Regensburg's cult restaurant Empty Bag is closing after 37 years!

Regensburg's cult restaurant Empty Bag is closing after 37 years!

It is a sad occasion that affects Regensburg's gastronomy scene: The traditional restaurant Leerer Sack will close its doors at the end of June 2025. After 37 years of successful catering, the lease was terminated by the Paulaner brewery, which acts as the catering tenant for the city of Regensburg. The closure comes after a long period of uncertainty, which was marked by extensive renovation work and damage to the restaurant's roof. Loud Mercury The restaurant will officially cease operations on June 30, 2025.

The Empty Bag, known for its jazz concerts and the social initiatives' Ash Wednesday, was taken over by Winnie and Traudl Freisleben in 1988. Under her leadership, the restaurant developed into a cultural hotspot in the heart of the city, valued for its upscale Upper Palatinate cuisine with Mediterranean influences. The Regensburg Jazz Club's regular temporary exhibitions and concerts also shaped the ambience of the restaurant, which was characterized by soft jazz, classical and lounge music.

Cultural loss for Regensburg

The closure of the Empty Bag not only means the end of a restaurant, but also a cultural loss for Regensburg. The restaurant was part of the “Leerer Sack” cultural center, which is located in Regensburg's old town near the cathedral. Here, enjoyment was combined with cultural offerings, from city galleries to varied cinema programs. Guests were often able to round off the evening with a visit to the restaurant, which rounded off the experience for all the senses, as it is described on the restaurant's website - "enjoyment for the eyes, ears and palate".

The current situation is particularly bitter as the renovation work on the roof of the building since August 2024 has placed a major burden on operations. During the construction work, 2,000 square meters of roof tiles had to be replaced and a dilapidated roof structure had to be repaired. The permanent construction work led to a loss of income as numerous events such as weddings had to be canceled. Winnie Freisleben was disappointed by the termination, but expressly thanks the guests and employees for their years of loyalty and is still accepting reservations until June 27th.

A look at Regensburg

Regensburg, a city with over 2,000 years of history and world heritage status, is known for its high density of bars and impressive historical buildings. These include the Stone Bridge, the cathedral and numerous other listed buildings that characterize the old town. With around 152,610 inhabitants, the city offers a rich cultural life, and local gastronomy is an important part of it. The loss of the Empty Bag will make huge waves, not just in the city's culinary but also cultural landscape.

The Empty Bag restaurant was not just a place to eat, but a meeting place for many where music, culture and good taste came together. The end of this chapter leaves open the question of how gastronomy and cultural life in Regensburg will develop, because one thing is clear: a piece of Regensburg will be missing. How the city might respond to this challenge remains to be seen.