Our RestaurantAbout the Ganymed Brasserie

The Ganymed Brasserie could easily hold its own on La Croisette in Cannes and this typical restaurant would also be very popular in Paris. Fortunately, the charming restaurant is located directly on the Spree: on Schiffbauerdamm you can enjoy classics such as bœuf bourguignon, coq au vin and steak frites in a French ambience, but above all you can also relive memories of your last Mediterranean vacation with a fine crustacean étagère or oysters “Fine de Claire”. The furnishings are emphatically simple: a long upholstered bench combined with café furniture characterize the flair in the spacious room with the imposing stucco ceiling, while the rear room impresses with checkered tablecloths and dark wood with the character of a cosy country inn.

THERE FOR YOU SINCE 1931

As traditional as the Ganymed looks, the brasserie’s location in the Wilhelminian-style building is steeped in history: at the end of the 19th century, the neighborhood was still firmly in the hands of shipbuilders and shipyard workers, who found a popular place to eat here in the newly built building. From 1919, the area changed and the shipyards were replaced by stores and residential buildings. A bank moved into the inn. It was not until 1931 that the splendid space was reclaimed for gastronomy: as the elegant Ganymed Restaurant, it quickly attracted the capital city scene, and later – in GDR times – cultural figures such as Bertolt Brecht and Helene Weigel met politicians and social celebrities here. Unfortunately, the reunification did not go smoothly for the former hot spot and the Ganymede had to close. However, after extensive renovations in the mid-1990s, the restaurant has been back to its glorious past since 2005.

PROMINENT MEETING PLACE IN THE BERLIN MITTE NEIGHBORHOOD

As a brasserie, the Ganymede also experienced a social comeback and has since become a meeting place for celebrities from politics, society and culture, whether for premiere celebrations, gala dinners or a simple lunch: the restaurant on the banks of the Spree has won over Angela Merkel, Til Schweiger, Nina Hagen, Sabin Tambrea and co, as well as Berliners and tourists who value fine quality food and drink. The Ganymed Brasserie, named after the cupbearer of the Greek gods, fits in perfectly with the neighborhood, which is world-famous for institutions such as the Friedrichstadtpalast, the Berliner Ensemble and the Tränenpalast. The government district, Unter den Linden boulevard and Friedrichstrasse shopping street are also not far away.

In spring 2020, owner Michael Pankow joined forces with four other restaurateurs to complete Berlin’s largest summer terrace on Schiffbauerdamm, making the waterside location a must-see.

Text: Kerstin Riedel