Riviera Grünau, Dance hall and leisure complex in Grünau, Germany
Riviera Grünau is a listed architectural ensemble on the bank of the Dahme River in the Grünau district of Berlin. The main building has a large hall with high ceilings and windows facing the water, and the complex extends along the riverfront with additional wings and outdoor areas.
The site opened in 1874 as a beer garden on the Dahme and quickly grew into a destination for day-trippers from the city. In the 1920s, architect Otto Gerth led a major expansion that gave the complex the form it largely retains today.
The name "Riviera" was chosen to evoke the feeling of a Mediterranean resort, which was unusual for a riverside venue in the outskirts of Berlin. That southern reference is still readable in the way the building faces the water, with its open terraces designed to maximize the view of the Dahme.
The complex sits in the southeast of Berlin and is reachable by S-Bahn, with Grünau station a short walk away. Some parts of the site are now used as housing, so the best way to take in the building is from the riverside path along the Dahme.
The venue once had its own steamboat pier, allowing visitors to arrive directly by boat from the city rather than by road. This river connection made it one of the few leisure spots in Berlin where the journey itself was part of the experience.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
