Where coffee culture is transformed
Every year I have the same impression: one minute everything is green, and the next, autumn colors and falling leaves are everywhere. Luminous plays of light in the corridors and courtyards, along the banks of the Trave and the Wakenitz rivers. Today, my path leads me to Café Konvent, right next to the cathedral. The building's imposing twin towers guide the way. The art treasures inside the cathedral , which were once the subject of a blog post in Lübeck ZWISCHENZEILEN , are not our destination today. We're in the mood for the aroma of coffee.
We start at the oft-described Malerwinkel (Painter's Corner), stroll along the Obetrave, and pass the Hartengrube. At house number 13, we turn into " Kruses Hof ," which leads into the " Grützmacherhof " at Effengrube 14. Incidentally, "Grütze" in this case doesn't refer to the delicious summer berry dessert that not only we North Germans know and love, but to coarsely ground grain. For centuries, it was a readily available and nutritious staple food.
A Grützmacher was therefore a type of miller. From here, it's just a few steps through the Effengrube, which leads us up the hill to the cathedral. The north side of the Effengrube presents itself as a harmonious architectural ensemble that has been completely preserved.
Convent Café BY jj wALBAUM
to the Konvent Café by JJ Walbaum when I'm looking for some peace and quiet. It's somewhat hidden away within the premises of the Lübeck Museum of Nature and Environment at Musterbahn 8. It's named after the physician and naturalist JJ Walbaum , who amassed an extensive scientific collection. This collection formed the basis of the Museum of Nature and Environment.
In the warmer months, sitting outside in the courtyard is lovely. Today, however, we prefer the warmth of the café. It welcomes us with a decidedly simple and functional interior. The large counter forms the centerpiece of the long, narrow space. You'll find a seat at one of the sturdy wooden tables. Black, white, and natural-colored elements dominate the decor.
So there are no distractions from what's essential in here either. In my case, that would be my favorite book. Or a conversation with my friend. A work meeting with my colleagues. Every now and then, I glance outside. There isn't much to distract the eye here. Brick-red towers, vibrant purple, luminous gold, and fiery orange form the backdrop.
Place of encounter
Julian Alm has been running the café since summer 2024. You might already know him from my visit to his Café Konvent near St. Aegidien. Perhaps you remember the blog post ? For Julian, the name Konvent represents "fitting together" in the sense of harmonious coexistence. It's a term with monastic connotations, but also a great deal of worldly warmth – ideal for a café that sees itself as both a retreat and a meeting place.
Kitchen with character
The culinary concept focuses on high-quality, handcrafted products. Here, as elsewhere, the coffee comes from their own roastery – fairly sourced, gently processed, and served with organic milk or a vegan alternative. And the bread? It arrives fresh daily from the convent bakery, run by master baker Tim Sachau – a Lübeck native who understands sourdough as a craft. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside – sliced open as a sandwich, topped with goat cheese, egg, or avocado.
I think it's wonderful that vegetarian and vegan options are also on the menu. And that breakfast is served until 4 pm. Of course, there's also cake.
It's always homemade. Always tempting.
And they're always quickly devoured. So it's worth showing up not just before closing time!
