Monday, June 2, 2025

At the Apple Wine Tavern "Daheim bei den 3 Steubern" - Apple Wine Tradition Kept Alive with a Fresh, Modern Touch, all made with Love (Frank Winkler, Owner), Frankfurt, Germany, May 2025

The apple wine tavern "Zu den 3 Steubern" used to be one of the most, if not the most authentic apple wine tavern in Frankfurt, Germany.

As Munich is a town of beer taverns and Mainz is a town of wine taverns, Frankfurt is a town of apple wine taverns. Most of the apple wine taverns are in the Sachsenhausen district with its famous "Klappergasse", the Broadway of apple wine.

See:
Schiller's Favorite Beer Taverns and Wine Bars in Munich (February 2025) https://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2025/02/schillers-favorite-beer-taverns-and.html
Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany https://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2011/05/christian-geschillers-favorite-apple.html
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz, Germany https://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2012/12/schillers-favorite-wine-taverns-in.html

Zu den 3 Steubern opened in 1777. It closed in 2018, when host Wolfgang Wagner retired. It re-opened in August 2024 as part of the "Daheim" restaurant group of Pia and Frank Wagner.

The "Daheim" restaurant family of Pia and Frank Wagner now comprises 4 apple wine taverns: Daheim im Lorsbacher Thal, Daheim in der Affentorschaenke, Daheim bei den 3 Steubern (all in Sachsenhausen) and Daheim in der Kleinmarkthalle (in the center of Frankfurt).

Frank and Pia Wagner, career changers and apple wine nerds, are bringing an elegant touch to Frankfurt's traditional apple wine taverns. The food is traditional, but more upscale. "Everything is freshly made from scratch". Apple wine remains the basis, but a wide variety, including from artisanal producers. Beer is also served, a no-go in an authentic apple wine tavern.

My judgement: What used to be one of the most, if not the most authentic apple wine tavern in Frankfurt has become one of the least, if not the least authentic apple wine tavern in Frankfurt.

Indeed, my neighbors did not have apple wine, but beer. I decided, under the circumstances, to have a glass of Grauburgunder wine. The background music was elevator jazz.

My recommendation: Go to Apfelwein Dax, just around the corner, an authentic apple wine tavern with an excellent 'house apple wine" and good food, or, further out in the Schwanheim district, go to Mainlust Desche Otto of Claudia and Louie.

See: Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany https://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2013/03/mainlust-desche-otto-ultra-traditional.html

Frank Winkler on Instagram: Thank you so much for sharing this detailed history and your experience. We’re proud to keep the apple wine tradition alive with a fresh, modern touch — all made with love. Cheers from all of us

At Zu den 3 Steubern

I wrote about Zu den 3 Steubern 13 years ago.

See: An Apple Wine Tavern as Traditional as can be in Frankfurt am Main: “Zu den 3 Steubern” of Wolfgang Wagner, Germany