Munich does not exactly have a reputation as a party hotspot, and only a few clubs, such as Blitz, are known beyond the city limits. Above all, Munich’s establishments are not considered wild or spectacular. Fifty years ago, things were different when a notorious club opened its doors in Schwabing and quickly became a magnet for celebrities. The Yellow Submarine was distinguished by its striking architecture, which allowed real sharks to swim around the guests. A party night like that was guaranteed not to be forgotten too quickly.
The club next to the entertainment district
Photo: Mjunik Disco
The Yellow Submarine opened in April 1971 on Leopoldstraße and belonged to Munich’s first Holiday Inn. Both were part of a larger building complex in which the “Schwabylon” opened two years later. This was a gigantic shopping center with around 100 stores, 12 restaurants, and a beer garden, as well as an ice rink, a solarium, a swimming pool, an arcade, a thermal bath, a sauna, and a cinema. What sounds like an absolute childhood dream quickly turned out to be a total flop: after just one year, the Schwabylon had to close again. The Yellow Submarine, on the other hand, lasted longer and, with its unusual concept, fitted perfectly into the entertainment district.
The club’s name came from the famous Beatles song and reflected the maritime theme of the venue. The establishment stretched over three floors and was surrounded by a 650,000-liter aquarium, like a diving bell. Guests could look into the aquarium through portholes, where 36 real sharks and a few giant turtles swam. In addition to drinks, visitors could also order shark fin soup and grilled shark. The club was underground, about 9 meters high and circular in design, making it feel like a submarine. The furniture was also reminiscent of a submarine or ship with its yellow leather seats and red railings.
The end of the Yellow Submarine
Photo: Pacific11/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The club initially enjoyed great popularity and attracted well-known stars. Mick Jagger, who also frequented Café Jasmin, Freddie Mercury, who lived in Munich and was a regular at the Deutsche Eiche, and Jimi Hendrix, who invented his trademark at the Big Apple, were all guests at the Yellow Submarine at one time or another. The Yellow Submarine managed to hold its own for ten years, then had to close for the first time.
After renovations, it reopened in 1983 under the name Aquarius, but was unable to replicate its former success. The water had been drained and the animals given away because the upkeep was simply too expensive. In the 1990s, it experienced another revival as “Fridays, “ but this club did not last long either. After the Schwabylon fell victim to demolition in 1979, the Yellow Submarine followed in 2013. Together with the Holiday Inn, it had to make way for today’s Schwabinger Tor.
