Löwenbräu – The Rocks
Whenever I hear the name Löwenbräu a series of mental images immediately triggers in my brain.
First I picture the Löwenbräu ads, which feature busty bar frauleins in cleavage-inducing dirndls. Before feminists start bombarding the illustrious Bar Zine offices with hate mail may I just say that I’m not making any personal endorsement of these images – but as a pathetic girl-obsessed male I’d be lying if I said they didn’t scar my memory during long hot sleepless nights.
Secondly, I think of men in tight shorts playing the accordion. This image also haunts my dreams, but in a very different way. I’m sure there are days when these men don’t play the accordion at Löwenbräu (which, to go off topic for a moment, is German for lion’s brew) but they always seem to be there when I am.
Finally, I think of Bavarian beer in steins served with schnitzel, a combo which in my humble opinion is Germany’s greatest gift to the world – and the reason why I endure the aforementioned accordions.
Actually, there’s also a second reason (and no, it’s not the barmaids) – beyond the courtyard and the main restaurant there’s a great cellar bar to be found inside, complete with sandstone walls, ceramic steins on display (it’s a guy thing) and wooden beams.
As with the Bavarian Bier Café, the beers here are imported from Germany and I’m told they don’t cause hangovers because they follow the Purity Law of only having water, malt, hops and yeast. However, after one too many steins this intrepid Bar Zine reporter can unfortunately discredit that claim (though that won’t stop me from drinking more steins of Löwenbräu Original, a clean lager to help chase down schnitzel).
There is more to the menu here than schnitzel (pork, chicken and veal ones are available, although I prefer the veal) – for example, there’s pork belly, pork knuckle (this place isn’t exactly kosher), sausages and sauerkraut, as well as baked cheese spätzle (I guess you could describe this as Bavarian pasta) for vegetarians. If you just want a snack, however, then you can stick to pretzels (which are good, fresh and not too salty, although they still make me think of the Seinfeld line “These pretzels are making me thirsty!”).
But I digress. This review is all over the place. It must be all those steins.
Bottom line: if you like accordions played by men in shorts, beer served in giant glasses and want to see for yourself if Bavarian brews defy hangovers, then it’s worth paying a visit here regardless of whether or not Oktoberfest is on.
Lowenbrau, Argyle Street and Playfair Street, The Rocks. Phone 9247 7785 or see the Lowenbrau website
Now it’s your turn – how do you rate Löwenbräu?
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I went there last weekend, we went to the down stairs bar.Got grief off the doorman who didn’t look anything like anyone from the Löwenbräu advertisements and very much looked like every other shaved headed doorman in Sydney.None the less my friend is a “member” and has a special beer stein to proof it got us through.The bar only seemed to have 2 people serving and it took 20 and 37 minutes to get served, we timed the second round, we would’ve drank more but spent most of our time waiting at the bar.My friend waved his special stein but to no avail.The bar seemed to be filled with a very young crowd 18-21, they were all ordering shots and other spirits, this seemed to cause the delay at the bar, a bar known for beer, not kiddy drinks with Red Cow.