Diener Tattersall: the original Berlin pub

There are places in Berlin that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Diener Tattersall is an institution, a way of life, an original Berlin pub in the heart of Charlottenburg.

From the outside, the Diener Tattersall doesn’t really look very inviting. But when you step through the door, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to Berlin. The typical “pub furniture” is here, it’s a bit dim and I find it really cozy!

What does “Tattersall” mean?

It was in 1766 when the English horse auctioneer Richard Tattersall founded a riding school with horse rental in London. He gave his name to facilities of this kind.

In 1893, Beermann’s “Tattersall des Westens” riding school was located between Grolmanstraße and Uhlandstraße. It must have been an impressive riding school. The horses were stabled in the S-Bahn arches. A saddlery was also housed there. There were two riding halls, one of which the riders reached via a ramp as it was on the upper floor.

A casino and public rooms, the Restaurant zum Tattersall, were built at Grohlmanstraße 47. If you were lucky, you could meet Kaiser Wilhelm II and his companions there after his ride.

In 1942, the Tattersall des Westens had to stop riding. The horses had to serve at the front. Just two years later, the riding hall burned down after a bombing raid. Fortunately, the building with the Restaurant zum Tattersall was preserved.

Franz Diener took over the restaurant in 1954.

Who was Franz Diener?

Franz Diener was a German heavyweight boxer. He became German heavyweight champion in 1927, losing the title a year later to Max Schmeling.

After Diener ended his boxing career, the trained butcher lived in his hometown of Bad Bibra. There he built up a meat and sausage factory and later managed the local swimming pool restaurant.

In 1951, he was imprisoned by the GDR authorities for alleged economic crimes. Three years later, he moved to West Berlin. There he ran the “Tattersall” in Charlottenburg for 15 years (until his death in 1969). The artists’ pub, now called “Franz Diener”, was a popular meeting place for celebrities. Well-known guests included Harald Juhnke, Romy Schneider and Hans Albers.

Diener Tattersall a meeting place for artists

The Urberlin pub is still a popular meeting place for known and unknown people. There are around 500 photos on the walls, making it easy to see who has been there before. During our visit, for example, I discovered photos of Herbert von Karajan, Harald Juhnke and Hildegard Knef. However, I didn’t recognize many of the visitors – my knowledge of celebrities is probably not good enough for that.

One reason for the popularity of the restaurant was certainly Franz Diener, who delighted people with his inimitable style. But perhaps it was also due to the homemade liver sausage and hearty home cooking that the trained butcher offered his guests.

Fortunately, after Diener’s death, the new owners continued to run the pub in his style. Artists still enjoy visiting the quaint and cozy pub. The food is still hearty and hearty home cooking. Of course, we tried the food during our visit. We enjoyed it and the Berlin Schultheiss beer made the pub feeling complete.

I was really impressed by the atmosphere and the mood in the Diener Tattersall. Admittedly, not as soon as I entered the pub. I found it dark and uninviting. As we sat at our table, I discovered more and more details that make this room unique. I particularly liked the old murals, which clearly show who once descended here.

Tip: It’s always busy here. You should reserve a table!

Visitor information

Address

Grolmanstraße 47,
10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg,
Tel +49 30 8815329