Meet in Dusseldorf

The city on the Rhine may be known for its industrial-scale trade fairs, but Jenny Southan finds a range of more intimate venues – both historical and contemporary

Weinhaus Tante Anna

This historical venue is brimming over with antiquated Germanic charm and is located in the centre of Dusseldorf’s cobbled “old town”, much of which was rebuilt in the original style after the Second World War. The oldest restaurant in the city, it dates back to 1593, when it was a Jesuit monastery. It was later a hospital chapel before being sold to the Oxenfort family in 1820 and turned into a wine house. Six generations later and it is still run by the Oxenforts, but is now operating as a dining establishment dishing up the finest haute cuisine, and boasting a cellar of about 550 vintages. Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 11.30pm, Tante Anna can seat up to 120 people for dinner across five ground-floor rooms, and can also be hired for private lunchtime banquets or exclusive get-togethers on Sundays (a popular option during busy trade fair periods). Stepping inside is like going back in time – heavy wooden tables inlaid with brass sit on creaky timber floors, while candelabras, ticking clocks, miniature oil lamps and soft classical music add to the ambiance. It really is a feast for the eye, with all manner of intriguing objects on display – think ecclesiastical finery, golden platters and rich paintings. Look out for the impressive after-dinner liquor bureau, and the giant riding boots worn by an English coachman to stop his legs being crushed between the two horses in front of him. The service is immaculate and the refined à la carte food is imaginative and delicious, served on engraved plates. International-inspired dishes include the likes of dim sum of fresh goat’s cheese, lamb’s lettuce and pomegranate (e13.50), and roasted Oldenburg goose with poppy-seed dumplings, fried red cabbage and Brussels sprout strudel (e28). 2 Andreasstrasse; tel +49 211 131 163; tanteanna.de

Brauerei Zum Schlussel

You can’t come to Dusseldorf without trying some of the local Alt beer – in fact, you would be missing out on one of the city’s highlights if you did. There is a generous handful of brew houses in the old town, but family-run Zum Schlussel is an authentic option if you are looking for one to hire for an event – be it drinks for 300 people, a sit-down dinner for up to 440, or a presentation for smaller groups in one of its more contemporary meeting rooms upstairs. Note, though, that in peak carnival season (February) the venue can be heaving with up to 1,000 revellers, so the main level may not be available for rental. Zum Schlussel, which means “the keys”, features a ground-floor bar/restaurant that specialises in hearty German fare – pork knuckle is a favourite. Watch the hardworking waiters as they whizz around with trays of small, frothing glasses of dark beer. The beverage has been brewed on the premises since 1850 in great copper vats, using only the traditional ingredients of malt, hops, yeast and water. About two million litres of the stuff is produced every year, supplying not only Zum Schlussel but about 50 other pubs in the city. Downstairs is warm and rustic, with chunky wooden tables, tiled floors and earth-coloured paintings. Guided tours of the brewery can be arranged, and private catering by the experienced on-site team can be provided for 20 to 500 people, as well as music, lighting, flowers and technical equipment. Upstairs, the Schlusselstubchen seats 35 people in a minimalist room overlooking Bolkerstrasse, while the 91 sqm banquet area adjacent divides into three for small business meetings  – it has a fully functioning bar for when the deals have been struck. On the second floor is Hopfenstube, which has carnival flags on the walls and can host 40 people. 41-47 Bolkerstrasse; tel +49 211 8289 550; zumschluessel.de

Schloss Eller

The grand Schloss Eller, 7km south-east of the centre, was originally a 19th-century private residence. It was later used as an art school (it closed in 2003) but the paint splatters are long gone thanks to an extensive e3 million renovation completed in March last year. It means the mansion, set in the grounds of a public park and accessed through a set of wrought-iron gates, is probably looking the best it ever has. On the far side is a pond and many of the spacious rooms face on to an area of woodland. Nearby, a complex of Tudor-style lodges will be converted into 28 corporate apartments by 2012. The immaculate main building – now exclusively used for private events – offers organisers 12 elegant spaces in a combination of neoclassical and modern styles. Prinzensaal is one of the larger rooms (for up to about 140 people standing) and features tall windows, a glittering chandelier and stucco work as white as snow, while downstairs is Gewolbekeller (for up to 200 reception-style), with a brick floor, barrel ceiling, bar and tasteful lighting. The impressive walnut-panelled Salon Prinzessin Luise is ideal for board meetings of up to 70 delegates. The venue provides access to a choice of seven catering firms, and help can be given arranging lighting and audio-visual kit. 42 Heidelberger Strasse; tel +49 211 7483 663; idr-schloss-eller.de

Templum

Built in 1900, Templum is about 6km east of the centre. It was designed for medical symposiums and later used as a clinic in the Second World War – it was one of the few old buildings in the city that was not destroyed by allied bombing during the 1940s. It has also acted as a cinema. Since it came under private ownership about 15 years ago, Templum has hosted all manner of events. It is well geared up for corporate gatherings, having hosted many local companies. The red-brick building features a single 230 sqm hall with a nine-metre-high vaulted ceiling, wooden floors, a stage at the far end and an interior balcony at the other, suitable for technicians, a string quartet or a speaker. The hall can seat 200 people for a conference or dinner, while an adjacent 56 sqm lounge bar with leather Chesterfields can host 60 for cocktails. The land around Templum is wooded, and an inviting garden seats 200 people in the summer. Note that there is also a kitchen on-site, and the venue will only be hired to one group at a time so you can be guaranteed to have it all to yourself. 35 Bergische Landstrasse; tel +49 211 9577 670; templumonline.de

Lofthaus

About 9km south of the city, in an industrial quarter near the River Rhine, is a vast converted factory called Lofthaus. In the early 1900s cranes for ships were built here, and you can still see many of the original mechanical workings. Steel girders crisscross high above the ground-floor space, and huge white curtains and drapes add texture to the otherwise minimalist interior (these can also be used to divide the space into smaller sections). Lofthaus has been used for private functions for six years and has hosted everything from glitzy showcases for 1,500 guests standing, to lavish dinners for 750 people. Also on the ground level is a series of cooking and preparation areas, three dressing rooms, an outdoor terrace, and the Jagerbar for smoking or relaxing in – it is furnished with quirky objets d’art, stuffed animal heads, antique suitcases and squishy sofas. Upstairs, a long mezzanine area can take 450 delegates standing. It is frequently used for drinks before guests meander along a metal walkway and down a flight of steps to dinner in the hall. 19-45 Reisholzer Werftstrasse; tel +49 211 9896 9680; lofthaus-duesseldorf.de

Ufer 8

Slap-bang in the old town and in full view of the river is uber-flash nightclub/restaurant Ufer 8, which has been open for close to two years. With its black walls and floors, burgundy velvet curtains, diamante light fittings and leather banquettes, it is best suited to exclusive nocturnal parties, receptions and dinners. There are a number of sections for hire. The eatery itself hosts about 50 people and can be booked out for sit-down meals, buffets or canapés. The largest space is also on the ground floor and has a capacity of 650 delegates cocktail-style. It has two bars, a sunken VIP area, boudoir-style red lights and a DJ booth. Outside is a public courtyard, while upstairs is a gallery for up to 40 people standing. 8 Rathausufer; tel +49 211 2005 140; ufer8.de

Frank Petzchen Kochevents

For a teambuilding event with a difference, try this cookery school. It is targeted at the corporate market and allows groups of up to 60 to create a four-course meal in five hours under the guidance of its experienced chefs. The 220 sqm Steinstrasse venue opened in August 2008 (there is a smaller one around the corner on Benratherstrasse) and is fitted with state-of-the-art Miele appliances and four food preparation islands for teams of up to 15. The décor is contemporary, with blackcurrant walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. Organisers can tailor the session but groups are usually assigned one course each to cook and then, when the meal is ready, everyone sits down together to eat. There are four menus with more than 20 dishes in each to choose from, and there is also the option to create themed meals, with dietary requirements accommodated. For larger groups, a sommelier will put on a wine and chocolate workshop for free – smaller groups can have this at a charge. 23 Steinstrasse; tel +49 211 4155 8889; frankpetzchen.de/kochevents Visit duesseldorf-tourismus.de