Stuttgart’s gastronomy is in a celebratory mood. Since last week, a landmark of traditional Swabian cuisine and a piece of the city’s recent history has been revived: The Ratskeller, now renamed “the ratskeller“, has reopened.
A five-year renovation
Five years ago, the dilapidated Ratskeller was closed for an urgently needed renovation. An architectural firm was commissioned to completely overhaul the restaurant, and even experts from Frankfurt came to develop a new culinary concept. The formerly small restaurant was opened up to the outside with new windows. The interior was divided into different zones and these were connected by visual axes.
And although the Ratskeller’s focus is still on classic Swabian dishes – including the almost exclusive use of ingredients from the region – they also have a touch of international cuisine. The result of this new concept is perfectly summed up in the name: “the ratskeller” – a meeting place of Stuttgart tradition and modern influences. “The name is intended to show that we will always be the Ratskeller,” says tenant Denise Schuler, “but that we are also new.”
However, not all of the Ratskeller is available yet. The banquet rooms, which can later be reserved for celebrations of all kinds, are currently still being used for a quick test center. A total of 9.47 million euros was invested in the conversion, which seems to have paid off.
The Ratskeller outdoors
As part of the celebrations to mark the reopening of such a culinary institution, and in the spirit of the pandemic, “the ratskeller” launched last week as a wooden village on the market square. With a mulled wine stall, a food stall, fan heaters, bar tables, Christmas trees, Santas and a covered bench, it aims to spread the joy of the culinary institution’s return – and somehow make up for the Christmas markets that went out of business.
The wooden village is cordoned off with fences and may only be entered by vaccinated or recovered people with proof and a recent negative test.