FAQS

The circle is a stylish, high end boutique wellness apartment in Berlin for couples curious about introducing new, fun, and intimate possibilities into their relationship. 

A decadent cocoon hidden in the heart of Kreuzberg, the space has been thoughtfully designed to provide a playful escape from the outside world, so you can reconnect with yourself and your partner. It provides a new realm of play that focuses on intimacy and inner well being, without disruption, judgment, or pressure. 

We’ve provided the playground; you define the games … 

Your booking includes full access to our 75 sqm landscape, which has been divided into three distinct spaces:

1. The bedroom resplendent with four poster bed, wellness equipment, and mirrored paravent
   
2. The kitchen, dining, and chill out area facing a large screen and access to the Cheex platform
   
3. The wetroom, featuring an 180x180 cm whirlpool with massage jets and continuous warm water loop, lounge steps installed with 2 womanizer shower heads, and a rainfall shower with additional, optimally placed water jets.
   Also included are:

• Breakfast, dinner, pastries & snacks from La Maison & refreshments, for the first night. You chose either vegan or non vegan
  
• Hair & body care products from Sweden’s L:A Bruket
• Hairdryer, towels, robes & slippers
• Intimacy products from Berlin-based NeverNot & Einhorn
  
• Full use of toys from the UK’s The Natural Love Company 
• Access to our minibar where you can purchase nature wines, wellness products, and body care products
• City taxes
• Cleaning fees
  

See our Terms & Conditions for a full overview of the contractual obligations between The Circle and its guests. Below, you’ll find a summary of the most important house rules:

1. Have fun and don’t stress! You can use or ignore any of the elements found in The Circle. The idea is to feel comfortable with yourself and your partner. 

2. Smoking is prohibited in The Circle. If the smoking ban is not observed, we reserve the right to charge the costs for additional cleaning and smoke removal.

3. Please respect our apartment, and the neighborhood. We have soundproofed the space; however, please ensure you keep music at a respectful level, keep the windows closed during play, enter outside spaces in appropriate clothing, and be mindful of other people living in the house. Guests who are heavily intoxicated or under the influence of drugs may be expelled from The Circle. In this instance, the rental price will not be refunded in full or in part.

4. We take hygiene very seriously. The space, and available toys and equipment are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before your arrival. You’ve also been provided with a toy cleaner which you can use on all the toys. If you’d like to try any of the toys from our presenter in the living room space, we recommend you use with the appropriate protections provided and place them in the basket when you’re finished. See our hygiene policy in the tab below for more details.

5. Use of the toys, equipment, and wetroom are at your own risk. We don't recommend using any of them under the influence of alcohol. We further exclude all liability for any accidents and their consequences.

6. In our minibar, you'll find various toys, body care items, and wines available to purchase. Our Cocktail Menu details the prices of each. Opening any of the products obliges you to buy them. You will receive an invoice for any minibar items taken after your checkout. For more information on our minibar, see the tab below. 

7. People under the age of 21, and pets and/or animals are not permitted on our premises.

8. The use of drugs and/or sex workers at The Circle are forbidden.

9. Please inform us asap of any damage to the property and/or its contents. It’s natural for things to become broken and we are happy to work with you to find a solution.

10. The Circle may only be used by the number of people registered with us. Additional guests may be accommodated after discussion and agreement by us. Extra charges will apply.

We’ve created a strict hygiene policy so you can rest assured everything you encounter here is fully sterilized and ready to use. This includes washing all toys, equipment & surfaces with hot soapy water and treating them with unscented clinical grade sterilizer; and steam cleaning/thoroughly washing all fabrics. 

In our minibar, you'll find various toys, body care items, and wines available to purchase. Our inhouse Cocktail Menu details the prices of each. Opening any of the products obliges you to buy them. You'll receive an invoice for any items taken after your checkout.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

With our try before you buy concept, it’s possible to test many of the minibar items before you make a decision. Indeed, the TNLC toys and Nevernot products are available on our presenter wall in the living room area (see our hygiene policy), the LA:Bruket body care products are used in the wetroom and toilet. 

The main reason behind this concept is we know it’s easy to become overwhelmed in shops, with the huge selection of products and high prices. Who knows if what you bought will be your new dream or lie forgotten at the bottom of your bedside drawer.  

Being able to try before you buy allows you to find the perfect “friends” to join you in your own intimate circle at home. Overall, you’ll find toys from TNLC; body care items from L:A Bruket; intimacy products from NeverNot and Einhorn; and a selection of our favorite nature wines. 

More information on our partners is available in the tab below.

The term “sexual wellness” has become prevalent in the past few years due to a recognition that sexual health and pleasure are fundamental parts of human life. Indeed, it’s considered key to maintaining our overall well being.

According to the current working definition, sexual wellness is: “…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality...”

You can boost your sexual health and wellbeing by:

1. Getting to know your body
2. Being open with your partner
3. Exploring alternatives to penetrative sex, like toys and intimacy products, among others
4. Taking ownership of your own pleasure
5. Educating yourself

As with everything in life, we all approach sexual wellness in very personal and particular ways. That’s why we created The Circle. It’s been thoughtfully designed to provide a space where you and your partner can escape the often overwhelming stresses of everyday life and focus purely on intimacy and play. We offer a range of adult toys and experiences for you to choose from, so you can create your own personalized intimate playground, whether it be filled with toys, games, or simply a warming Jacuzzi and sensual massage. 

It’s up to you how you use the space and connect with yourself and your partner! There is no disruption, judgement, or pressure in The Circle. 

We’ve spent a long time searching for the right partners. It was important to us to find products & services that not only looked great and offered something “extra”, but which were also planet friendly. We’re delighted with our selection, and hope you are too!

TNLC

The Natural Love Company is run by two husband and wife teams dedicated to developing eco-friendly toys with a twist. Currently not for sale anywhere else in Germany, we’re really excited to offer you direct access to their beautifully crafted, often unique, pastel coloured creations. In addition to repurposing ocean waste, and ethically manufacturing a wide selection of the classics, there are many other unusual toys from this UK based company comprising features like licking tongues and suction cups. Some of them are so pretty you could even display them on your shelves!

NEVERNOT

Imagine our delight when, after delving into the world of couples’ wellness for the first time, we discovered that NeverNot’s headquarters were located just a few doors down from us! Not only that but their branding was kickass and their philosophy akin to ours! The creative duo who founded the company have built up a mini empire of products like intimate wet wipes, organic oils, and soft tampons that are a joy to unbox and play with. 

CHEEX

Cheex is an online platform for adult entertainment and education. In addition to offering a huge selection of ethically produced professional and amateur videos and audio books – think consent by all actors, fair pay, and good working conditions – it also offers access to the Cheex Academy which, to be honest, we found more fun! Indeed, they offer tutorials on all sorts of topics to help you and your partner level up your game. 

EINHORN

Einhorn is another Berlin-based company that has gained widespread recognition not only for its quirky branding but also for its strong stance on environmental issues and womens’ rights. Our neighbors in the Skalitzerstrasse offer a range of colourfully packaged, fairly produced condoms and period products.

LA:BRUKET

We we’re sold on LA:Bruket the moment we walked into their concept store in Berlin’s Mitte and were met with the scents of Japanese forests! Our mission was to find a supplier of body care products that smelt, and felt, amazing. And this Swedish company offers it all. To quote directly from them, they offer “natural and organic skincare made on the west coast of Sweden with a simple philosophy: innovation driven by nature.” We love their products so much that we couldn’t resist offering them in our minibar too!

NATURE WINES

We fell in love with nature wines the morning after sharing three bottles and waking up hangover free! After your 30’s, this seems like an impossible feat. And while the first sips can seem strange when you’re not used to them, the tastes offered by nature wines are just incredible. Not only that, but a lot of them are produced fairly and by women! We’ve been totally converted and we hope you will be too.

The Circle is slap bang in the middle of Berlin’s Kreuzberg! We literally couldn’t have found a better place to create an intimate cocoon for you. As evidence, check out our Places of Interest FAQ for more information on the surrounding area. 

Since we’re in the heart of the city’s hustle and bustle, we’ve taken a lot of measures to ensure you’re protected from the outside world, including new soundproofed windows, ceilings, and floors. As our house rules state, despite these, please do remain respectful of the neighborhood so we can continue to offer you a wonderful experience!

You will receive the exact address once your booking is confirmed.

ARRIVING BY CAR

There are paid parking places available on the street directly next to us and in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, we don't have any designated spaces for our guests.

ARRIVING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The U1/U3 U-Bahn lines to Görlitzer Bahnhof or Schlesisches Tor, and the buses M29 at Görlitzer Bahnhof and 165 or 265 at Schlesisches Tor are a five minute walk from our front door.

While we’ve created The Circle as an escape from the outside world, and we encourage you to take full advantage of our cocoon for the duration of your stay, there’s a plethora of places to visit nearby. Perhaps for after you’ve said goodbye to us! So here’s a non-exhaustive list of our favorites, many of which you’ll find in the neighborhood:

CAFÉS

• Café Mugrabi, Görlitzer Str. 58: Great place for an Israeli brunch.
• Hummusapiens, Oppelner Str. 45: Amazing hummus and falafel.
• Baretto Espresso Bar, Wrangelstraße 41: Delicious coffee and paninis, very friendly staff.
• La Maison, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 17: A popular place for sandwiches, quiche, soup & very sexy pastries on the canal.

RESTAURANTS

• Kimchi Princess, Skalitzer Str. 36: An iconic Korean BBQ restaurant, which our interior designer also worked on.
• Mariona, Skalitzer Str. 94B: A super cozy restaurant with delicious Catalan cooking.
• Marktlokal, Pücklerstraße 34: Hip eatery for locally sourced fare.
• Öz Adana Grillhaus, Oranienstraße 2A: Great Turkish food, open till 4 am.
• Zum Heiligen Teufel, Cucina Italiana, Muskauer Str. 9: Insanely good Italian food with a twist.
• MikroKosmos, Reichenberger Str. 122: INSECTS!!! And other dishes made from organic and seasonal products from local farmers (or hunters) in Berlin and Brandenburg.
• VOLK, Brunnenstraße 182: Incredible French food with a focus on seafood platters, although definitely try the potatoes too!
• Le Saint Amour, Maybachufer 2: Traditional French bistro serving extremely tasty meals, nestled on the canal.
• Der Goldene Hahn, Pücklerstraße 20: In this Italian restaurant, you’ll not only discover super food, but a cozy ambience and great music selection, played on their record player.
• Cocolo Ramen X-berg, Graefestraße 11: Many argue, and for good reason, that this is the best place in Berlin for Ramen.

SHOPPING

• Markthalle Neun, Pücklerstraße 34: A popular indoor food market featuring local and/or organic products and lots of natural wine! Thursdays are a particular highlight with their Street Food Thursday events.
• Keller Kreuzberg, Reichenberger Str. 48: A queer-focused & sex-positive store featuring LGBTQIA+ designers and allies from across the world.
• The Code: Köpenicker Str. 79: Located directly across from Berlin’s famous KitKat Club, The Code was launched from the Berlin fetish/party scene to provide exposure to the independent designers and artists currently creating the aesthetic of the Berlin underground. It’s a great place to find kinky party outfits. 
• Schwarzer Reiter, Bayreuther Str. 34: It offers up a hand-picked selection of fetish styles, club wear, kink couture, sextoys & accessories.
• Obectra, Rigaer Str. 57b: Party wear mixed with avant-garde day wear made-in-Berlin!

CLUBS/PARTIES

There are an insane number of party and club nights to discover in Berlin. Resident Advisor is a great source for what’s going on on any given date, particularly in the techno/electro scene. Below are probably very obvious, but still remain, our favorites: 

• Berghain, Am Wriezener bhf.: This famous club needs no introduction. However, it’s notorious for turning people away at the door. So, here are our tips for gaining entry: Dress in black; be patient and well-behaved in the queue; memorize the DJs playing that night; and take advantage of their Sunday afternoons!
• KitKat, Köpenicker Straße 76: Again, this space is a well known landmark and its reputation speaks for itself. Our tips for going: Take the dress code of the evening seriously and be prepared to show some skin; be patient and well-behaved in the queue; and their tango evenings are super fun and a great way to skip the long queues later in the night!
• Pornceptual, location changes: Pornceptual is an artist collective in Berlin that organizes sex-positive techno and fetish parties. They are not held regularly, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for their next events. 
• Gegen, Köpenicker Straße 76: Every two months, "Gegen" transforms the KitKat Club into a polysexual mecca where men and women, regardless of their orientation, come together on the three floors to dance euphorically to techno, trance and house.
• Kraftwerk, Köpenicker Straße 70: This former Berlin thermal power station is one of our favorite places to go. It doesn’t hold events very often, but we encourage you to check their calendar and participate if you’re lucky enough to be around when they have something on. It’s always breathtaking!

BARS

• Nomi wine bar, Audre Lorde Straße 49: Our favorite neighbors and delicious nature wines produced by women.
• Lerchen und Eulen, Pücklerstraße 33: A typical example of the Kreuzberg living room bar, where you can smoke inside, or enjoy the street life going by on the terrace.
• Buck and Breck, Brunnenstraße 177: Seriously strong classic & original cocktails, expertly made. Ring the bell to enter.
• Roses, Oranienstr. 187: Amazing decor and cheesy hits greet you in this rocking gay bar.
• Minibar, Graefestr. 77: This bar lives up to its name in that it is super mini! Come here for late nights and wild drinking!

EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS

• The Martin Gropius Bau, Niederkirchnerstraße 7: This historic building always has a worthwhile exhibition to check out. It’s also home to some great coffee and a wonderful bookshop, and is located directly next to Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror.
• Fotografiska Berlin, Oranienburger Str. 54: Home of a former famous squat, this space has been repurposed into a contemporary museum for photography, art and culture. You can still bear witness to the building’s past, however, if you take the stairs which feature original graffiti and art works.
• Hamburger Bahnhof, Invalidenstraße 50: This impressive exhibition space is the former terminus of the Berlin–Hamburg Railway, located in the Moabit district opposite the Charité hospital. Today it serves as a contemporary art museum. You’ll also find the Natural History Museum and the Futurium (free entry!) nearby, both of which are worth taking the time to see.
• The Neue Nationalgalerie, Potsdamer Str. 50: This is Berlin’s museum for modern art, with its main focus on the 20th century. It’s been recently refurbished and is home to a great selection of curated exhibitions.
• C/O Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 22-24: The C/O is a private exhibition space for photography and visual media. Located in Amerika Haus Berlin near the Zoologischer Garten station, Charlottenburg, it covers over 2,500 square meters. Regardless of what’s on, you can’t go wrong with a trip here. And, nearby you can find the Helmut Newton Museum, which is also a must-see.
• Museum Island, Bodestraße 1-3: The Museum Island (or Museumsinsel) is a museum complex comprising five museums on the northern part of Spree in the historic heart of Berlin. It’s said to be one of the capital's most visited sights and one of the most important museum sites in Europe.
• A different kettle of fish is the Badeschiff, which is definitely recommended in the summer months. While it’s neither a museum nor an exhibition, this floating public swimming pool situated in the East Harbour section of the River Spree, is worth a visit if you need to cool off and appreciate the sunset and a spritz after a hard day of visiting all of the above ;) Just remember to book your two hour slot online beforehand!

To complete your booking, we require a security deposit of €250 to be made via our partner, Swikly. The process is quick and easy, with your security deposit validated in just 3 clicks!

Please note that this is not a payment: no amount will be charged, your credit limit will not be affected, and no funds will be blocked in your bank account. Furthermore, the deposit will be automatically released a few days after your departure if no damages are found. 

Swikly is a fully secure online solution. Your credit card imprint is never stored on their computer systems. It is only stored by their payment service provider Mangopay, a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, which complies with the latest security standards.

If you have any questions, you can visit Swikly’s website, chat with their online team, or call them.

Reservations must be paid in full at the time of booking. You can complete your payment via PayPal. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can register as a guest and finalise the transaction using your credit card.

A full refund will be paid for any cancellations made 30 days before your stay. Any cancellations after this time will not be refunded, unless we can rent the apartment to someone else. Then you will be entitled to receive a refund in the amount we have rented the apartment for. 

See our Terms & Conditions for a full overview of the contractual obligations between The Circle and its guests.