Gaststätte Zum Hecht

The Charlottenburg original at Stuttgarter Platz was opened by the Schneider family after the First World War and has borne its current name since 1974. Becks, Köpenicker, Erdinger, and the in-house Hecht Pils are on tap, along with Unertl wheat beer, wines from Reibold, meatballs (bouletten), lard bread, a Wurlitzer on the wall, and free Wi-Fi.

Pub History at Stuttgarter Platz

Zum Hecht is located at Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 54 in Charlottenburg, a few steps from Stuttgarter Platz and Charlottenburg train station. The establishment was opened after the First World War by the Schneider family and was simply called Schneiders back then. It has borne its current name since 1974, when Helmut Filusch took over. That was the time when Stuttgarter Platz in divided Berlin was known for its red-light district, and the area had a reputation that extended far beyond Charlottenburg. Kommune Eins resided one house over. After the fall of the Wall, the establishment became known beyond the neighborhood, and its clientele was considered remarkably diverse, ranging from public prosecutors and actors to people with criminal records. In July 2010, former German heavyweight champion Karl-Heinz Heistermann took over, and for an approximately three-month renovation, the establishment closed for the first time in over 75 years. Charlottenburg train station, with S-Bahn and regional train services, is just a few minutes away, while Wilmersdorfer Straße with its shops begins in the other direction.

Hecht Pils, Wurlitzer and Continuous Operation

Since its renovation, Zum Hecht appears tidier without having lost its character. The well-known brands Becks, Köpenicker, and Erdinger are tapped and served, along with rarities such as the in-house Hecht Pils, which is actually a Bären Pils, and Unertl wheat beer. The wines come from Weingut Reibold. As for food, it offers what belongs in a Berlin pub: meatballs (bouletten) and lard bread. A Wurlitzer stands on the wall, free Wi-Fi is also available, and the establishment can be reached by phone at 030 54811297. Operation runs without interruption, meaning there is no hour when the door remains locked. For the neighborhood, the establishment is both a living room and a point of contact; for outsiders, it is one of the few addresses where Berlin pub history can be experienced not as a museum piece, but in ongoing operation. Prices are in the lower double-digit range per person. Those who want to get to know the area can combine a visit with a stroll across Stuttgarter Platz, whose median strip is now more playground than district.