A young concept within very old walls
For our last blog post of the year for Lübeck ZWISCHENZEILEN , I chose a relatively new café in Lübeck's old town: Cafébar Heimlicht . There are few places that fascinate me as much as a good café. Here, time often seems to stand still for a moment. I love the sound of cups being placed on saucers, the quiet murmur of conversations at other tables, the playlists that delight my ears with long-forgotten tunes. I love the stage that cafés provide for everyday life.
The Heimlicht café-bar has been located on the ground floor of Finder's House at Untertrave 96 . Heimlicht café-bar. A fantastic name, I think. Secret? Home? Light? I need to find out more. But before we go inside, let's take a closer look at Finder's House.
Stories in stone and paint
With its projecting upper floors and massive granite pillars, Finder's House – a four-story timber-framed building dating from 1569 – tells the story of Lübeck's golden age. It once served as a tenement building for merchants and travelers in a prime location, right next to the harbor. It's a gable-fronted building. If the term is unfamiliar, in this type of house, the eaves – the lower edge of the roof where rainwater runs off – face the street. This means that the longer side of the house runs parallel to the street. This type of building served as both a residence and a workshop. It was typically occupied by tradespeople with modest space requirements. The interiors of Finder's House are a true gem.
Coffered ceilings, delicate woodwork and artistic murals bear witness to the splendor of past centuries.
Particularly fascinating are the ceiling paintings on the second floor, which combine a Moorish style from 1606 with landscape depictions from 1670. Ochre tones, reddish veining, and black Moorish patterns speak of the cultural diversity of the Renaissance. Moorish patterns are "a type of surface ornament of Islamic origin that spread throughout Europe from Italy, France, and the Netherlands since the end of the 15th century." (You can read more about this in an article by cultural scholar Dr. Manfred Eckhölter on wall painting in Lübeck. )
Finder's House is definitely a window into the past – one that, however, rarely opens completely. This historical gem is only accessible on special occasions, such as "Open Monument Day." A slight drawback, I know! But it's worth waiting for such an occasion, as the tours are usually led personally by the owner of the house, Dr. Jutta Hastenrath . Together with her husband, she is actively involved in the Hansevolk zu Lübeck , an association dedicated to the lively presentation of Hanseatic traditions. Incidentally, the couple is known within the Hansevolk as Mayor Arnulf von Stiten and his wife Gertrud.
Urban aesthetics meets brick
While Finder's House is only open to the public in its entirety on a few days each year, the Heimlicht café-bar offers continuous access to the house's unique atmosphere. Heimlicht owner Lars Borowski tells me that he deliberately opted for a restrained design concept. The interior was intended to reflect the building's historical charm.
The central wall in the café stands out with its deliberately exposed brickwork, whose rough texture creates a charming contrast to the modern furniture. The warm, neutral colors are exceptionally inviting. Lars built the large bar counter himself in just one week with the help of a few others. Lars is a creative person who enjoys designing and organizing. Developing ideas, assessing feasibility, and working with numbers—it's all in his blood. The idea of opening a pub or bar had been floating around in his head for quite some time.
When the opportunity arose at the beginning of this year to launch his own restaurant concept, Lars didn't hesitate. He emphasizes, however, that Heimlicht would have remained just a dream without the support of his parents and sister, as the business graduate works full-time as an event manager at the Kulturwerft Gollan .
Enjoy regional
The philosophy of Café Heimlicht is reflected in its regional focus. Lars wants to showcase the culinary talents of Lübeck and the surrounding area. Here, the North isn't just a backdrop, it's a way of life: coffee from Cycle Roasters , Althäuser sparkling wine from Weinhaus von Melle , gin from Burningbricks Distillery , and Lübeck Zwickel beer from Sudden Death Brewing , for example, define the drinks menu. Heimlicht sources the bread for its freshly prepared open-faced sandwiches from the Schüler bakery . My recommendation is the generously topped Alsatian open-faced sandwich. It's truly hearty with diced ham and fried onions. Delicious! A vegan option is also available: the hummus sandwich.
If it weren't December, I would have sat on the courtyard terrace with my cappuccino. It's a wonderful place to sit on comfortable wooden furniture in complete seclusion amidst a sea of brick.
Given the outside temperature today, I prefer to sit at one of the tables by the window. My gaze wanders out towards the Trave River, and the question comes back to me: where does the name Heimlicht come from? I spontaneously think of the tradition of the "Heimleuchter" (home lighters), who in earlier centuries safely guided people who could afford this paid service through the dark alleys.
Lars says he asked during the initial site visit if he could attach a lantern to the outside. That wasn't possible. But he was able to use the illuminated flagpole. So, a lantern as a logo on the flag. A lantern that would point the way to a yet undiscovered place – the new café-bar. A cozy place that offers space for reflection, provides a sense of security, and aims to be open to everyone. More important than ever in these times.
