Max und Moritz

Heritage-listed Tavern on Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg

Oranienstraße has borne its name since 1849, named after the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau, and reached its current length in the mid-19th century when industrialization drew working-class families to Berlin. Until the 1930s, it was considered the “Boulevard of the East” and one of the city’s best shopping streets; today, the building is located in the heart of the SO 36 district between Moritzplatz and Oranienplatz, surrounded by bars, galleries, and clubs. The tavern was opened on April 15, 1902, by Felix Fournier, on Wilhelm Busch’s 70th birthday. Busch gave his consent for the name but never visited himself; his only condition was that Fournier regularly distribute pea soup to the poor population. Paul Lincke and Kurt Tucholsky were among the regulars, and Heinrich Zille found his motifs at the nearby Mariannenplatz and sold his pictures here in the house. In its heyday, Max und Moritz had around 400 seats, more than 44 employees, a liquor counter, a standing beer hall, two dining rooms, and a theater on the upper floor. The main restaurant also had a dance floor, and the building remains a heritage site to this day.

Four Rooms, Old Berlin Specialties, and the Kreuzberger Molle

The building survived the war undamaged and was reopened afterwards as a public kitchen where guests paid with food stamps. From 1947, Lotte Hahm and Käthe Reinhardt ran one of the first lesbian venues in post-war West Berlin here, which remained popular until the 1960s. Later, the tavern was to become a furniture warehouse until theologian Gerhard Schofer rescued the furniture from the basement and refurnished the premises; in the 1980s, the left-wing scene met here, and the Alternative List was founded in these rooms. Since 2006, David Ryan and Michael Kuhlmann have been running Max und Moritz, which they had extensively restored. Today, four rooms are available: the taproom with sixty seats and fourteen bar stools, the Wilhelm Busch Hall with Art Nouveau ceiling lights for up to 112 guests, the Bel Etage with stained glass and stucco for a maximum of 66 people, and the library for up to twenty. The menu features old Berlin specialties such as Hoppel Poppel, Kasseler Rippenspeer, and Berliner Eisbein for 24.50 Euros, along with the so-called “Schlager” (hits) including Königsberger Klopse, beef roulade, and Westphalian coachman’s goulash. For those without meat, there are vegan Maultaschen and Käsespätzle, and the Kreuzberger Molle is served on tap, a cloudy festive beer specially brewed for the house.