Set inside a former railway depot transformed into a cultural destination, Bar Martinelli is where Italian heritage meets German cocktail culture. Founded by Angelo Martinelli, the bar combines the aesthetics of the 1960s and ’70s, a commitment to independent producers and a philosophy rooted in mindful drinking, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary hospitality in one of Germany’s most unexpected cocktail destinations.
Where Italy Meets Germany
Over the past four decades, Germany has shaped a distinctive cocktail identity through bars that have defined entire cities. From Schumann’s in Munich to Berlin’s Green Door and Buck and Breck, and Le Lion – Bar de Paris in Hamburg — where Jörg Meyer created the Gin Basil Smash in 2008 — the country’s drinks scene has consistently influenced the international conversation around mixology.
Now another destination has joined that map. In October 2024, Angelo Martinelli, Italian by heritage and German by profession, opened Bar Martinelli inside Heidelberg‘s historic Bahnbetriebswerk, a former railway depot that has been carefully redeveloped into a hub for culture, dining and hospitality.
A Railway Depot Reimagined as a Cocktail Bar
The building still wears its industrial past proudly. Exposed brick, steel structures and generous open spaces preserve the character of the original depot while housing restaurants, cultural venues and hospitality concepts.
It was here that Martinelli, together with his partner Anna Domańska, chose to establish the bar. “I wanted to create a place where people could feel comfortable while discovering something new through cocktails,” he says.
With seating for just under fifty guests, including the outdoor terrace, Bar Martinelli draws inspiration from the 1960s and ’70s, when the railway complex was still fully operational. A striking orange bar counter anchors the room, while exposed concrete, vintage furnishings and restrained design create a space where industrial heritage and contemporary hospitality exist in balance.
That same philosophy extends to the drinks menu, where classic cocktails and original creations are twisted through the bar’s own ingredients and techniques.
The Meaning of Mindful Drinking
At the heart of Bar Martinelli lies the idea of mindful drinking — an approach that places the quality of the experience above the quantity consumed. “For me, it means choosing a drink consciously,” Martinelli explains. “Every cocktail should have a purpose. It should tell a story rather than simply be something to drink.”
The menu is designed to help guests make informed choices, providing guidance on alcohol content, serving size and each cocktail’s aromatic profile. The same care informs every bottle behind the bar. “We’re interested in a more artisanal approach to mixology,” he says. “We work primarily with independent producers, small-scale distilleries and ingredients that reflect the people behind them.”
A House Bitter with Its Own Identity
That philosophy is perhaps best embodied by the house bitter, developed before the bar itself even opened. “I wanted a bitter with a distinct personality that could become one of the defining ingredients in our cocktails,” Martinelli says.
The recipe, created in 2021, combines a Pinot Noir Beerenauslese from Germany’s Palatinate region with a carefully selected blend of aromatic botanicals. Like the bar itself, it reflects a commitment to craftsmanship, individuality and thoughtful drinking — qualities that are helping establish Heidelberg as one of the country’s emerging cocktail destinations.
Images courtesy Bar Martinelli
