A tribute to the Frankfurt kiosk
What would Frankfurt be without its drinking halls? When the kiosks in Munich have long since closed, Frankfurt kiosks are just beginning to flourish. But they are more than just “Spätis” – they are a place of encounter.
Sober booths
Trinkhallen or water houses are an integral part of Frankfurt’s urban culture. These kiosks have a long tradition and still shape life in the city today. We are enthusiastic about our kiosk culture and provide a brief overview of this phenomenon here. Drinking halls originated during industrialization, i.e. in the mid-19th century in cities such as Düsseldorf and Aachen.
Contrary to what the name might suggest today, it was not about drinking alcoholic beverages like in a pub. The workers were to be provided with clean drinking water in the form of mineral water. Tap water was not suitable for consumption without first boiling it and it was quite common to drink brandy or beer during work breaks, which was sometimes even encouraged by the employer. Mineral water producers saw sales potential here and representatives of local authorities saw an opportunity to curb alcohol consumption among workers. Initially, healing waters were also dispensed and drinking halls thus became a “health resort” for workers.
A Gropius building for seltzer and milk
Martin Gropius helped shape the appearance of these small houses with his designs for a drinking hall. The widespread mineral water from the seltzer spring in the Taunus led to the term “Seltersbuden” in some areas, but in Frankfurt it is usually referred to as ” Wasserhäuschen“.
Incidentally, milk stalls were also opened, but they were unable to establish themselves, so we would probably have to tackle this project again ourselves.
From workers’ spa to leisure center and cultural asset
The water houses in turn expanded their range to include newspapers, snacks, sweets, tobacco products and everyday necessities. They are small supply stations that are there for us at almost any time. And it’s not just the products that are there for us, but also the operators and other visitors. People turn a water house into a social hub in the city. Unlike in the past, people are less likely to get non-alcoholic drinks during their breaks; instead, the little stalls are becoming a popular meeting place after work to enjoy a beer together after work. Some water houses have specialized in this aspect, such as
Water houses are therefore a good piece of home and everyday culture that we are happy to support. All you have to do is visit a water house from time to time and have a drink with the people there. And if milk stalls do cause a stir in the near future, then perhaps we will have started a new project to enrich Frankfurt’s drinking culture.
