BERLIN IS GETTING DANGEROUSLY INTERESTING
Competitive Mafia in Berlin
LOGIC. PSYCHOLOGY. BLUFF. EMOTION.
Saloon Mafia Club is where Mafia becomes a true intellectual sport. Play by competitive rules, sharpen your logic, intuition and communication skills, and enjoy high-level games with new people.
WHY PLAY WITH US
We created a club where it is not just the game and experience that matter, but also the people, the emotions and the atmosphere we create together.
COMPETITIVE FORMAT
We play by official competitive rules.
Fair, structured and focused.
ATMOSPHERE AND RESPECT
At the table: respect,
composure and a mature approach to the game.
ALL LEVELS WELCOME
Whether you are new or experienced,
you will feel at home here.
COMMUNITY
Our club is more than games: it is friends,
travel, tournaments and memorable events.
Inside the Family
The club where Mafia becomes a sport
Saloon Mafia Club is a Ukrainian community of competitive Mafia players in Berlin — the format is also known as sports Mafia.
We host regular in-person game nights where logic, psychology, performance and composure meet around one table. This is more than a board game: it is an intellectual sport with a theatrical edge.
Everyone plays: from complete beginners to members of the International Sports Mafia Federation (iMafia) who compete in ranked tournaments.
Two paths into the Family
Choose your role before your first game
Newcomer / Civilian
- Lively atmosphere — play for the fun and the company.
- Guidance — we explain the rules and core strategies.
- Welcoming environment — no pressure, just play and support.
- An easy start — the host will guide you and help you learn from mistakes.
Experienced player / Don
- iMafia rules — play to international standards.
- Two rankings — the official iMafia ranking and our club ranking.
- Competitive format — play to win and refine your skills.
- Strong opponents — face experienced Berlin players across the table.
Questions and answers
What to know before your first game
What is Saloon Mafia Club?
A Ukrainian community of Mafia enthusiasts in Berlin. Regular game nights set in a 1930s atmosphere, where psychology, strategy and acting meet. The club is open to beginners and experienced players alike — everyone plays by iMafia rules.
How do I sign up for a game?
Pick an evening on the sign-up page — it lists every evening with open registration. From there you have two options: log in to your club account and book a seat yourself, or message Mr Lucas on Telegram and he will add you to the list.
A new account is activated by an administrator, so allow a little time for confirmation after registering. Your seat is reserved the moment you book it, and you can cancel from the evening's page.
Can I come on my own, without a group?
Of course. More than 70% of our guests arrive on their own. Mafia is one of the best ways to meet people and make friends after moving to a new city. Everyone is equal at the table, and the team format makes you find common ground fast.
Is it hard to learn the game from scratch?
No. The basic mechanics become clear to anyone after the first round of discussion. Beginners simply arrive a little early — the host explains the system of gestures, the voting rules and the strategy for every role before the first game starts.
- A clear start. Before every game the host explains the basics in detail.
- A friendly format. We are relaxed about beginners' mistakes.
- Clear roles. There are only four: citizen, sheriff, mafioso and don.
- Gradual immersion. Club terms such as cutting the table become second nature within a few evenings.
Can I bring my children?
Yes — and we are genuinely glad when you do. The club grew out of family evenings, so children at our table are nothing unusual. One request: let us know in advance if you are coming with a child, so we can set aside comfortable seats and prepare a quiet corner.
Playing at the table is possible from the age of 12. That is when the game opens up fully: a child can confidently hold a one-minute speech and follows the logic of the vote.
Simply being present works much earlier — from around the age of 5, if the child is independent and can sit quietly through a round. Every location has a separate corner where children can keep themselves busy. Although, in our experience, they usually choose something else: they move closer to the table and follow the game closely.
And one reminder that always applies, whether or not there are children at the table: using foul language means immediate removal from the table. It is a club rule, and it is enforced without exceptions.
What language are the games played in?
On Sundays at the Fayna restaurant the evening is held in Ukrainian. At the table everyone may speak Ukrainian and/or Russian, whichever they prefer. Playing in another language (German, English) is possible only if every player at the table agrees before the game begins.
Which rules do you play by?
By the professional rules of the International Sport Mafia Federation (iMafia): exactly 10 players, rigorous logic, mathematics and psychology. The full table regulations — from the first night and the one-minute speech to the victory conditions — are collected in the rules in plain words.
How is sport Mafia different from the usual “town” Mafia?
| Sport Mafia | “Town” Mafia |
|---|---|
| A fixed rulebook | The rules change with the format |
| 10 players at the table | Any number of participants |
| Four roles (citizen, sheriff, mafioso, don) | Many extra roles, each with its own ability |
| Stricter rules and more prohibitions | Softer rules — the “free-for-all”, for instance, is allowed |
| Victory comes from logic, speech analysis and mathematical thinking | Many roles and many players make the game far more random and unpredictable |
That is exactly what turns the game into a genuine psychological workout.
What skills does the game develop?
- Emotional intelligence — reading micro-expressions and non-verbal signals.
- Public speaking — making your case convincingly in 60 seconds.
- Composure — staying calm under a barrage of arguments.
- Critical thinking — analysing large volumes of contradictory information.
That is why Mafia is popular with entrepreneurs, lawyers and senior managers.