On this particular summer day, only caffeine addicts were to be seen, sipping espressos at a handful of new and trendy cafes, such as AMP ampyourself. The area seems especially down and out when compared with the rest of prosperous, well-kept Frankfurt.
The sharp contrast is its appeal. Many of the stylish new clubs and bars that have made this neighborhood the most exciting corner of the city are purposely hidden in courtyards or on upper floors of nondescript buildings. On a recent morning Mr. Macias was sitting in the sun outside AMP, his latest venture. By day it is a coffee bar serving homemade lemonade and strong espresso, and by night, a small, one-room club with a top-notch bar that hosts a rotating crew of visiting and local D.
A geometric mirrored sculpture by the renowned Frankfurt-based artist Tobias Rehberger was hanging from the ceiling just inside the entrance. About 10 years ago Mr. Rehberger and Mr. Macias, who are friends, founded Club Michel, an underground supper club that Mr. Rehberger also used as a canteen for his studio. In , Mr. Macias moved Club Michel to the Bahnhofsviertel, where he and another partner continue to host rotating chefs and special dinner parties open to those who sign up on the Club Michel website clubmichel.
Thursday is usually a visiting chef night; Friday is Italian night; and Saturdays feature ambitious vegan food. The tiny place is almost always packed, and serves excellent Neapolitan pies from an authentic Stefano Ferrara wood-burning oven.
Exit Pizzeria Montana, take a left and pass a dusty shoe store; just across the street is Maxie Eisen maxieeisen. Besides Maxie Eisen, which prides itself on its pastrami sandwiches, last year the three also opened an ambitious bistro called Stanley Diamond stanleydiamond.
