If cities had attitudes, Berlin’s would fall somewhere along the lines of “love it or leave it”: it takes a keen eye to find beauty in the areas most marked by the city’s turbulent history, and–especially in the wintertime, when the sun sets well before the clock strikes five–its greyscale characteristics cast a mood that can often feel gloomy and sometimes downright gruesome.

At the same time, hidden behind thick concrete walls and crowds that dress darker than the winter itself, there exist spaces in which cultures and communities thrive, giving way to niche parties, one-of-a-kind celebrations and an artistic scene that is more vibrant than those of many European cities combined. And when it comes to summer in Berlin…well, if you haven’t experienced it, we can only recommend you do. 

For Eva Lebedeva, it’s this acquired taste and somewhat bi-polar personality of Berlin that inspires her to communicate, collaborate, and host events through her gastronomy event business The Night Shift. We caught up with Eva to learn what brought her to Berlin, how she found community behind the city’s cold exterior, and how she channels the city’s unique energy through her work with The Night Shift. 

Photos via @thenightshift_be

When did you move to Berlin?

I’ve been here for nearly a decade and, to be honest, Berlin and I had a rocky start. I was living with my ex and I didn’t know anyone else in the city, so I felt quite isolated. But living in a city is like being in love: it’s not always easy, but if you put in the effort, you can create something really beautiful together. So I pushed myself to get out and meet people, using my passion for photography, communication and gastronomy to connect with likeminded people. Slowly but surely, I got into a routine that I enjoyed, and my life here started to bloom.

How did you get into event management?

I got into the scene when I started working at a bar and club in Berlin Mitte, four years ago. They host a lot of private events, and I’ve easily worked over 1000 events since I started there. What’s great about event management is that you get to experience a unique flow of people and energies: no two evenings are the same, and I learn something new every time. That’s also what inspired me to start The Night Shift almost a year ago.

Can you tell us more about The Night Shift?

We are a creative gastronomy event agency that focuses on cultural exchanges through culinary experiences. We work in three directions: we organise long-table events for guests to exchange ideas, we collaborate with other businesses to promote one another’s work and meet each other’s audiences, and we cater for private events. Our main goal with The Night Shift is to use gastronomy as a means to bring people together, inspire open conversations and learn about different cultures and lifestyles.

What excites you the most right now?

I’m currently hosting a series of pop-up events in different cities throughout Europe. For each event, my team and I develop a menu that revolves around describing Berlin in five words. The goal of each evening is to share bits of Berlin’s culture through conversations, décor, and, of course, food and drinks. We hosted an event in Milan with Futura Listening Bar last month, and this month we will be collaborating with Zula Bistro and Sputnik in Lisbon. 

That sounds incredible! What will be on the menu?

I can’t tell you—that would be a spoiler! But I’ll give away one of the words that inspires each menu for this series: wall. As you can imagine, it’s an ode to Berlin’s history, but it’s also a reference to the boundaries that we experience when it comes to integrating with others, feeling comfortable in our surroundings and showing our true selves. I feel like these walls are slowly coming down in Berlin through an increased emphasis on multiculturalism in nightlife, youth culture and the creative scene. This is an important part of Berlin’s identity, and we want to make sure that it plays a central role during each event.

Last question: what’s your go-to spot in Berlin?

Rocket Wine in Mitte. It’s where I spend the best quality time with friends, and, as someone who doesn’t like consistency, the fact that they’ve got a rotating wine menu is great. Also, everyone who works there is amazing.

Bio: Eva Lebedeva

Since finishing a bachelor’s in International Relations and a master’s in Digital Marketing and PR, Eva Lebedeva (29) has fine-tuned her event management skills by managing one of Berlin’s busiest night bars. Having worked over 7,000 hours of night shifts, Eva launched her own gastronomy event business, The Night Shift, in December 2023. The Night Shift allows Eva to combine her passion for gastronomy with her experience in event management and content creation, and she’s currently organising a series of long-table dinners and pop-up events in various cities throughout Europe. Keep your eyes peeled for The Night Shift events happening near you! 

To learn more about The Night Shift, follow them on Instagram.