"Sunday Opening" Bars in Saxony
The former Karl May Bar at the Kempinski has undergone a comprehensive relaunch. The bar manager is also new: Dresden-born Thang Viet Trinh presents his new venue as an elegant fusion of an American bar and the current zeitgeist. Tip: be sure to try a "Detective" with Islay whisky and Chartreuse.
In the very "pompous" and slightly irritating ambience (the dazzling brocade wallpaper was created by fashion designer Harald Glööckler), you will find a seasoned hotel bar with the best gin supply. The wonderfully designed bar menu features gin classics with a sophisticated twist such as "Hanky Panky" or "Charlie Chaplin".
A good place to drop anchor in the lively new town. The good-humoured team behind the bar know their stuff and are happy to recommend cocktail variations if you can't make up your mind straight away. The signature drinks are named after Dresden landmarks; why not try the "Baroque & Roll"?.
Have you ever tried a "Dill - the End of Time"? You should order this and other surprising signature cocktails in the chic Twist Bar, high above Dresden's old town. The attentive and skilful bar team also prepares excellent classics such as the "Cosmopolitan", based on the original recipe from 1934.
A short walk from the Frauenkirche is this chic little bar with an exciting range of cocktails. The young, dedicated team, led by Schumann student Stephan Herz, serves classic cocktails and signature drinks such as the tequila-based "Ra's al Ghul", named after a Batman villain.
From the elegant hotel bistro, the path leads into the hotel's elegantly designed atrium. Sit in the cosy armchairs of the chic bar around the fire bowl and enjoy a fine cigar from the humidor, accompanied by a smooth brandy or one of the signature cocktails with the telling name "Until the smoke clears".
Take the stairs down to the basement, where the popular traditional Leipzig bar is hidden. With a pleasant soundtrack, the experienced bartenders whirl the shakers and seasonally changing recommendations such as the "El Commandante", a Mallorcan vermouth cocktail, can be found on the handwritten blackboard.