Wine enthusiasts will instantly recognize the inspiration behind this new restaurant's name—Weinträne, located at Schleißheimer Straße 77. It references the droplets that form inside a wine glass—known variously as "church windows," streaks, or "legs"—which reveal the concentration of key wine components like alcohol and sugar content. Debating these nuances is part of the pleasure, and that's exactly what young hosts Markus Rüdinger and Daniel Merzendorfer set out to foster. Here, appreciation for wine becomes an engaging social experience in an extraordinarily refined setting. True to the restaurant's concept, designer Michael Faltenbacher created a striking logo—a flowing tear reinterpreted in contemporary form—and shaped every other design detail with equal intention.

To make the most of this intimate yet soaring three-metre-high dining space—formerly a butcher's shop—Faltenbacher selected wallpaper from Italy. Its vintage character and expansive symmetrical patterns, infused with floral and baroque elements, evoke the grandeur of a chapel or palace. The installation itself is a feat of precision craftsmanship, applied immaculately across the bar front and the seemingly weightless shelving behind it. The patina finish adds remarkable depth and dimension, creating an almost tactile quality. Above the bar and dining area, minimalist pendant fixtures from a Belgian atelier—rendered in black and gold—cast soft, enveloping light that fosters warmth and welcome. Solid oak tables paired with sumptuous velvet seating in muted red and cool blue-green tones complete the earthy, understated aesthetic.

www.faltenbacher-smola.de

Photography:
Adrian Beck
www.adrianbeck.com

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|25)