In 2012, Meinrad Heinitz, took over an average bar within Zhuhai’s Nanping district and transformed it into what is known today as the traditionally-Bavarian St. Pauli Kommune Restaurant and Bar. St. Pauli was the first authentic German restaurant to come to the city of Zhuhai and is arguably the best venue to seek out when in the area of Nanping.
St. Pauli Kommune’s name derives from two important and interesting points. The first part of the name comes from the very football-passionate area of Hamburg, St. Pauli, whose emblem is of a skull and crossbones, which acknowledges the punk part of St. Pauli’s fan base. However, Mr. Heinitz stated that even though his beloved hometown team have the intimidating skull and crossbones emblem, he had to design a new and inviting logo for the Nanping restaurant. Mr. Heinitz explained to Delta Bridges about the logo of his bar/restaurant and what the term Kommune means, “I designed the logo of St. Pauli Kommune, which is of a blonde woman holding beer mugs. I did this as a way of creating an environment that was inviting for both the foreign and Chinese population. As much as I wanted to use the skull, I felt it didn’t exactly create the right message and it would probably intimidate many potential customers. Also, the term ‘Kommune’ comes from basically a sense of feeling home and living in a community, which is important at our restaurant because we are like a family”.
Mr. Heinrad is a chef with experience within 5 star hotels and is very passionate about hospitality management. This can be seen with St. Pauli Kommune’s beautifully traditional wooden interior and some great unique and interesting furniture, such as large barrels that have been converted into tables.
Although, St. Pauli Kommune’s location is a little further out from Zhuhai’s city centre, it is a great venue with a large space that can be easily used for either big parties, which reach over one hundred people or a private get together. Additionally the Okoberfest event at St. Pauli Kommune had up to 500 people in the restaurant and on the closed street!
The food at St. Pauli Kommune is mainly of Southern German style, but there are also international options and a new injection of rice dishes has been introduced to branch out to the Chinese public. It is a restaurant that serves all the classical German favourites and a few fish dishes, which includes Matjes Fillet, which is sour fish that is marinaded.
Around the winter time, St. Pauli Kommune holds fantastic Christmas dinners, with fine cuisines on offer such as goose, a great entree of surf & turf and rich beef. Mr Heinitz works tirelessly to bring only the best resources and ingredients from the local area for his food so as to compliment the customer's faith is St. Pauli’s menu.
Obviously St. Pauli serves Hofbräu (HB) and other traditional German beers such as 1831, but it doesn’t stop there. St. Pauli is a venue that has a selection of great spirits such as Bermuda rum, German Finsta rum and other great and unique alcoholic delicacies.
St. Pauli Kommune truly is a great looking venue, which has a concept that is hard to compete with or multiply. It is a place that delivers a chilled ambience in the day and has the potential for a real Oktoberfest atmosphere at night. Finally, St. Pauli Kommune's Oktoberfest event is now one of the highlights of the Nanping area after there being 3 great Oktoberfest parties, within the last three years, which included an array of fantastic entertainment.
It is a must visit location for all people seeking a homely feel whilst in Zhuhai and for persons who enjoy the traditional German lifestyle.
