By voyage reporter Katrin Wagner
The Strandbar solution
The sun is shining, the sky is blue and the temperatures are soaring - it's summer in the city! Everyone is longing to escape the sticky climate of the city and chill out on a comfortable deck-chair at the beach, with a cold drink in their hand and a gentle breeze blowing in from the sea! In more and more cities across Germany, this dream is becoming a reality and it's much easier than you might expect. The solution are Strandbars (beach bars), which are popping up mainly on river banks but also on the roofs of multi-storey car parks every year from around mid-May until September.
A holiday resort on your doorstep
Strandbars in the middle of a city and miles away from the sea - do people actually go to them? The answer is a resounding yes! Nowadays, young people in Germany tend to favour meeting up with friends at one of the trendy Strandbars rather than at the park or in a regular café. Rows of comfortable colourful deckchairs, real sand, parasols and even palm trees, combined with reggae music in the background or sometime even live bands, mean that Strandbars are a really attractive place to hang out. The great variety of drinks and tasty food, such as ice-cream, sandwiches, salads and pizzas, as well as grilled sausages and steaks, are all just too alluring to miss out on! Thus, Strandbars offer people in the city a quick and easy escape to a summer holiday resort without the hassle of travelling and the corresponding costs.
Some of the most popular Strandbars in Germany
Next time you're visiting Germany in the summer you should definitely try out some of the following Strandbars:
Berlin
Capital Beach Bar
The bar is located opposite the main train station, on the banks of the river Spree. Unfortunately, there isn't any sand, but there are still a great number of colourful deckchairs lined up along the Spree and a good variety of food and drinks!
Opening times: 10am - 'til late (daily)
www.capital-beach.eu
Bundespressestrand
This Strandbar is on the top of a building situated right next to the river Spree and very close to the Federal Press department (after which the bar has been named). From the beach bar you can enjoy a great view of the Reichstag and the Kanzleramt (chancellery) while lazing around, having a cool drink and some tasty food. If you are more of a sporty person, you can even play some beach volleyball on one of the courts there.
Opening times: 10am - 'til late (daily)
www.derbundespressestrand.de
