Restaurant
Opening hours
Tuesday – Saturday:
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Kitchen closing time 1:45 p.m.)
5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Kitchen closing time 9:00 p.m.)
Sunday:
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Kitchen closing time 2:00 p.m.)
5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Kitchen closing time 9:00 p.m.)
Closed on Monday!
Thuringian culinary art
Enjoy the relaxing ambient atmosphere in our restaurant or in our event locations. We offer you home-style, Thuringian delicacies and seasonal cuisine. The Green Salon and our banquet hall are both a suitable location for family celebrations or work parties up to 80 people. The “Spiegelsaal” is our highlight. The room is inviting you and your guests to celebrate parties, to hold conferences and has the perfect setting for a private or business event. You’ll find more details under Conferences & congresses.
Our wine list
Enjoy your wine from Thuringia or other wine regions from our exquisite wine list.
White wines
Saale-Unstrut
| 2020 | Riesling “R736” Freyburger Edelacker – DRY VDP. First layer pithy, taste of ripe apples and apricots | |
| 2019 | Müller Thurgau FEINHERB German quality wine, dry Winery Klaus Böhme young, fruity white wine with a touch of passion fruit | |
| 2019 | Grauburgunder “Tultewitz” German quality wine, dry Winery Zahn full-fruity bouquet, mild and soft on the palate, ripe aromas of pear, full-fruity with juicy melting and fresh acidity | |
| 2019 | Kerner Quality wine, dry Wolfram Proppe Viticulture in the Gleistal Citrus, pineapple, peach and exoticism characterise the aroma. the aroma, filigree fruit paired with a hint of the typical of the typical iced-bourbon aroma of the kernel. fructose enriches the harmonious ensemble |
Friaul
| 2019 | Chardonnay D.O.C. Di Lenardo fine fruit in the bouquet, juicy, fruity taste, aromatic and spicy on the palate |
Loire
| 2018 | Sancerre AOC, Domaine Michel Thomas, dry beautiful bouquet of oranges and pineapple, fruity aroma, full-bodied, round |
Rosé wines
Saale-Unstrut
| 2019 | Alles Rosa German quality wine – DRY Winery Klaus Böhme Cuvée of Portugieser, Dornfelder and Frühburgunder radiant rosé, fragrant bouquet, fresh, fruity and delicate taste |
Champagner
| Champagner Ruinart Brut Impresses with its golden yellow colour, its iridescent sheen and very fine bubbles, it has a delicate, fresh and fruity nose of nose of wide fruits, predominantly pear |
Red wines
Saale-Unstrut
| 2018 | Naumburger Steinmeister Dornfelder German quality wine – DRY Winery Herzer cherry-like fruit and velvety elegance Deep red colour with violet reflections |
Friaul
| 2018 | Merlot “Di Lenardo” D.O.C fruity harmonious bouquet soft, dark fruit, balanced and finely spicy |
Veneto
| 2012 | Amarone Valpolicella Classico, dry goes well with game dishes |
Toscana
| 2016 | “Tignanello” Tiscana I.G.T Tenute Tignanello, dry it is intense, fruity and complex in the bouquet, on the palate it shows an optimal structure, is well balanced with juicy tannins and a pleasant and a pleasant long finish | |
| 2015 | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano D.O.C.G., dry La Braccesca Bouquet of cherries and vanilla, soft finish |
Bordeaux
| 2012 | Château Lestage AOC Listrac Medoc Cru Bourgeois, dry soft, deep, elegant and fruity bouquet, Deep, full fruit on the palate, full-bodied, elegant and spicy | |
| 2003 | Château les Ormes Sorbet ACC, trocken a Château that is exquisite, full-bodied and dense. With its beautiful red and black fruit it is well balanced with attractive, berry scent |
Argentina
| 2018 | Malbec Bodega Piedra Negra, Francois Lurton, dry Deep ruby red, elegant with an intense fragrance of red and black berries, on the palate a fresh fruit, soft, matured tannins, very harmoniously balanced |
Chile
| 2016 | Carménere Gran Reserva “Terra Noble”, DO Valle del Maule, dry Agricola Santa Camila, San Clemente intense ruby red, complex and harmonious aromas of ripe fig and dark fruit with coffee, spices and toast notes in the background, full body. Good balance of oak and fruit, soft, harmonious |
We will be happy to advise you on finding the right wine for your favourite dish or a special occasion. The right wine provides the right enjoyment experience!
Back to the time of Martin Luther
It is impossible to imagine the history of the city of Jena without the “Black Bear” (“Schwarzer Bär”). The traditional inn was first mentioned in 1498. Many famous personalities such as Bismarck, Goethe, Haeckel and many politicians of modern times stayed here in its over 500-year history. We have dedicated our own historically authentic menu to a special guest: Martin Luther. Come with us on a culinary journey to the time of the Reformation and try our 4 or 5 course menu!
Five-course-menu
Smoked trout filet
Trout fillet smoked on book shavings with grated horseradish and buttered country bread
(2, 4, a, c, d)
Clear soup of ox
with egg and pepper dumplings
(10, c, i, g)
Pea puree on potato pancakes
with fried black pudding
(2, 10, a, c, g)
Barded guinea fowl breast
on wine cabbage with grapes and bread dumplings
(2, 10, a, c, g, i)
Semolina flummery
Luther’s semolina flummery with baked apple pie and berry mousse
(10, a, c, g, h)
48 € per person
Four-course-menu
Smoked trout filet
Trout fillet smoked on book shavings with grated horseradish and buttered country bread
(2, 4, a, c, d)
Clear soup of ox
with egg and pepper dumplings
(10, c, i, g)
Barded guinea fowl breast
on wine cabbage with grapes and bread dumplings
(2, 10, a, c, g, i)
Semolina flummery
Luther’s semolina flummery with baked apple pie and berry mousse
(10, a, c, g, h)
44 € per person
Recommended drinks:
Luther-Beer dark or light
Hypocras (homemade spiced wine)
Our wine list
Note: We kindly ask you to make a reservation two days in advance.
Reserve a place now
Smokers Lounge & Cocktail Bar
You’d like to stay the night, have a conference or meeting in a cozy ambience and wouldn’t like to miss the enjoyment of a cigarette or cigar? In our smoking lounge you can relax with a cigarette or cigar together with your favorite drink.
Enjoy Home-Style Cooking in Jena’s historically Richest Restaurant
A Placid Restaurant with a tangible History right in the Heart of Jena
Dive into the historically rich ambience of the Schwarzer Bär (Black Bear). As one of the oldest establishments the city has to offer, we invite you to savor the specialties within our authentic halls. Our history is one of excellent taste, as even Martin Luther, one of the most influential people in European history, recognized our quality. Enjoy an exceptional menu in our extensive premises and admire stained glass motives on our windows; a marble of medieval artistry.
The comforting interior welcomes you to strengthen yourself with a relaxing lunch or to close your day with a culinary treat during dinner time. In our Smoker’s Lounge & Bar, we happily serve you a cocktail of your choice in a cozy atmosphere.
Welcome to our Restaurant!
German Cuisine with Quality and Tradition – just for you
Thanks to our team of dedicated and passionate cooks, our regional ingredients turn into dishes both tasty and easy on the eye. May it be fish, meat, eggs, vegetables or fruit: When it comes to our ingredients, we prioritize both virility and a regional origin. When we prepare the food, pleasing our guests is our top priority. Hence, you are welcome to adjust the dishes to your liking, should the ingredients not fit your taste. Do your prefer another side dish? Would you like to eat vegetarian? Just ask our staff and we provide you with the culinary experience you want! With this, every visit to the Schwarzer Bär is an experience you won’t regret.
We also freshly cook vegetarian and vegan dishes just for you!
We always provide you with dishes made from fresh and regional ingredients!
An Award-Winning Kitchen
Our guests have awarded us with the Dinner’s Choice Award 2022. Try our outstanding dishes now!
We always provide you with dishes made from fresh and regional ingredients!
Relishing Fine Dining in Jena – just like the Reformer Luther
Ever since it was first mentioned in a document in 1498, the restaurant Schwarzer Bär has been a symbol of regional quality, freshness and excellent service. As one of Jena’s traditional restaurants, we regard actual preparation, as opposed to using instant meals or deep-frozen ingredients, as one of the most crucial cornerstones of our home-style cuisine and our culinary identity. Our kitchen’s pride is the traditional Luther-Menu. Traverse the reformer’s path and experience a menu that may be historic, yet is not outdated. The taste of the Luther-Beer completes this culinary time travel and brings the rich culture of Jena’s beer-brewing craft to life.
In line with Luther’s 500th birthday, we offer you a Lutherian menu containing 5 or 4 courses.
On sunny days: dine on our terrace
Of course, a good meal also requires good surroundings. If you prefer to enjoy your meal in the fresh air, you can sit on our terrace in fine weather and enjoy our dishes to the full. Admire Jena’s architecture and indulge your palate at the same time. Directly opposite our terrace you will find both Jena’s long-established university and its new newest campus at Inselplatz. Next to this stronghold of knowledge, we serve you some of the best classics that Thuringian cuisine has to offer. On warm summer nights, you can relax from the hot days on our terrace with an aromatic wine. And what could be more romantic than dinner for two at night? Book a table on our terrace today and let the charm of Jena convince you!
Our spacious outdoor seating area invites you to linger.
From Thuringian Specialties to international Haute Cuisine
Inside our historic facade, a classic interior awaits you. Fitting our design, we are proud to continue the great traditions of the Thuringian cuisine. Specialties like the famous Thüringer Klöße, dumplings made of potatoes, which contain deliciously crusty croutons. Or try our Schwarzbier Krusten braten (Dark Beer Crusty Roast), a mouth-watering slice of pork with a crust, marinated in a sauce based on dark beer. These and many other specialties are sure to put you in the mood for a relaxing evening or your favorite season. Additionally, our bourgeoise cuisine utilizes high-quality Thuringian venison, taken directly from the surrounding woods, as well as freshly caught fish from nearby rivers. The dishes we create with these ingredients are inspired by classics from the Thuringian cuisine. Combining these ingredients with our cook’s expertise brings fourth a gastronomical experience like no other.
From traditional Thuringian cuisine over modern dishes onto vegetarian specialties – we offer culinary highlights for everyone!
Yet, international specialties have found their way onto our menu as well. Dishes like our Piccata, made from high-quality organic Turkey hen breast, raised responsibly in the nearby valley of Gönnertal. Or our apricot-zucchini kofta, a specialty usually made put of minced meat, which doesn’t use any of its deliciousness in vegan form. These and many other new recipes stand side by side with traditional specialties, with both of them having equal ground.
The best validation for our work is our customer satisfaction. On Open Table, independent guests have rated our establishment with a 4,5/5. This endorsement as well as the overwhelming feedback on the platform inspire us to continue doing our best work.
Drinks from Thuringia and the World
The tradition of cultivating wine has a long tradition in Thuringia, even longer than the traditional foods we know today. The picturesque Saale-Schleife (a loop of the river Saale) is not only a famous travel destination for hikers and bikers alike. Hiking trails surrounding the wine producing hills of Bad Sulza and bicycle tours in the wine-bearing mountains of Naumburg or the wine producing area of Freiberg-Unstrut convey the Beaty of this landscape – both in terms of optics and taste.
Those accustomed to fine wines appreciate the region because of its Thuringian wines, e.g. those from the estates in the Saale-Unstrut region. Even in restaurants specialized in wine, those from Thuringia are an insider’s tip. As the successors of the royal wine producer for the duchy in Jena, we set the highest expectations for ourselves. A detailed list of our wines can be found in our wine menu.
However, sometimes a full-bodied beer for diner is just what you want, no matter how sweet and fruity the wine is. Don’t worry though, all those who revere the hoppy goodness, our menu holds many surprises. Enjoyers of pleasantly creative cocktails are also taken care of. In our lounge, we happily serve you drinks with higher standards, from classics like the Cuba Libre, to alcohol free variants, such as the Virgin Colada.