Drinks in all price ranges, from beer to Champagne, are available at Bonatz, a lounge on the eighth floor of the main train station tower in Stuttgart, Germany. Bonatz also has a lunch and dinner menu that includes pasta and steaks. (David Rogers/Stars and Stripes)
Drinks in all price ranges, from beer to Champagne, are available at Bonatz, a lounge on the eighth floor of the main train station tower in Stuttgart, Germany. Bonatz also has a lunch and dinner menu that includes pasta and steaks. (David Rogers/Stars and Stripes)
Bonatz, which offers a vast drink selection, is an upscale lounge located in the tower at Stuttgart, Germany's main train station. (David Rogers/Stars and Stripes)
Comfy couches amid upscale decor lend a relaxing atmosphere at Bonatz, in the main train station tower in Stuttgart, Germany. (David Rogers/Stars and Stripes)
Customers of the Bonatz bar, lounge and restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany, have a panoramic view of the city's premiere shopping street, Königstrasse, and the surrounding hills. Bonatz is located on the eighth floor of the 10-story tower at Stuttgart's main train station. (David Rogers/Stars and Stripes)
Bonatz is a bar, lounge and restaurant sitting high on the eighth floor of the 10-story main train station (Hauptbahnhof) tower in downtown Stuttgart, Germany. The upscale establishment, with its quiet, classy atmosphere, offers diners one of the best views in town.
The restaurant is small, with a handful of tables and comfy couches. The bar is backlit with a marble effect.
But one of the premiere features of Bonatz is the view. The tower is one of the taller structures in Stuttgart. A customer can look out over all of downtown Stuttgart and the surrounding hills. From one side, customers see right down Königstrasse, the city’s main shopping street.
Bonatz’s drink menu is extensive. One can have a beer for 3.50 euros, a glass of 21-year-old Scotch for 23 euros or a bottle of top-shelf Champagne for 590 euros.
I ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for 11 euros. It was made locally in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The manager brought an unopened bottle from a back room and had one of the bartenders present it for inspection before I was poured a glass. It was a nice dry wine. And the bartender enjoyed a sip of it as well.
I was there in between meal service times, so I didn’t try the food, but it does have a modest, Italian-themed menu for lunch and dinner. It included a limited selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, filets and Italian desserts. Starters and main dishes are between 10 euros and 15 euros. Steak and seafood dishes are 23 euros to 30 euros.
While Bonatz might make for a good dinner-date location, its large variety of drinks is its stronger selling point.
The atmosphere of Bonatz is relaxing. The music is a generic compilation of contemporary jazz and synthesized music. I would relate it to “quiet elevator.” The volume never rose above conversation level.
While I was there, the place never was close to being packed. The few customers seemed to be mostly middle-aged or older, dressed in business attire, though casual is acceptable as well.
I certainly would recommend Bonatz for travelers passing through the station on their way in or out of Stuttgart. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone looking for a place to party. It’s an excellent place to relax before getting started on a night out in Stuttgart or a good place to just relax, if that’s what you’re looking for.
BonatzLocation: Arnulf-Klett-Platz 2, in Stuttgart’s main train station.
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
Prices: Drinks start at 3.50 euros; food courses start at 10 euros.
English menu: Yes.
Clientele: Business travelers.
Dress: Casual or business attire.
Information: For reservations, call 0711-411 05 280.
Website:http://bonatz.de/bonatz, in German.
