7 bars in Lübeck

Hello! This is n't Barbara, as you might have expected. I'm Jannik, and as part of my internship, I had the opportunity to try my hand as a guest writer for our " 7 Towers – 7 Tips" . Barbara tasked me with thoroughly exploring the bars and bar culture in Lübeck.

7 towers – 7 tips

No sooner said than done – I was handed a small budget, asked colleagues for insider tips, grabbed my friends, and off I went. In the following, I'll take you on little tours through trendy bars, experimental gin bars, hipster hotspots, cozy fan pubs, lively Caribbean bars, and the good old dive bar. Follow me to the 7 bars in Lübeck.

Shooting star

the Sternschnuppe (Shooting Star ) pub from the outside. Its attractive exterior is one of the reasons I absolutely wanted to include it in this blog. Located on Fleischhauerstraße, it was recently completely renovated. The already appealing Art Nouveau facade has been given a fresh new look. The front is now adorned with light-colored stone, and the columns at the entrance are decorated with various golden figures. Inside, a modernly furnished pub awaits you, inviting you to chat in a cozy atmosphere.

Milestone Bar

Sometimes you can feel it immediately: something with soul is being created here. That's how it was in mid-August on Königstraße, when the last glasses were unpacked, the windows were thrown wide open, and the first drinks were served across the bar. The new Meilenstein Bar had opened. Just a few steps from the restaurant of the same name, a unique atmosphere unfolds. The front building features a wide bar and a view of the world outside, while the back room offers warm light, dark wood, and a sense of timelessness. You can sit at the bar, get drawn into conversations, or retreat a few steps up, where the evening tends to drift away.

It's a blend of casualness and character that makes the bar so appealing. New favorite drinks, familiar classics, a touch of spontaneity. Maybe you'll play a round of pool, maybe you'll just while away the hours in style.

Funambules

After this very pleasant start to our bar adventure, we decided that the next bar should offer a contrast to Colestreet. We strolled along the Obertrave and were quickly drawn in by loud music. "Highway to Hell" seemed fitting. The pub that lured us into number 18 with its live music was Funambules .

Positioned at the bar with a large beer in hand, we surveyed our surroundings and noted with amusement – ​​I hope I'm not putting my foot in it – that we had significantly lowered the average age. Cheerful older folks swayed to the music next to us at the bar and toasted us. After a short while, we struck up a conversation with Skandar. Skandar is a student and helps out at "Funambules." One question that was burning in our minds was, "How do you even pronounce that, and what does 'Funambules' mean?" "Fün-am-bül is French and means something like 'tightrope walker.' Over a few drinks, we joked and discussed what profound inspiration the owner, who was now right in the middle of the lively crowd and happily joining in the festivities, might have had when choosing the name for his pub. The answer we liked best was the idea that Funambules is defined by its clientele. Today, Skandar told me, it was the slightly older crowd celebrating to rock live music; next weekend, a Halloween party with a DJ was planned, which was expected to attract a younger crowd. And the following week, there would be another live event with local musicians. 'Funambules always manages to maintain the balance and be an open and welcoming pub for everyone.'"

Knorke Wine-Dine Bar

Gabriel Pranjic is no stranger to Lübeck. At Schlumacher’s on Schlumacherstraße, he and his team demonstrate how casual fine dining works, serving delicious food at a Michelin-starred level. Now, with the Knorke Wine-Dine Bar at Fleischhauerstraße 80, Gabriel has created a second hot spot. The motto is laid-back. As befits a bar, the drinks menu features a wide selection of gin and vodka. My immediate recommendation would be the signature drink, Blue Hawaii . Actually—and the name says it all—it's all about fine wine here. You can choose from 300 wines from the Schlumacher’s portfolio, plus another 80. How about a wine from the "For Reflection" section? Gabriel also organizes events where you can delve into a specific wine region, for example. Every Thursday from 6:30 pm is After Work.

NOTE: As of August 2025, Knorke is closed for a move to new premises. We will inform you here as soon as we know the new location.

Dietrich's – Café, Bar & Wine Bistro

Gin, as a trendy drink, is also the focus of another pub. Dietrich's at Untertrave 108 is undoubtedly one of Lübeck's most creative and interesting bars. They've been serving drinks and crafting their own spirits for over five years now. Dietrich's now offers over 300 gins, 15 tonics, over 200 whiskies and rums, as well as 150 other liqueurs. What makes it special is the breathtaking creativity with which they develop new spirits.

In 2018, a gin was released as a tribute to our beautiful Hanseatic city. " King Gin of the Hanseatic League " is a delicious gin with a marzipan note – "distillates of roasted almonds, roses, and butterscotch" refine this iconic drink and make it just as irresistible as our city. The gin is also available at our Tourist Information Center . Dietrich's has also produced many other creations, some in collaboration with various Lübeck restaurateurs. A true liqueur manufactory, and therefore absolutely deserving of a mention on this blog!

PS: Dietrich's also offers workshops called "How to drink" on how to properly prepare, mix and of course drink spirits.

Blue Angel

Speaking of "how to drink"—you certainly learn how to drink during your studies. As a student myself, I've had the opportunity to experience a bar that's particularly popular with students. Located on one of Lübeck's most famous streets, Clemensstraße 8, is the Blaue Engel (Blue Angel) . If you're looking to enjoy a drink or two in a convivial atmosphere with friends or strangers, this is one of the best places to go in Lübeck.

In particular, I would like to mention the Blue Angel's social commitment. Before the pandemic, the "Café Welcome" regularly hosted events on Wednesdays, including language courses and evenings dedicated to welcoming refugees and fostering intercultural exchange. There is so much to say about the Blue Angel; one could write books about it. While no dedicated book has yet been written about the Blue Angel itself, it plays a very special role in the novella " Professor Unrat " by the Lübeck writer Heinrich Mann, serving as the workplace of the "barefoot dancer" Rosa Fröhlich. The legendary scene with the magnificent Marlene Dietrich as Lola Lola in Josef von Sternberg's film "The Blue Angel" brought the book worldwide fame.

La Havana

Speaking of books: In Lübeck, there's actually a bar that has its own book dedicated to it. In her 36-page book, " La Havana: A German-Cuban Story ," Ilona Ruiz Valdes tells the story of how Cuban lifestyle and German reliability blend to create a vibrant cocktail in a Caribbean bar in the chilly north of Germany. Located at Engelsgrube 56, the bar is also the place to be for anyone who wants to dance to Latin American rhythms and enjoy a delicious cocktail or two. Those who want to learn to dance salsa, bachata, or merengue are also warmly invited, as La Havana regularly offers dance classes. The charismatic owner, Hector Ruiz Valdes, and his son Esteban never lose patience when it comes to teaching Caribbean dance steps to the sometimes rather stiff-hipped North Germans.

Did you make it this far?

Thank you for following my very first attempt at writing a blog post. I hope you've found some inspiration for your next bar crawl. You can also find more tips for cafes, restaurants, and bars in Lübeck on this website . "In the end, it all comes down to gin!"