"Bamberg's oldest inn since 1380, now brewing its own Sternla beer — book the courtyard for a birthday in summer."
About Zum Sternla
Bamberg has documented every host of this inn back to 1380, which makes Zum Sternla the city's oldest Wirtshaus. It stands at Lange Straße 46 in the old island town, and since 2019 it has brewed its own Sternla beer on site. This is a Franconian beer hall first and a restaurant second, and it is honest about that. For the city around it, see the Bamberg dining guide.
Proprietor Uwe Steinmetz, a trained chef who has run the house since 1999, turned the Gasthaus into a Brauhaus in 2019, with master brewer Alexander Walter at the kettles. The plate to order is the Schäuferla, Franconian roast pork shoulder with crackling, dumplings and dark beer gravy, for around €16. Mains run roughly €12 to €19, and the house beer is about €4.
The Kitchen
Uwe Steinmetz learned the trade the long way: an apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic, then a second apprenticeship as a chef in the early 2000s after he took on the Sternla as leaseholder in 1999. He bought the house in 2008 and, in 2019, installed a modern mash and lauter system so the inn could brew again under master brewer Alexander Walter. The kitchen is resolutely Franconian: Schäuferla with crackling, a beer-braised Bamberger Zwiebel (a stuffed onion), cumin-roast pork, and bratwurst with kraut, all around €12 to €19.
The Sternla beer, brewed steps from the table since 2019, is the reason to sit in the courtyard rather than chase a tasting menu elsewhere. Our seven signs of a great restaurant explains why a room doing one thing for six centuries still matters. Compare it with neighbours like Schlenkerla and Klosterbräu.
The Room
Zum Sternla is a warren of historic rooms with heavy carved wood, opening onto a shaded inner courtyard with its own summer bar. The sound level is communal, closer to a friendly hum than a hush, and seating runs to shared tables and benches rather than spaced two-tops. There is no dress code; this is a beer hall where locals and visitors share a bench. In summer the courtyard is the seat to want; in winter the wood-panelled Stuben do the work.
Best for a Birthday
Book the courtyard for a birthday when you want Bamberg's history rather than a tablecloth. Three reasons it works: the shared tables and benches suit a noisy, happy group; the house Sternla beer gives the night a centre of gravity; and a 1380 inn is a story your guests will retell. Reserve ahead for the courtyard in summer, when it fills fast. For a quieter pairing, see the first-date guide.
Not for
Not for a refined tasting-menu evening. This is a 1380 beer hall with hearty Franconian plates and shared tables, not a fine-dining room.
Frequently Asked
Is Zum Sternla worth visiting?
Yes, if you want Bamberg's oldest inn and a beer brewed on the premises rather than fine dining. Records trace the house to 1380, and since 2019 it has brewed its own Sternla beer under master brewer Alexander Walter. The Franconian plates, from Schäuferla to bratwurst and beer-braised onion, run about €12 to €19. It is a beer hall with real history, and on that score it delivers.
What should I order at Zum Sternla?
Order the Schäuferla, Franconia's roast pork shoulder with crackling, dumplings and dark gravy, for around €16, with a Sternla beer alongside. Lighter appetites can take a bratwurst plate or the beer-braised Bamberger Zwiebel. The kitchen is hearty and traditional rather than delicate, so come hungry. Mains sit between roughly €12 and €19.
Do you need a reservation at Zum Sternla?
Not on a quiet weeknight, when walk-ins are normal. For the courtyard in summer and for weekend evenings, book ahead through the Sternla website, since the shaded courtyard fills fast in warm weather. Larger groups should always call first. The interior Stuben absorb walk-ins more easily than the courtyard does.
Is Zum Sternla good for a birthday or group?
Yes, the shared tables, benches and courtyard are built for a happy group. Book the courtyard in summer for a birthday and let the house Sternla beer anchor the evening; the room's age and atmosphere do the decorating for you. It is less suited to a quiet, intimate dinner for two. See more birthday restaurants for other cities.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Zum Sternla
Via sternla.de · or walk in on a quiet night
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Practical Information
AddressLange Straße 46, 96047 Bamberg
NeighbourhoodOld Town (Inselstadt)
CuisineFranconian / German
PriceFranconian mains ~€12–€19; Sternla beer ~€4
Dress CodeNo rules
SeatingHistoric rooms · courtyard + beer garden
ReservationWalk-ins welcome; book the courtyard in summer
