We’ve partnered with Squarespace to highlight the businesses that are changing the cultural fabric of four key cities: from London to New York via Paris and Berlin. Here, we have Tsellot Melesse on her favourite cultural spaces in Berlin.

Tsellot Melesse is a Berlin-born film and casting director, host, presenter and the founder of the outdoors club Black Canary. As someone who’s born and raised in the German capital, Melesse knows its hidden gems well.

Having grown up in the city, she rejected the outdoors only to later realise it felt inaccessible to her. She sought to change this and founded Black Canary, an exploratory outdoors club for Black FLINTA (an acronym for female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people). Her passion for the outdoors bleeds into her travel tips too, and she recommends seeing Berlin by bike.

The mythology of Berlin leans into its liberal and fiercely independent ethos. “Independent and locally-run businesses are vital for Berlin's culture,” Melesse says, “because they reflect the city's creative spirit and individuality. These businesses also create a sense of community and pride among us locals.”

She adds, “Generally I’d say people in Berlin are not so much into the big, flashy and glossy, but cherish more local, unique and independent offers.” Below, she shows us around the capital, mapping out the spaces she would cycle to in Berlin.

Head to our Fabrics hub to access all four travel guides and more.