into his hips. Stands there, bent forward, her back arched, hands braced against the door in front of her.
S doesn’t miss this invitation. First carefully, but quickly more determined, he slaps her beautiful ass. “You can hit harder,” C teases. With a smile on his face, S pulls her tight shorts down to her knees. The gray panties come into view, her butt fully exposed. For a brief moment, silence. S pauses to enjoy every second of this beautiful sight.
With one hand, he runs over the skin, previously hidden by fabric. His other hand moves to C’s neck. He presses her face firmly against the damp, cold tiles. His hand draws back, and strikes her ass several times – hard. The sound echoes loudly off the walls. Her moaning and the immediately visible red handprint are his gratification. With one last slap, his hand stays on her skin and moves tenderly along her panties between her legs. He feels how the fabric is soaked with her juices. A smile flits across his face before he turns away, releases his grip. They both leave this nasty cabin, satisfied, thankful that it was their retreat.
