History

In the 14th century the east part of the old city of Frankfurt in which the Brückenkeller is located, was a  centre for jugglers and exhibitors.  Most of the taverns and wine-houses were  in this part of Frankfurt.  Later, in the middle of this century the east part was changed to a defense terrain with a high wall and a guard house.

In 1652 the council of Frankfurt granted permission to open as a wine-house.

In 1795 the patrician families Laroche & Allinger took over the former wine-trading company from Mr. Johann J. Adolf Burck, a family friend of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

In 1806, the old houses above the cellars were pulled down to realize a new city conception, only the old cellars remained unchanged until the reopening as a wine-tavern in 1926 for the occasion of the inauguration of the 'Old Bridge' crossing the Main river. At that time, the name Brückenkeller (Brücke means bridge and Keller means cellar) was created and never changed until today.

From 1931 until 1982 the owner was Franz Albert, the third of ten brothers of a poor wine-grower-family, who originally started working at the Brückenkeller in 1926 as a confidential clerk of Laroche & Allinger Wine-Trading Company.

In 1931 he took over the restaurant and the cellar, always trying to make his contribution to conserve the old parts and the tradition of Frankfurt with its old history.

M. Michael Wehle, who took over the responsibility of the restaurant from his godfather Franz Albert in 1982, has  since continued to conserve and respect the traditions and history of the Brückenkeller. While still under ownership of Franz Albert, Michael's father Hans Wehle became, for a period of 20 years, one of the most admired hosts of this world-known restaurant and from him, Michael learned his warm and passionate commitment to the business. Under his and his family's influence, the Brückenkeller became one of ten two-star Michelin restaurants in Germany and consequently one of the best around the world.