Schmidt Z & Ko

In Friedenau, directly in the listed Goerz Courtyards on Rheinstraße, the Weinladen Schmidt dynasty and TV chefs Ralf Zacherl and Mario Kotaska have created a vinophile pleasure workshop that unites wine retail, wine bar, and restaurant under one roof. The concept is as simple as it is captivating: the wine rack is the wine list.

Schmidt Z & Ko: When the wine rack becomes the wine list

Anyone looking for a wine bar in Berlin that doesn’t hide behind elaborate designer lamps and overpriced natural wine pretentiousness will sooner or later end up in Friedenau. Schmidt Z & Ko is a joint project by Anja and Carsten Schmidt from Weinladen Schmidt and TV chefs Ralf Zacherl and Mario Kotaska, combining a wine shop, wine bar, restaurant, and a fully equipped show kitchen. The concept impresses with its consistent straightforwardness: the wine rack is the wine list. If you wish, you can choose your wine directly from the chilled and tempered assortment and have it served at your table for the retail price plus a 15 Euro corkage fee. This makes it one of the most affordable wine bars in Berlin, offering one of the widest selections.

Among the approximately 800 different positions from Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, you’ll find not only unknown wine regions and winemakers but also the big names in European wine. Additionally, for those who wish to try several wines by the glass, there are daily changing open wines, spontaneously curated, without dogma. Here you’ll discover hidden gems as well as renowned wineries such as Emrich-Schönleber, Künstler, and von Winning.

Wine Bar, Cooking Class, and Courtyard Terrace

What distinguishes Schmidt Z & Ko from other wine bars in Berlin is the breadth of its offerings. Wine tastings and seminars provide an entertaining introduction to the world of wine, for both beginners and connoisseurs. For those who wish, they can also cook alongside the famous chefs in the “Genussschule,” the show kitchen. The food menu ranges from cold regional delicacies to dishes that have even impressed the specialist magazine DER FEINSCHMECKER. The ambiance is anything but stiff: the wine bar’s tables and chairs are made from original barrique barrels from local wineries, giving the space a warm, artisanal character. In summer, finally, you can go outside: wine can also be enjoyed al fresco on the Rheinstraße terrace or in the listed Goerz Courtyards with their picturesque factory architecture.