Ballhaus Watzke
Ballhaus Watzke is a historic restaurant, ballroom, and brewery in Dresden, Germany.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Ballhaus Watzke, also styled as Ball- & Brauhaus Watzke, is a historic restaurant, ballroom, and brewery in Dresden, Germany. The complex stands at the corner of Leipziger Straße and Kötzschenbroder Straße in the Mickten district, near the Elbe and close to the historic village center of Altpieschen. Its identity combines hospitality, beer production, event hosting, and architectural heritage: the protected building contains restaurant rooms, an in-house brewery, and a large ballroom on the upper floor, while its riverside beer garden provides views toward Dresden's old town. The site's hospitality history reaches back to the late eighteenth century. Around 1790, a peasant building outside the Pieschen village core housed a spirits distillery operated by Gottlob Dietzen. After Dietzen failed to obtain the necessary license, the property was auctioned and acquired by brewer Gottlob Wilhelm Hübner. Hübner received a drinks-serving concession in 1814 covering spirits, Dresden city beer, and wine, thereby establishing a formal restaurant business at the location. Karl Joseph Watzke acquired the catering business and its concession on July 27, 1838. Under his family, the establishment became known as Watzke's garden restaurant with Elbterrasse. The Watzke family expanded the operation over several generations. In 1898, after Pieschen had been incorporated into Dresden, the older building was demolished and replaced by a substantial ballroom structure. Gustav Paul Watzke, a grandson of the first Watzke proprietor, commissioned the new building, which was designed by architect Benno Hübel. Emil Schulz created the ceiling painting in the hall. Built in a Neo-Empire style, the venue was named Watzke's Concert- and Balletablissement and offered approximately 770 seats, making it one of Dresden's largest halls at the time. The property experienced repeated interruptions during the twentieth century. After Paul Watzke was conscripted in 1914, the building was used temporarily as shelter. Following his death in 1937, his wife Alma operated the business. The outbreak of the Second World War again altered the building's use, including accommodation for soldiers. After the war, the relatively limited destruction around Pieschener Winkel allowed the restaurant to reopen in summer 1945. Alma Watzke also provided refuge for many people displaced by the bombing of Dresden, and the ballroom hosted a daily variety program during the postwar period. The restaurant closed again approximately five years later, unable to compete with state-subsidized HO restaurants in the East German economic system. From 1950 until 1993, the building was used as a warehouse for HO sporting goods rather than as a hospitality venue. A major renovation took place from 1993 to 1996, after which the property reopened under restaurateur Rudi Vogel of Karlsruhe. The restored operation combined guest rooms, a ground-floor brewery, and the historic ballroom. The Elbe flood of August 2002 caused substantial damage and forced a temporary closure. Ballhaus Watzke resumed operations after roughly six months. In addition to the main house in Mickten, the Watzke brewing operation has operated additional Dresden locations, including a brewery on the Hauptstraße in the Innere Neustadt and another site on Dr.-Külz-Ring in the old town from April 2012. The business has also been described as competing with the Brauhaus am Waldschlösschen in Dresden's Radeberger Vorstadt. Ballhaus Watzke's contemporary positioning rests on the combination of traditional Dresden hospitality, house-brewed beer, regional food service, heritage architecture, cultural programming, private events, and riverside leisure. Its historical building and ballroom remain central to the brand, while its brewery extends the offer beyond that of a conventional restaurant. The available reference material does not establish a current corporate owner, executive roster, detailed beer portfolio, or financial information.
History
The site associated with Ballhaus Watzke began as a modest building outside the core of Pieschen, near Dresden, around 1790. It was initially connected with a spirits distillery run by Gottlob Dietzen. Because Dietzen did not possess the required license, the property was auctioned. Brewer Gottlob Wilhelm Hübner became the purchaser and obtained a serving concession in 1814 for spirits, Dresden city beer, and wine, establishing a restaurant at the site. On July 27, 1838, spirits burner Karl Joseph Watzke bought the catering business together with its concession. He gave it the name Watzke's garden restaurant with Elbterrasse. The business remained in the Watzke family and was enlarged several times. The decisive architectural transformation came in 1898, one year after Pieschen was incorporated into Dresden. The older building was demolished and replaced by a large ballroom structure commissioned by Gustav Paul Watzke, a grandson of the first Watzke proprietor. Designed by Benno Hübel in a Neo-Empire style, the building was named Watzke's Concert- and Balletablissement. Its ceiling painting was made by Emil Schulz, and the ballroom provided around 770 seats, placing it among Dresden's largest halls. World War I and the Second World War interrupted normal operations. After Paul Watzke was drafted in 1914, the premises served temporarily as shelter. Following his death in 1937, Alma Watzke assumed responsibility for the business. During the Second World War, the rooms were again used for military shelter. In summer 1945, the restaurant reopened after the war. Alma Watzke allowed many bombing survivors to sleep in the building, and the ballroom also presented a daily variety program during the immediate postwar period. The restaurant closed again around 1950. It could not compete with HO restaurants, which benefited from state subsidies in the East German system. The building subsequently lost its hospitality function and was used until 1993 as a warehouse for HO sporting goods. Renovation from 1993 to 1996 restored the property for commercial hospitality use. Rudi Vogel from Karlsruhe reopened it with restaurant rooms, a brewery on the ground floor, and the ballroom above. The 2002 Elbe flood damaged the building and forced a closure lasting approximately six months. After reopening, Ballhaus Watzke continued to operate as a restaurant and brewery with a beer garden close to the river. The Watzke brewing business also developed additional Dresden sites, including a brewery on Hauptstraße in the Innere Neustadt and a location on Dr.-Külz-Ring in the old town from April 2012. The operation has been presented as a competitor to the Brauhaus am Waldschlösschen in Dresden's Radeberger Vorstadt. In January 2017, the venue hosted a speech by AfD politician Björn Höcke. The appearance generated criticism because of Höcke's political position and the use of the historic hospitality venue for the event. Management stated that it had been informed only at short notice and regretted the exploitation of the premises and the lack of advance screening. The available sources do not document a formal legal finding, corporate ownership history, or a subsequent change in the venue's operating status.
- 2017
Politically controversial event
[1]The venue hosted a speech by AfD politician Björn Höcke, prompting public criticism and a management statement of regret.
- 2012
Additional old-town brewery location
[1]A Watzke brewery location on Dr.-Külz-Ring in Dresden's old town began operating in April.
- 2002
Flood damage and recovery
[1]The August Elbe flood damaged the property and caused a temporary closure of approximately six months.
- 1996
Ballhaus Watzke reopens
[1]The renovated complex reopened with restaurant rooms, an in-house brewery, and the historic ballroom.
- 1993
Renovation begins
[1]A restoration and conversion project began, continuing through 1996.
- 1950
Restaurant closes under East German competition
[1]The hospitality business closed after struggling against state-subsidized HO restaurants.
- 1945
Postwar reopening
[1]The restaurant reopened in summer after the war, while also providing shelter and entertainment for Dresden residents.
- 1898
Ballroom building constructed
[1]The older premises were replaced by a large Neo-Empire ballroom building known as Watzke's Concert- and Balletablissement.
- 1838
Watzke family acquires the business
[1]Karl Joseph Watzke acquired the restaurant and its serving concession on July 27 and introduced the Watzke name.
- 1814
Restaurant concession granted
[1]Gottlob Wilhelm Hübner received permission to serve spirits, Dresden city beer, and wine and established a restaurant.
Products and positioning
A heritage Dresden restaurant and brewery combining house beer, regional hospitality, event space, entertainment, and a protected late-nineteenth-century ballroom building.
Brewery
House-brewed beer
Beer produced through the Watzke in-house brewing operation is a central part of the venue's identity. The available reference material confirms brewery facilities at the main Ballhaus Watzke site and additional Dresden locations, but does not provide a verified current list of beer styles, labels, recipes, or package formats.
Hospitality · 1814
Restaurant dining
The restaurant serves as the core hospitality offer of the historic building. Its positioning links food and drink service with Dresden heritage, the protected architecture, the ballroom, and the nearby Elbe. Detailed current menus and signature dishes are not established by the supplied sources.
Events and entertainment · 1898
Ballroom and event venue
The upper-floor ballroom was created in the 1898 rebuilding and originally offered approximately 770 seats. It supports the site's long-standing association with concerts, dancing, variety entertainment, speeches, and other events. The building's historical scale and protected status remain important elements of the offering.
Hospitality
Elbe beer garden
The property includes a beer garden near the Elbe. Its riverside location and views toward Dresden's old town complement the indoor restaurant and brewery, particularly during warmer seasons.
Brand decisions
2017
Response to the Björn Höcke eventOtherBackground
A speech by AfD politician Björn Höcke at the venue generated public criticism and wider attention.
Action taken
Management stated that it had been informed only shortly before the appearance and expressed regret that the premises had been used without prior checking.
Aftermath
The episode became part of public discussion about the venue's event-hosting decisions. The supplied sources do not document a legal sanction or a confirmed change in ownership or policy.
2012
Expansion of the Watzke brewery networkStrategyBackground
The Watzke operation already included the brewery at the main Ballhaus site and a location on Hauptstraße in Dresden's Innere Neustadt.
Action taken
An additional brewery location began operating on Dr.-Külz-Ring in Dresden's old town in April 2012.
Aftermath
The expansion broadened the Watzke brewing and hospitality presence within Dresden.
2002
Temporary closure after Elbe floodingOtherBackground
The August 2002 flood in Saxony damaged the riverside property.
Action taken
Ballhaus Watzke closed temporarily while damage was addressed.
Aftermath
The venue reportedly reopened after approximately six months.
1993
Conversion of the former warehouse property into a hospitality venueStrategyBackground
After the restaurant closed around 1950, the building was used as a warehouse for HO sporting goods until 1993.
Action taken
A renovation project running from 1993 to 1996 restored the building for restaurant, brewery, and ballroom use.
Aftermath
The venue reopened under Rudi Vogel of Karlsruhe and re-established Ballhaus Watzke as a restaurant and brewery.
Sources2 sources
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