The Munich Ratskeller was a true institution right on Marienplatz. This made the news that the restaurant in the historic vaulted cellar had to close its doors all the more sad. A few lucky people were still able to snag a few souvenirs at the flea market at the beginning of the year. Since then, the traditional restaurant has been closed and its future uncertain—until now. The city has new plans for the Ratskeller that call for a temporary interim use.
Closure due to renovation needs
The Ratskeller was built alongside the first section of the New City Hall and has been a restaurant from the very beginning. With its cross vaults, it exudes a very special charm, and over time it achieved a cult status similar to that of the glockenspiel a few floors above. The ten rooms could accommodate up to 1,000 people, who came here to enjoy Bavarian cuisine, wine, and beer. However, the space is now in need of renovation—a cost that the former proprietors were unable to cover. Consequently, they allowed the lease to expire at the end of 2025 and closed the Ratskeller.
A permanent reopening will only be possible once both the vaulted ceiling and the rest of City Hall have been renovated. However, construction work on the City Hall is not scheduled to begin until 2032 at the earliest, which means the Ratskeller would have to remain closed for over five years. Furthermore, the renovation could be further delayed if the city is awarded the 2036 Olympic Games. Therefore, the city is now considering potential interim uses for the basement and is specifically exploring two plans for the Ratskeller.
Possible plans for the Ratskeller
To prevent the Ratskeller from standing empty for years, the City of Munich has currently developed two ideas that would breathe new life into it. For example, the rooms could serve as an event space hosting comedy, music, theater, readings, or other cultural offerings. A small bistro kitchen would provide refreshments. The cost would be around 2 million euros, and the space could be available for rent as early as mid-2028.
The second idea calls for a renewed dining concept. In this case, only 30% of the space could be used, and a main kitchen would not be available. The costs for this would amount to approximately 4 million euros, and a launch would be conceivable no earlier than 2029. The two major breweries, Augustiner and Löwenbräu, have reportedly already expressed interest. The city plans to discuss in December what will ultimately happen to the vaulted cellar and which plans for the Ratskeller will become reality.
