Some good things don’t last forever. This also applies to the Atomic Café. It is a true legend among Munich’s clubs. For many years, it was a central meeting place for the indie scene. Long before Munich acquired its typical “Schickeria” image, anyone looking for live music found it here and was sure to have an evening to remember. In one way or another, however, the Atomic Café is still alive and kicking.
A true legend: Munich made world stars great
If you want to party with celebrities, go to the P1. Those looking for electronic music and the best sound system in the city should visit Blitz. And for friends of independent music and subcultures, the Atomic Café was the place to be for decades. From January 1997 to January 2015, the live club was one of Munich’s most important nightclubs. Right in the heart of Munich’s city center, people partied at Neuturmstraße 5.
The design of the club was a real eye-catcher. It featured an unmistakable 60s space-age design in warm colors such as blood red, orange and yellow. Around 400 people were able to get up close to the up-and-coming international bands without the need for large barriers. Artists such as the Arctic Monkeys and Mumford & Sons played their first concerts in Munich here !
In addition to the more than 2000 live concerts, readings, film premieres and theme evenings also took place there. The Atmoic Café was known for being a kind of “family” for Munich’s subcultures: a club that offered an alternative to the typical nightlife. Some bands even formed here: Sportfreunde Stiller themselves stood behind the bar of the Atomic Café for a long time. You can hardly get more legendary than that!
All’s well that ends well? The return of the Atomic Café
Anyone who lived in Munich in 2015 will remember: the Atomic Café had to close due to its lease expiring and is still sorely missed today. Today, it houses a Lacoste store (yes, no joke).
At least it lives on in a different way. In the fall of 2023, the Atomic Café returned as a biweekly event series. It will now continue as a regular club night in a new location to maintain its musical heritage. The aim is to revive the original feeling with former resident DJs and live acts from the independent scene.
It probably won’t be quite like it used to be. But those who still feel a great longing for Atomic can at least console themselves with memories such as the documentary film “This is Atomic Love”.