WIESBADEN, Germany — For some Americans in Europe, there is nothing better than living the expatriate life, exploring new cultures, food, drink and the opposite sex. For others, the time is spent counting the days until the next trip back home.
And while being in a new place can be cool, home often beckons at the most surprising of times.
I recently had one of those moments. Reading about the start of the football season, I longed to be back in the States, where on a chilly Sunday morning I’d wake up slightly hung over, roll over, and watch a day’s worth of games, often staying in bed until the first halftime.
But that’s not possible in Germany, as you football fans know.
Thankfully there are spots like the Yours Sports Bar in downtown Wiesbaden.
We’ve all been to the “American” bars that exist in every European town where American military are stationed, but Yours is different. From the pennants on the wall, to TVs everywhere showing games, this is a sports bar like you remember it in the States, not a lame European attempt to recreate an American sports bar.
Yours, which is one of a chain of four bars in the Frankfurt-Wiesbaden area, is a comfortably large venue that can accommodate you and all your friends. They serve good bar food and the standard array of beer and cocktails. Games of all sorts are shown on the multiple screens, and they even serve up a real American breakfast. On weekends they serve it until 5 p.m., so late stragglers are welcome. They also have all-you-can-eat ribs, and chicken wing nights.
“We’ve got everything you can think of in sports for Americans,” said Shannon Cuomo, manager at Yours. “They can feel at home here.”
Yours hosts live music on Wednesday nights and has a DJ spinning your favorite hip-hop on Sunday night. And if you are looking for a date, please check this joint out on Sunday night.
But be warned, after years of managing the place, Cuomo said that American guys can’t just expect where they’re from to land a German lady these days.
“They just gotta stay cool,” he said, when asked for advice on how American guys can link up with a fraulein. “Most of them just come up and say, ‘hey, I’m American.’ But the American game is played out in Wiesbaden.”
Cuomo paused before continuing.
“But don’t get me wrong, the girls here are looking for Americans,” he said. “And they know the game.”
As always, if you drink, do so responsibly. Don’t drink and drive.
Yours Sports Bar
Wiesbaden, Germany
Drink Prices: Standard prices for Germany. Three-something euros will get you a big cold beer. Assorted cocktails are also available, as are American beers.
Food: Very good bar food, including great wings.
Entertainment: There are TVs everywhere, and Yours shows all types of American sports, including college football on Saturdays.
Clientele: Young American guys and hot German girls, who might just like you — even if you are American.
Dress: Casual.
Phone number: 0611-9101-201
Web site:www.yours-bars.de
Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Mon-Thurs., 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to whenever, Sunday.
