Last night, I went to Druckwasserwerk. Translated to water power plant, this restaurant describes its fare as traditional, but creative German cuisine.

I’m going to try to decipher the history story it has written on its website, because I think it’s pretty interesting:

The building was opened in 1886 on the port of Frankfurt, which was a major trading spot on the Main river. It was the epitome of modern technology at that time, with cranes for loading and unloading ships, railway wagons, steam engines, and elevators hydrolically driven by water pressure. During WWII, the tower of the plant was equipped with a machine gun to ward off enemy attacks. All windows were bricked up, and the druckwasserwerk survived the bombings of Frankfurt.

After 1945, the building became obsolete, and it was not until 2008 that the neo-Romanesque building was restored with great emphasis on historical authenticity. In 2009, it was named Monument of the Year, and was identified as a cultural monument under the Hague Convention, the first in Frankfurt.

It was a gorgeous spot for dinner, with delicious food and wine. But the most impressive part was the backlit bar and 30 meter tall ceilings…and of course the wine cellar in the basement.