Dr. Pong Bar

Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin –

Named for its one ping-pong table that everyone plays on simultaneously, Dr. Pong is a rather spartan bar with one room dedicated to playing ping-pong and another to listening to music and sipping concoctions from the list of “Schlong Drinks.”

The bare gray walls and mismatched sofas and armchairs are not aesthetically pleasing, but that doesn’t seem to matter to the patrons, an eclectic mix of locals and visitors.

Before 9pm, the ping-pong table is available for regular games, but as the night wears on and the bar gets crowded, anyone who wants to play is incorporated into one big game.

Players walk around the table in a circle and take turns hitting the ball as it’s returned from the opposite side. One false move and a player is kicked out of the game and relegated to the sidelines to watch the group dwindle down to two, who then play a short but energetic five-point final.

Dr. Pong definitely offers a few hours of unusual entertainment and is a good place to go for those who find themselves on their own for the evening.