Ständige Vertretung

Since 1997, the Ständige Vertretung on Schiffbauerdamm has been serving Gaffel-Kölsch in the government district, founded by two Rhinelanders even before the federal government relocated. Amidst poster-sized politician photos, you can find Himmel un Äd and Rhenish Sauerbraten. Gerhard Schröder, Helmut Kohl, and Angela Merkel were among the guests of this political cult venue.

Ständige Vertretung: Where Berlin and Bonn Never Separated

That two convinced Rhinelanders, of all people, founded what is probably Berlin’s most famous political venue sounds like a typical capital city story. It all started with what would normally be called a crazy idea: serving Kölsch in Berlin. After the federal government’s decision in 1991 to move the ministries from Bonn to Berlin, Friedel Drautzburg and Harald Grunert wanted to ensure that Rhinelanders did not have to forgo their favorite drink even in the deepest Prussia. In 1997, the first Ständige Vertretung opened on Schiffbauerdamm, directly in the government district. The federal government only moved there a year later. Today, the venue is a fixed stop on Berlin city tours.

The name alludes to the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic to the GDR, which existed from 1974 until reunification in 1990. The walls are adorned all around with partly poster-sized snapshots of well-known German politicians. This makes the interior feel less like a restaurant and more like a living archive of the Federal Republic.

Prominence, Kölsch, and Sauerbraten on the Spree Embankment

The StäV is not only a culinary highlight but, above all, a social meeting point. Here, personalities from politics, business, and culture meet, as do Berliners, Rhinelanders, and international visitors. Over the years, Gerhard Schröder, Helmut Kohl, and Angela Merkel were among the guests, as well as Ben Kingsley and the band Höhner. In addition, ensemble members of the nearby Deutsches Theater regularly stop by.

Classic Rhenish home cooking ends up on the plate. Highlights include Himmel un Äd with fried blood sausage, mashed potatoes, braised apples, and onions, as well as Rhenish Sauerbraten with potato dumplings. The location on the Spree ensures full beer gardens, especially in summer, where Gaffel-Kölsch, as the house brand, plays the main role. A table with a view of the water should be reserved in advance, as it is rarely empty here. Those who order Kölsch receive it in a “Stange” glass and it is refilled without asking, exactly as the house rules from the Rhineland dictate.