Fifteen years after opening its doors beneath the streets of Paris, Silencio is set to change locations—and not just any location. Starting October 30, 2026, the Parisian club will set up shop for a multi-month residency at the former Berlin club Watergate—one of the venues that defined Berlin’s nightlife for over twenty years. Rather than replicating its Parisian model exactly, Silencio wants to let the venue reinvent itself every weekend. Music, visual arts, performances… until May 2027, Paris and Berlin will share the same goal: to keep the night going until dawn.
Fifteen years of a Parisian club unlike any other
When it opened in 2011 at 142 Rue Montmartre, Silencio immediately set itself apart from other Parisian clubs. Tucked away six meters underground, right in the heart of the Sentier district, the venue initially operated as a private club reserved for members. Behind a rather discreet facade lies a world conceived in collaboration with David Lynch, featuring gilded corridors, subdued lighting, a movie theater, a library, a stage, and several dance floors.
Getting into Silencio has never really felt like a typical night out. Historically, you had to be a member to enjoy the club before midnight, with a lineup designed for a rather niche creative community: concerts, screenings, exhibitions, and private parties.
Over the years, this almost hidden venue has become one of the most exclusive haunts of Parisian nightlife. Prince, Björk, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and Charli XCX are among those who have performed there. Silencio also regularly leaves its Parisian basement for events in Cannes, Venice, Miami, and New York.
For its 15th anniversary, it needed a new destination worthy of its reputation. And what could be more logical than Berlin, the home of techno, a city brimming with nightlife legends like Watergate.
Paris meets one of Berlin’s most legendary clubs
Head to the banks of the Spree and the former Watergate. Open for 22 years, the Berlin club had become one of the city’s electronic music scene’s institutions before closing its doors for good in late December 2024. Its enormous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Oberbaumbrücke and its famous light-up ceiling played a major role in building the Watergate legend
Silencio isn’t trying to revive Watergate exactly as it was. The interior has been completely redesigned by architect Marc Leschelier in collaboration with Studio Karhard, known for its work on Berghain. Studio Raito designed the lighting, and Bureau Borsche created the visual identity. The venue promises to be raw, minimalist, and intimate.
Every weekend, Silencio Berlin will take on a new look
Probably the most interesting part of the project. From October 30, 2026, to May 2027, no two weekends will be the same.
Silencio aims to adapt its artist-driven approach to Berlin. Each weekend, a different collective will take the reins of the venue. DJ sets, concerts, visual arts, performances… every weekend will have its own unique atmosphere, with the Berlin scene at the heart of the lineup. More than just a copy of the Parisian Silencio, the venue is designed to change its character depending on the featured guests.
A first glimpse was offered during a pre-opening party on September 9, tied to Maurizio Cattelan’s“Night” exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie. Richie Hawtin, Ben Klock, and Valentina Magaletti were on the lineup.
Two nightlife cultures come together
Perhaps that’s what makes this opening more intriguing than just another anniversary. On one hand, there’s Silencio and its distinctly Parisian DNA, blending cinema, fashion, music, and the visual arts. On the other, there’s Berlin and a club culture that has shaped much of European electronic music.
For seven months, the two will share the same address. Without seeking to replicate Paris in Berlin, nor to exactly resurrect the Watergate.
Silencio Berlin will officially open its doors on October 30. The full lineup is still to be unveiled gradually. One thing is already certain: to celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Parisian club has chosen a venue steeped in history.
Location: Watergate, Falckensteinstraße 49, 10997 Berlin
Opening: October 30, 2026
Closing: May 2027