Rathskeller

Ratskeller (German: "council's cellar", pl. Ratskeller, historically Rathskeller) is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall (Rathaus) or nearby. Many taverns, nightclubs, bars, and similar establishments throughout the world use the term.

The word had been used in English since the mid-19th century, with at least one New York restaurant calling itself a rathskeller in the 19th century.

The Bremen Ratskeller, erected in 1405, has one of the oldest wine cellars in Germany and was a center of the wine trade in Bremen.

The Ratskeller () in Lübeck is one of the oldest Ratskeller in northern Germany, with parts dating to the Romanesque era. The earliest documented use for wine storage dates to the year 1220.

Das Deutsche Haus Ratskeller restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana, received historic landmark status. Now called the Athenaeum, it has served Bavarian fare since 1894.

The Dakota Inn Rathskeller was opened in Detroit on August 1, 1933, by Karl Kurz, and is owned and operated by the Kurz family to this day, and is the city's only authentic German beer garden, complete with oompah bands and polka contests.

In America they mostly spell the word as "Rathskeller" to avoid similarity with the word "rat".

Many universities and public institutions have pubs or student center dining facilities located in repurposed basements. To market these nontraditional eating locations to students and patrons, many of these are termed "Ratskellers" including:

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