8 Best Bars in Germany

Tucked inside a brick-walled former ice house, this atmospheric Altstadt wine bar touts a 250-strong list of biodynamic and natural European wines, with many available by the glass, all hand-selected from small producers.

The young sommeliers here take a fresh, modern approach to wine, departing from the typical German Rieslings and French Pinot Noirs (though those are on the menu, too) and offering many lesser-known varietals. The well-curated list of wines by the glass includes natural and biodynamic options; ask for the separate card of rare (and pricier) wines, also by the glass. The loungelike space and small garden terrace attract a well-heeled crowd; weekend evenings are particularly lively.

Part of the RheinMain CongressCenter, this swanky wine bar has an excellent selection of whites, reds, and rosés, both local and international, along with a choice of beers and cocktails. Light snacks, including flammkuchen (baked thin-crust pizza), carpaccio, and salads, are also available. However, it's only open on weekends if there are events.

Part of the Steuer steakhouse, this handsome wine and cocktail bar, with modern wood paneling and oriental rugs, draws an enthusiastic evening crowd for a tantalizing menu of fresh, inventive cocktails and regional wines by the glass.

Facciola looks like a lovely little wine bar from the outside—large windows with some greenery, a red awning, a handful of Berliners sitting on the stoop. Inside, fresh Italian foods and snacks are available on candlelit tables, but it’s the impressive selection of Italian wines that makes the place stand out—and the over-the-top-friendly bartenders.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster: pay 2 euro for an empty glass, fill it with your choice of wine from a number of bottles, and when you're ready to leave, pay whatever you think you owe. But this pay-as-you-wish bar has survived for more than 15 years; in fact, Weinerei is one of three such "Communist wine bars," all on the border between Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg. Although the wines aren't extraordinary, the charming concept has attracted cash-strapped Berliners steadily over the years. Note that the pay-what-you-want option is only available after 8 p.m.

Not everything in Bamberg is smokey beer; Franconia also produces some of Germany's finest wines. This small traditional wine bar below the cathedral has an extensive wine list. They don't serve food, but if you bring your own German Brotzeit, an evening meal of bread, cheese, cold cuts, and pickles, they will provide you with dishes and cutlery.